Top 11 Stereo Width Tips
- Don’t Use Delay-Based Stereo Expanders
- Using Left-Right EQ
- Using Mid-Side EQ
- Natural Sounding Stereo Placement
- Using Mid-Side Saturation
- Modulated Mid-Side Saturation
- Dynamic Mid-Side or Left-Right EQ
- Mid-Side Compression or Limiting
- Mono or Stereo Low Frequencies?
- Creating Wide Transients
- Separating Mid and Side for Processing
Don’t Use Delay-Based Stereo Expanders
Although you can get away with using delay-based stereo imagers on an individual instrument once in a way, you should typically avoid them due to the phase cancellation that they cause. Granted phase cancellation will always come into play when widening the image, but certain expanders cause more artifacts.
This is especially true when it comes to your mix bus or master, where you should almost never use a delay-based stereo imager.
Let’s take a listen to one being used on mix bus, and notice how the mix becomes washed out.
Using Left-Right EQ
A safer way to expand your stereo image is to use a left-right EQ and create 2 bells, one on the left and one on the right. Then vary their frequencies slightly - this will cause the left and right channels to be louder but at different frequencies.
As a result, the image sounds wider, but without too many artifacts or unwanted phase cancellations.
Let’s take a listen and notice how this sounds much cleaner than chapter 1’s demonstration.
Using Mid-Side EQ
Similar to our last chapter you can use a mid-side EQ to expand the stereo image - you can pick which frequencies you’d like to expand and amplify them on the side image or attenuate them on the mid image. A high shelf on the side image works well.
Or say I want to process on the vocal to come through a bit more, but I only have the stereo mix, I can increase roughly 2kHz on the side image with a bell.
Let’s take a listen to these 2 filters being added to our mix bus.
Natural Sounding Stereo Placement
When mixing, if you create 2 identical signals, you can use an EQ on one to cause natural-sounding stereo placement. So say I want my guitar to be on the left - I can duplicate it, pan the 2 tracks hard left and right, then EQ one.
For our example, I’ll use a high-pass filter on the right guitar, making the guitar’s lows sound as they’re on the left. By duplicating and panning left and right, we basically have a mono signal since everything is identical - but making this change to the frequency response will shift the perceived placement.
Using Mid-Side Saturation
If we have a mid-side saturator, we can saturate either the mid or side to add more signal to one or the other - this creates a more centered or expanded image respectively. For example, I’ll saturate the mids, and pan the saturation to the side to make them wider.
Since the saturation isn’t always happening, this expansion will be program-dependent as well.
Let’s take a listen and notice how the subtle expansion is dynamic.
Modulated Mid-Side Saturation
If our saturator offers modulation, we take this a step further by linking an oscillator or envelope to our panning or a drive function. For example, I’ll create an envelope follower, and attach it to the drive functions panning - so that when we get a transient, the harmonics are panned.
Similar to before, we get dynamic saturation - but this way we have more control over the behavior of the saturator.
Let’s listen to this example, and consider how it’s different than the previous example.
Dynamic Mid-Side or Left-Right EQ
If our left-right or mid-side EQ offers dynamic processing, we can use it to make our expansion program dependent. So, let’s create some of the same bands that we used in chapters 2 and 3, but this time, make them dynamic and increase their ranges to expand the bands.
We’ll notice that the expansion is now contingent upon the incoming signal - in turn linking the dynamics of the track and the stereo expansion.
Let’s take a listen and notice how it varies from the demonstrations in chapters 2 and 3.
Mid-Side Compression or Limiting
If a compressor or limiter offers mid-side compression or limiting, we can use it to dynamically expand the stereo image. The reason is, the most powerful signals, like the kick and bass, will typically be in the mid image - causing more compression to the mid than the side.
As a result, whenever the kick or bass hits, the mid will be compressed, leaving the side at a louder level comparatively. This isn’t the best technique for retaining dynamics, but it works well at stereo expansion.
