WHAT DO THE SIDEMINDER PLUGINS ACTUALLY DO? In   the   same way   that   compressors   and   limiters   enhance   and   control   the AMPLITUDE   of   audio   signals   the   SideMinder   plugins   enhance   and   control   the WIDTH   of   stereo   signals.      For example,   pushing   up   the   Width   control   on   the   SideMinder   plugins   is   like   pushing   up   the   drive   control   into   a   limiter.      And   in   the   same   way   that   a   peak   limiter   prevents   amplitude "overs" the SideMinder plugins prevent WIDTH "overs" where mono compatibility becomes reduced. This   is   not   the   same   thing   as   mid/side   compression   which   works   on   the   absolute   AMPLITUDES   of   the   mid/side   signals.      SideMinder   works   on   the   relative   RATIOs   of   the   mid/side signals while leaving the amplitude of the stereo signal relatively untouched. WHY IS MONO COMPATIBILITY IMPORTANT? #1   -   Many   large   venues   use   mono   sound   systems   so   that   every   seat   in   the   house   hears   the   same   mix.      If   an   “over   wide”   stereo   track   is   played   on   one   of   these   sound   systems elements   in   the   mix   that   are   out   of   phase   between   left   and   right   channels   will   be   reduced   in   level   due   to   phase   cancelation   -   thereby   changing   the   balance   of   the   mix.      Worst   case, any elements in the mix that are completely out of phase on left/right channels may disappear completely when mixed to mono. #2   -   Many   consumer   audio   products   -   such   as   “boom   boxes”,   stereo   TVs,   stereo   radios,   etc.,   use   crossfed   polarity   inversion   techniques   to   generate   a   wider   stereo   image   than   the actual   physical   width   of   their   speakers.     An   “over   wide”   stereo   track   played   on   one   these   devices   can   actually   sound   narrower   due   to   the   phase   inversion,   again   ruining   the   intended mix. We have heard many examples of these problems in commerically released recordings.  Maybe you have too!  The SideMinder plugins can help prevent this. Read what Larry Crane, Chief Editor of Tape Op Magazine, has to say about the SideMinder plugins: https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/136/sideminder-stereo-width-plug-in/

WHY SO MANY VERSIONS OF SIDEMINDER AND WHICH ONE DO I NEED?

• SideMinder   2    is   an   updated   version   of   the   very   first   mono-band   SideMinder   plugin   we   released   in   2018.   It   is   the   simplest   and   lightest   on   CPU   of   the   series   and   still   a   good choice when used on many tracks in mixing. • SideMinder   ME2    was   developed   at   the   request   of   mixing   and   mastering   engineers   who   wanted   a   multi-band   version   of   the   original   SideMinder   plugin   with   the   ability   to tweak every variable. This plugin uses traditional, analog style Linkwitz-Riley discrete crossovers for band separation. • SideMinder   ZL2   was   developed   at   the   request   of Ableton   Live   users who wanted   a   zero   latency version   of   the   SideMinder   ME2   plugin   for   live   use. The   processing   core   of   this plugin is real-time vs the "lookahead" core of ME2 and provides a somewhat more relaxed result. • SideMinder   Max ,   our   latest   and   most   advanced   version,   is   a   spectral   processor   that   takes   the   original   SideMinder   process   to   the   max   over   thousands   of   frequency   bands.   It offers   the   greatest   amount   of   width   maximizing   while   being   easy   to   use.   In   our   opinion   it   is   the   best   sounding   multi-band   SideMinder   due   to   its   linear   phase   filters.      This plugin can be used in all applications (mixing, mastering and video post production) but with somewhat higher CPU load than the other versions.

SideMinder Series Dynamics Width Maximizer Plugins (44.1k-192k Sample Rates) VST2, VST3 and AAX - 64-bit Windows 7+ with OpenGL2 or higher graphics   VST2,VST3, AU and AAX - Mac OS 10.11+ on Intel & Apple Silicon Please try the 14 day free demos before purchasing.

VST and VST3 are trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Audio Unit is a trademark of Apple, Inc. AAX, Avid, the Avid logo, and Pro Tools are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Special thanks to the folks at Tracktion for their awesome Pluginval tool!  Check out Tracktion’s latest DAW here: https://www.tracktion.com/

