Stereo Enhancer?

[JonPaulP]

I was playing around with the plug-ins on Cubase and found something called "StereoEnhancer". What exactly does that do? Is it for mastering? If so, what are some good presets to use? (I tried out the "Mastering - Larger than Life" preset and it did seem to add something I can't outright pinpoint

While on the subject, any other plug-ins that might come in handy for mastering?

Thanks!

[Seafroggys]

Its useless, really. I'm sure it just widens the stereo field by using weird phase stuff. Just pan your tracks how you'd like.

[Massive Master]

One of the most useless plugs ever.

(I tried out the "Mastering - Larger than Life" preset and it did seem to add something I can't outright pinpoint

Why do they always have to use the word "mastering" in presets on tools that are hardly ever even used in the mastering process...? (Rhetorical - No answer necessary)

It didn't "add" anything. It messed with the phase relationships and screwed up the stereo field. Pull it to the maximum and it'll almost sound like it's coming from behind you (or inside your head, depending on how your speakers relate to your space). Throw it in mono and the whole signal will disappear.

[HotRats]

There some useful stereo enachers out there (the basic ProTools one works quite fine) and sometimes I use it in a mix on stereo tracks wich does't need to have a strong presence in the middle of the stereo image (like some background vocals, hard panned guitars, pads).

[JonPaulP]

Hmm, I was comparing tracks with and without the StereoEnhancer and the ones with the plug-in did seem to sound a little better (a little more clearer and less muddy).

This may be a dumb question, but what's a "phase relationship"? Couldn't find any info on it in the manual. Does it have anything to do with panning? Thanks!

[Massive Master]

You were (very likely) hearing "less mud" because there was less mid (as in mid/side - not midrange) information.

This may be a dumb question, but what's a "phase relationship"? Couldn't find any info on it in the manual. Does it have anything to do with panning? Thanks!

I'd advise reading up (books, internet, otherwise) on the basic concepts of stereo audio. Rather important stuff.

[Seafroggys]

Originally Posted by HotRats

There some useful stereo enachers out there (the basic ProTools one works quite fine) and sometimes I use it in a mix on stereo tracks wich does't need to have a strong presence in the middle of the stereo image (like some background vocals, hard panned guitars, pads).

Can't you just hard pan left and right?

[HotRats]

Of course you can but sometimes you need it wider to be "modern".
It's not really my cup of tea, but every client has his own needs.

[Seafroggys]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Of course you can but sometimes you need it wider to be "modern".

Er, how can you make it wider than, well, the maximum?

In my opinion, The Beatles mixes sound wider than any modern recording.

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Originally Posted by Seafroggys

Er, how can you make it wider than, well, the maximum?

Through the use of phase/delay tricks, which is how "enhancers" (a lousy name, if you ask me ) work. With the right kind of delay algorithm, psychoacoustic effects kick in that actually trick your ear into thinking the sound is coming from outside the dimension of your speaker spread.

I can do that right now on my new toy (I picked up a nice 22" flat screen HD TV a couple of weeks ago) which has it's own stereo expander On/Off button on it. I have the TV sitting on the overbridge of my mixing desk (I also use it for video editing) right next to my computer monitor, both of which sit in-between my nearfield audio monitors. If I listen to the TV just through the built-in speakers and switch on the expander, stereo sound sounds as if it's eminating from just outside of my studio monitor on one side and the far edge of my computer monitor on the other side, both of them a good foot each outside of the TV itself.

Personally I find that kind of stereo expansion to be distracting and annoying, and it works like shit when you listen off-axis or in a goofball environment like a car interior, but there's a ton of mediocre bands these days who feel they need such studio tricks to stand out because their music alone won't do it.

G.

[Seafroggys]

Gosh, that would make listening on headphones even more annoying

[Big Jinx]

LOL, I commonly use one in conjuction with a touch of reverb. Seems to slightly "widen" the stereo field.

[HotRats]

Originally Posted by Seafroggys

Er, how can you make it wider than, well, the maximum?

In my opinion, The Beatles mixes sound wider than any modern recording.

Of course you can't.
As Southside glen stated is a psychoacoustic trick that works. I don't like it very much if is exagerated but it works.
Used on come kind of sounds, like pads, it creates a kind of hole in the middle that is sometimes useful.

Some stereo wideners can work only on a selcted part of the spectrum. In my expirence in most cases if you make only (or moslty) the highs wider you get a better result.

I agree that sometimes it sounds unnatural. But these days a lof of the music we can hear on the radio sounds unnatural.
It's trend I hope won't last too long.