Let’s take a listen.
Mono or Stereo Low Frequencies?
A common question is whether or not the lows should be made mono, or kept stereo. On one hand, you get a more driving low range and reduce phase cancellation, on the other you may lose some of what makes the mix unique.
You can use a high-pass on the side image to cut the lows from the side, and from there determine the cut-off. As you’d imagine, this will reduce the width, but it can have a very beneficial effect on your mix.
Let’s take a listen to the lows being made mono up to about 100Hz.
Creating Wide Transients
One challenge with stereo expansion is making the side image more detailed since a lot of softer elements are on the side. One solution is to duplicate the signal, use the free plugin MSED on both, and isolate the mid on one channel and the side on the other.
Then place a transient expander on the side imaged signal. This is a bit unorthodox, but it has a cool effect that’s difficult to achieve otherwise.
Let’s take a listen to it and notice how much detail we can get on the side.
Separating Mid and Side for Processing
Similar to our last tip, we can use this same MSED plugin to separate our signals, and then use any form of processing discussed before to process our mid and side separately. So, say we don’t have a mid-side EQ, now we could simply EQ the side channel.
The same could be said about compression, expansion, or any other form of processing. Let’s listen to mid-side equalization, but use an analog emulated plugin on the side channel that normally wouldn’t offer mid-side processing.
Let’s listen and notice how we expand the stereo image.
Ready to make your mixes sound 10 times better, 10 times faster...
You're literally one step away from 10 times better sound.
The best part is... it's risk-free, if we can't make your mixes sound 10 times better, you don't pay for it.
START NOWREAD OUR REVIEWS
Review by Joel S.
If you're looking for great mastering, Sage is where you need to be. I've been working with Sage for years - they do an amazing job and are really easy to work with.
They actually care about your project and want it to sound its best just as much as you do. I'm always excited to get a song or project back from mastering. I've tried many mastering companies, and Sage is by far the best.
If you're serious about your music, it's worth checking them out; you won't be disappointed - they make your mixes sound balanced and professional.
They also offer mixing feedback to help improve your mixes and mixing and mastering education courses to help improve your sound. Shout out to Sage Audio! you can't go wrong - like I said, if you're serious about your music, this is your studio.
Review by April K.
I've been getting my masters done by Sage Audio for the past 4 years now, and I've tried multiple places in my 15 years in the music business. Sage Audio is the only one that has given me the quality I love!
Their mastering membership is an excellent deal for anyone looking for professional mastering and full customer service. Also, I never had an issue with submitting new mix versions for remastering or asking for too many revisions - they have always been very respectful about remastering new mixes and making any adjustments I wanted. I'm staying with Sage, no need to look further! Best masters out there!
Review by Justin G.
Sage Audio is by far the best audio engineering company I've found. I've been with them for 8 years, and it's clear that they set the bar high in regard to mastering services. Their online platform makes it easy to upload tracks and communicate directly with your own dedicated mastering engineer, and their customer service is excellent.
Overall, the sound achieved by Sage Audio engineers is awesome. Their mastering brings out the best in each track - improving clarity, depth, and impact - and they focus on crafting personalized masters that are specific to your needs.
Another thing that sets Sage Audio apart from other mastering services is that the mastering is actually done with your dedicated mastering engineer and not some sort of AI software, and you get full customer service and feedback on your mixes too.
Their commitment to delivering top-tier mastering while maintaining consistent communication shows how much they care about their clients' music. For anyone looking for a personalized online mastering that combines top-level quality with excellent customer service, look no further than Sage Audio.
Review by James T.
The engineers at Sage Audio could not have made my first commercial audio experience any better! Every time I emailed to get a question answered, I worked with the same person consistently.
They know what they are doing; after listening to my masters on numerous systems, I heard my music in a whole new light. My bass and kick were tighter, not muddy, and hit with the "grit" that I intended. My mids and highs were clear, vibrant, and presented well on all stereos and devices.
