I have noticed a lot of songs seem to be very stereo these days, almost the way music has more compression over the past few years, it seems adding more stereo is a way to make a song sound bigger. I know chorus and reverb are tools which can add stereo to a sample or synth. However, I have found that sometimes, though they add stereo to a part, they might make it sound a bit off. Also, there is adding stereo separation on a channel, or even the master.

Does anyone have any recommendations on making parts more stereo such as a snare/clap? I have a lot of snare and clap samples which are pretty mono and I just don't hear these parts being mono in tracks now days. Is the best way to avoid the problem to choose samples and synths that are already stereo?

Also, is adding some stereo separation to the master too broad an approach, with adding it to individual parts being better in most cases? I have added some stereo separation to the master in some WIP's and like the result, but I don't have expert ears.

Basically, what things do you do for stereo sound design?

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PSP Stereo Controller. Sonalksis Stereo Tools. M/S processing.

A nice trick is to layer similar yet subtly different sounds across the stereo field.

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the amount of m/s capable plugins make it rather easy and mono friendly. Follow a snare with a slightly delayed clap using m/s eq putting the highs on the side. So many ways to do it really.

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Upstereo annnnnd it's free

http://www.quikquak.com/Prod_UpStereo.html

Or

Ableton simple delay.

100% wet
Left and Right both set to time, not sync
Pull them both down to 0 or whatever the lowest setting is
Feedback at 0
Offset one or the other to taste.

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quote:

Originally posted by kevin shawn Upstereo annnnnd it's free http://www.quikquak.com/Prod_UpStereo.html Or Ableton simple delay. 100% wet Left and Right both set to time, not sync Pull them both down to 0 or whatever the lowest setting is Feedback at 0 Offset one or the other to taste.

I just tried the simply delay trick and it worked great, thanks!

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I find haas based stereo widening easy but tends to pose the greatest mono compatibility issues.

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quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney I find haas based stereo widening easy but tends to pose the greatest mono compatibility issues.

I often do HAAS based stereo imaging but you're right, you MUST check it in mono.

Using a sample delay like that can cause weird phase cancellation.

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The most obvious solution before resorting to all the above-mentioned methods is...drum roll please......panning.


One well-known trick is to double a part, pan the two copies opposite L/R, and subtly shift their timing and/or pitch. This will give you a very wide stereo image and leave the middle of the stereo field open for other mono parts (e.g., lead, vocals).

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik The most obvious solution before resorting to all the above-mentioned methods is...drum roll please......panning. One well-known trick is to double a part, pan the two copies opposite L/R, and subtly shift their timing and/or pitch. This will give you a very wide stereo image and leave the middle of the stereo field open for other mono parts (e.g., lead, vocals).

Shifting it in timing is basically the HAAS effect simplified but the issue with doing that is you can get phase cancellation even if one side is pitched differently.

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I like distorting L and R separately. The meat of the sound stays focused, but the artifacts are wide as hell. Sounds great.

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i am adding some reverb on the master channel to glue things and create this effect, also using panned lfos on some percs and hats helps to create this effect