Stereo Widening

After reading about this stereo image widening technique that Dot posted on Studio Forums, I applied it to my mix. I've uploaded the before and after mixes of "Hopeless"

This was the technique posted by Dot:

Posted 04-24-04 09:51 PM This is not really for a whole mix, but more for a few tracks like backing vocals or guitars.

In this case it's for vocals.

1. Mix your chorus vocals to a pair of L R stereo tracks
2. Copy that stereo pair to a second pair of L R stereo tracks.
3. Take the second pair and reverse the phase on them.
4. Then on the second pair reverse the panning. Make L to R, and R to L.

Set the first stereo pair up in your mix. And then start bringing up the second pair - which has been phase reversed and pan reversed. As you turn up the volume of the second pair you'll hear the image go very wide. You'll get to a point as you increase volume that it will start to be less wide as you begin to introduce too much phase cancellation from the second track. At that point, just back off on the volume of the second track until you hear that it's at its widest.

Try it. You'll be surprised. It's an old trick. : )

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
Pro Audio Consulting Services