SideMinder ME2 - 2nd Generation Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Mastering Edition SideMinder   ME2   provides   the   ultimate   in   MONO   COMPATIBLE   stereo   image   enhancement   and   control.      SideMinder   ME2   is   an   advanced   and   feature-packed version   of   the   original SideMinder   with   up   to   three   independent   bands   of   stereo   width   control   plus   extended   range   Bass   Narrow   control.      Additional   features   include   selectable   input/output   correlation metering,   stereo/mono   and   normal/delta   outputs   for   quickly   auditioning   SideMinder   ME2’s   action.      Also   included   is   an   “Advanced”   control   section   for   those   who   want   to   fine   tune SideMinder ME2’s Width Limiter section. SideMinder   ME2   can   be   used   to   enhance   and   control   the   stereo   width   of   mixed   program   material   and   can   add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be   heard!      As   in   the   original   SideMinder, SideMinder   ME2   is   not   a   compressor   and   does   not   affect   the   dynamics   of   your   mix,   only   the   stereo   width.      SideMinder   ME2   does   not   add   ambience   but,   instead,   brings   out   the width in the original source material. Fit It In The Mix WIDTHWISE ! SideMinder   ME2   now   features   an   external   sidechain   input   for   a very   unique way   of   “fitting   a   signal   in   the   mix”   -   WIDTHWISE !      In   the   same way   that   a   compressor   can   be   sidechained to   duck   the   level   of   the   source   signal   in   response   to   increases   in   sidechain   level   SideMinder   ME2   can   reduce   the   stereo   width    of   the   source   signal   in   response   to   increasing   width    of the sidechain signal.  Cool! (External sidechain must be supplied a stereo signal which is not supported in some DAWs.)

DOWNLOAD THE SIDEMINDER ME2 PLUGIN HERE (demo operates as a fully functional 14 day trial until license is entered)

SideMinder 2 - 2nd Generation Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer Big,   wide,   stereo   mixes   are   impressive   but   can   fall   apart   when   mixed   to   mono and   played   back   on   a   single   speaker.   This   can   happen   when   the   left   and   right channels   contain   out   of   phase   signals   that   partially   (or   maybe   even   completely) cancel   when   mixed   to   mono.   Many   stereo   image   enhancers   can   cause   this   -   or make   it   worse   -   by   pushing   the   left   and   right   channels   further   out   of   phase. This out   of   phase   condition   shows   up   as   negative   correlation   on   correlation   meters. If   your   stereo   mix   shows   up   in   the   negative   range   on   a   correlation   meter   it means that parts of the signal will cancel when mixed to mono. NOT GOOD! SideMinder 2 can help control this stereo imaging problem! SideMinder   2   is   the   2nd   generation   of   our   dynamic   stereo   width   enhancer plugin   that   can   increase   the   width   of   a   stereo   track,   bus   and/or   master   mix WITHOUT    risking    polarity    inversion.    SideMinder    2    "listens"    to    the    stereo material   using   lookahead   FIR   correlation   detectors   and   dynamically   narrows   the stereo   image   precisely   if/when   negative   correlation   begins   to   occur.   Since   the stereo   width   is   only   narrowed   when   it   needs   to   be   an   overall   increase   in   stereo width can be applied that remains MONO COMPATIBLE. This   effect   cannot   be   obtained   using   typical   "mid/side"   compression   techniques nor does SideMinder alter the overall dynamics of the signal (SideMinder 2 is a "differential limiter" not a dynamic range limiter). Additionally,   by   seeing   and   hearing   what   SideMinder   is   doing   to   the   signal   one   can   make   better   choices   when   mixing   and   mastering   to   produce   the   best   sounding   result   when played on any system. SideMinder   2's width   enhancer   section   includes   a   "Bass   Mono"   control   that   narrows   the   stereo   image   below   the   selected   cutoff   frequency. This   control   helps   to   center   the   bass   and provides a more solid feel to the sound. This is a very important feature when mastering for vinyl. When SideMinder 2’s processing is bypassed the Output Correlation meter remains active for visual indication of the effect of the plugin before/after processing.

DOWNLOAD THE SIDEMINDER2 PLUGIN HERE (demo operates as a fully functional 14 day trial until license is entered)

Is it “Snake Oil”?  Wytse says NO!

SideMinder ZL2 - Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Zero Latency - 2nd Generation SideMinder   ZL2   is   a   reduced   feature   set,   zero   latency    version   of   the   3-band   SideMinder   ME2   that   has   been   optimized   for   live   sound   applications   such   as   club   audio/EDM   where   a wide   but   solid   sound   is   desired.      SideMinder   ZL2   can   be   used   to   enhance   and   control   the   stereo   width   of   mixed   program   material   and   can   add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be   heard!     As with all versions of SideMinder, SideMinder ZL2 is not a compressor and does not affect the dynamics of your mix, only the stereo width in the original source material.  NOTE:     As   SideMinder   ZL2   works   in   real   time   (zero   latency)   it   cannot   anticipate   the   audio   the   same   way   the   SideMinder2   and   SideMinder   ME2   studio   versions   do.      However   it   still works very well and may be the ideal solution if you need to record with processing.  If you are unsure which version you need please try the free demos.

DOWNLOAD THE SIDEMINDER ZL2 PLUGIN HERE (demo operates as a fully functional 14 day trial until license is entered)

YouTube introduction and demo video

DOWNLOAD THE SIDEMINDER MAX PLUGIN HERE (demo operates as a fully functional 14 day trial until license is entered)