I could have never achieved this level of quality without their diligent minds and professional know-how! If you are looking to get your project up to a commercial level while meeting a budget, Sage Audio is the place to go!
Review by Rebecca D.
Sage Audio is by far the best mastering service! They are the most professional, kind, and loyal people. Every song they mastered was spot on!
For artists looking to have their music mastered, they have an awesome and affordable mastering membership and are dedicated to making every mix sound like a professional master. Thank you, Sage Audio, for transforming my music!
Review by Daniel S.
The last ten years of my audio mixing career have been plagued by frustration, self-doubt, and compulsive shopping for magic game-changing plugins that can fix my poor mixes... guess what... it was all wasted time and money; I was shooting in the dark.
Until now.
I had heard about Sage Audio a long time ago, but at that time, their pricing seemed too expensive - how wrong I was.
Firstly, there is no substitute for hard work; you must do your part; what this service gave me was perspective - what's different about this master from my own? why? what am I missing? how can I improve my final mixdown in order to get the best possible master?
The included courses are really useful and well explained, but to me, the real power is the community of engineers offering their feedback; there's nothing like a second set of ears, or a lot of sets of ears! Getting other engineers' advice is priceless, and fixing common problems suddenly became very simple.
The best part is that I have made a bunch of mixes on my own now and am starting to get incredibly good responses - my confidence is up, with no additional plugins, no new DAW, not even new monitors.
I've been a Sage Audio member for about 9 months now, and all services are excellent. The 1-on-1 mixing feedback is incredibly helpful, and the professional community is way more active than I could have imagined. I'll be here for the long haul. So, if you're ready to take your music to the next level and change a lot of misconceptions, this is your place!
Review by Thomas E.
I am a musician and songwriter with decent recording skills, but I could never get my final mixes mastered to where the EQ, volume, and clarity sounded good on all playback systems without distortion.
I did extensive research on mastering and tried expensive studio headphones, but I never quite "mastered" mastering. It was very frustrating and took way too much time away from my music.
Then I found Sage Audio, and it sounded like just the service I needed at a reasonable price, so I joined their membership.
It was a game-changing decision. They always respond quickly and are focused on pleasing their customers. They mastered several of my songs, and they all came out perfect.
One of them took three takes because I had to change some levels and panning, but each time, they said, "No problem, we want you to be 100% happy with the final master."
They even asked for ways to improve their service, and they have a unique service where you can upload your mixes and receive feedback directly from them for improvement. I also found in the community, there are great musicians, singers, and songwriters to collaborate with for future projects.
In summary, Sage Audio has saved me a lot of time and provided great masters for my songs, way better than I could have ever done! I give them my highest recommendation.
Review by Frank B.
I've been using Sage Audio for a while now and have been very pleased with their professionalism and quality of work!
I'm NOT new to the audio production world and have been mixing and self-mastering for over a decade. I've used Grammy-winning mastering engineers as well as online AI-driven mastering services, so I know the full range of mastering services available to artists and their producers.
What sets Sage apart, IMO, and, in my experience, is that they are very customer-centric and will do almost anything to make the customer happy with their work. An example is a recent master I wasn't 100% happy with because it was too compressed for Classical material. They jumped right on it, giving me another more gently compressed master, which I'm delighted with. This was a NO EXTRA CHARGE. I know from experience that this isn't the norm in this industry, where egos prevail.
An example of Sage's superior work is when a client I'm working with wanted proof that it was better than a well-known, low-cost AI-driven mastering service. While my instructions to both Sage and the online service were close, only Sage had a human to interpret some of the instructions. As a result, the Sage master was considerably LOUDER and had more HEADROOM to boot. You can't ask for much more for a Pop song.
In summary, I'd recommend Sage to anyone looking for professional mastering for their upcoming release.
Give them a shot. I'm sure you'll be pleased.
Review by Dan Y.
Sage Audio has been a lifesaver for me. Mastering was my weakest point, and I only wish I could've found them sooner. I have used their services for the last 6 months and have also recommended them to several of my musician friends. Every track I send comes back sounding brilliant.
I once experimented by mastering one of my songs by myself, by another leading mastering studio, and also by Sage Audio. Sage's master was hands-down the best: clear, loud, yet dynamic, and the overall sound was smooth. I can say with 100% confidence Sage Audio is the best mastering service around.
It's also a pleasure connecting with their team on a personal level; they are very attentive to details and respond fast.
Review by Irene F.
I found Sage Audio when I was searching for a company that could master my original songs. My initial email was responded to in less than ten minutes. I explained my situation, then created an account and uploaded my mix for mastering.
I let my engineer know what was bothering me in the song and what I would like it to sound like. In a short time, he sent me a notification email to download the master and asked if it was to my liking.
On first listen, it blew me away, as it contained everything I had asked for, and the sound was vibrant, clear, and, quite frankly, perfect. I've been with Sage Audio ever since - they're so easy to work with, friendly, eager to help, and highly professional. I would recommend them to anyone.
Review by Aaron C.
I first used Sage audio 3 years ago to get an album mastered. I hadn't used an outside service for mastering before, so I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I had learned a lot from the Sage Audio YouTube channel and liked the clear, concise way the videos explained various audio principles, so I felt comfortable using their services.
Not only did the masters sound amazing (dynamic, but still as loud as I wanted), but the engineer answered all of my questions and responded to my emails almost immediately.
To add to that, considering all the services you get with the membership is an incredible deal - it Includes mastering, mixing feedback, courses, and community. It's everything you need, and their customer service is top-notch.
As good as their YouTube videos are, I knew this would be a fantastic resource; as a college professor myself, I recognize excellent instruction, and Sage has a knack for breaking down complex processes and demonstrating how plugins work in concise bursts that never overwhelm the learner.
More importantly, you will come to understand when to use the tools in your arsenal and why to do so. You, thus, are learning how to ask better questions of the mastering engineers that you have access to through your membership, and ultimately, you are being empowered to become an engineer yourself!
Review by John G.
I started using Sage Audio to master my songs about three to four years ago - I wish I had found them earlier. Their mastering makes my mixes sound like professional songs, and they're a delight to work with.
Also, they have a very active community of musicians, producers, and engineers, along with mixing and mastering courses - which have provided me with so much useful information. On top of that, the mixing feedback is excellent, and they continually provide thoughtful suggestions, which I've found invaluable for improving my mixes. It's worth checking them out - you will not be disappointed.
Review by Brandon T.
I had Sage Audio master my last 3 albums, and I plan to use them for my next release too. They do an exceptional job of creating balance and clarity for each project, and they are so friendly and helpful when it comes to answering questions and offering suggestions.
Their experience is invaluable, and they have truly insightful feedback when it comes to mixing and mastering. I have tried other companies in the past and came back to Sage to get that professionally polished sound every time.
Review by Ben V.
A few months ago, a friend of mine recommended I try Sage Audio for my final master's. Being a mix engineer myself, I was hesitant at first due to the fact that in the past, when using online mastering, I found that no engineer would care for the track as much as I would.
Knowing the basic rule that you always want to have another set of ears to master anything you've mixed, I realized I had hit a plateau in how far I could take my final master. To my surprise, Sage and the team took my master's to a level I could not reach, both dynamically and sonically.
I'm a full-time artist who is constantly recording, releasing, and traveling. The burden that the Sage team has taken off my shoulders by being a trustworthy mastering service is tremendous.
They have provided me with quick turnarounds while out of the country to meet deadlines for releases and are understanding & receptive when I request changes after hearing a master, even going as far as to follow up with me, confirming that I am 100% happy with the final master, quoting, "I'm not happy unless you're happy."
Another benefit to Sage Audio is their library of mixing and mastering tutorials. Any good sound engineer knows that there are a million ways to reach a rich, dynamic final mix or mastering and that you're never done learning how to engineer. Sage's courses offer a great refresher on fundamentals and a clear understanding of complex techniques to help push you as an engineer.
Cheers Sage, thanks for the excellent service!
Review by Charlie E.
My writing partner and I have recorded and mixed 2 albums and a few singles, the first 2 albums we did were mastered by a different company. The masters were ok, but from that experience, we developed a better and more critical understanding of the mastering process.
Upon preparing to have our 3th album mastered, we did some research and exploration for other mastering options and found Sage Audio - which is where we had our latest album mastered.
We were both very much impressed with the work, the communication, and the willingness to create the exact sound we wanted for the album. We definitely heard a difference in the mastering - Sage Audio masters are clean, clear, and professional.
On top of that, we really enjoyed receiving mixing feedback, which was really helpful for making adjustments to bring the most out of our mixes before sending for mastering. For anyone seeking true audio professionals, I recommend Sage Audio!
Review by Sam V.
Sage Audio mastering engineers are the best I've ever worked with! I've been an Artist, Songwriter & Producer for over 12 years, and believe me, over the years, I've worked with several studios and countless engineers. But since I connected with Sage Audio, those days are over. I took a chance on something new - sent my first mix to see how it would go, and they didn't waste any time lol, they responded the very next day, and the master I got back far exceeded my expectations.
The level of quality and attention to detail was impressive. It was everything & more than what I hoped for, and now I will never trust my mixes in any other hands. They've quickly become my number 1 go-to-guys for mastering, hands down.
Not to mention, they also give you in-depth mixing feedback to help you improve your mixes before sending them for mastering. You can't go wrong with Sage Audio. These guys definitely deserve all the credit in the world. I would strongly recommend them to anyone out there looking for solid professionals to polish your mix. I can personally promise you, Sage Audio will deliver every time!
Review by Ryan B.
I've been using Sage Audio for mastering my tracks over the past year and a half, and they've been great on every front.
If I need a track mastered within a week, they usually get back to me with a high-quality finished master within a few days, and the cost is negligible compared to what some other studios are charging.
They also have an active community, and their mixing feedback option is super helpful; their suggestions are specific, revealing, and accurate.
I highly recommend them if you're a musician, producer, or mixing engineer who needs that last bit of polish before you release. They're worth every penny.
LISTEN TO OUR SAMPLES
Ready to make your mixes sound 10 times better, 10 times faster...
The best part is... it's risk-free, if we can't make your mixes sound 10 times better, you don't pay for it.
HERE'S WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR SAGE AUDIO MEMBERSHIP
- One-on-One Mixing Feedback
Private 1-on-1 mixing feedback directly from us
- Mastering Service
Custom mastering service tailored to your specific sound
- Mixing Course
Access to our 23-video structured step-by-step mixing course, including walkthrough sessions for 8 genres, featuring mixing chains with free and paid plugins — Multitracks for mixing practice are included
- Mastering Course
Access to our 19-video structured step-by-step mastering course, including walkthrough sessions for 8 genres, featuring mixing chains with free and paid plugins — Unmastered mixes for mastering practice are included
- Community
Access to the thriving Sage Audio community for discussions and networking
- Cancel Anytime
No commitments
- Risk-Free Money-Back Guarantee
If we can't make your mixes sound 10 times better, you don't pay for it, so it's risk-free
What's the Endgame?... You have mixes that sound 10 times better — songs you're proud of that make people say "Wow."
We guarantee 10 times better sound, or you don't pay for it, so it's risk-free. Members get 1-on-1 mixing feedback, mastering service, courses & access to our thriving community. That’s about it.
If you want to transform your mixes from a source of pain and struggle to a source of pleasure and fulfillment, JOIN NOW. The struggle stops now. START NOW
