The Sound Board

I haven't used v1 (in fact I hadn't even heard of it), but this looks like a very useful utility - widens mono to stereo without phase issues, and now has a crossover to exclude bass frequencies and a mono compatibility check.



https://polyversemusic.com/products/wider/

Thanks Guy!

I use a widener from Izotope (which I believe was also free at the time.) Are you familiar with that one?

I’ve used Wider on multiple occasions. It’s a useful plugin to have.

Thanks for letting us know about the update, Guy. I welcome the new features.

Best,

Geoff

Lawrence wrote: ↑May 11, 2025 10:42 am Thanks Guy!

I use a widener from Izotope (which I believe was also free at the time.) Are you familiar with that one?

Actually no - I somehow missed that though I have a unit inside Ozone I think that can do it. I often use the Waves PS22 for this chore, and got the Brainworx Stereomaker that is very good for mono compatibility.

However I really do like the notion here of simply keeping the bass mono, so it might become my goto. (Still haven't actually tried it, mind, been a bit busy with stuff).

The Ozone plug is called Imager, and I agree-keeping the bass mono is a good feature. Downloading Wider.

presently I like PS22 the best - except it requires that stupid waveshell.

Brainworks Stereomaker is my current favorite, but it looks like Widener eliminates some of the steps? Downloaded yesterday, will take it for a spin soon.

Wider has been useful in the past indeed. Great that they added the extra features in v2, very welcome. I'll admit that if in a pinch, I've used the MonoMaker on the Plugin Alliance stuff, as well as the widener (though less so). I find in moderation it works well.

I'd be curious to hear what frequency you guys settle on for Mono filtering in these stereo wideners; for me it usually ends up being somewhere between 70Hz - 100hz

Lately, I've been on a hunt to widen my mixes. Once I've dealt with single channels and groups, I seem to have settled on the following chain: Kiive Audio NFuse in Neve Mode, Aroma in Mid/Side, and finally Leapwing StageOne 2 for controlled widening across the frequency spectrum. This seems to widen the mix quite a bit, while seemingly bringing it a bit forward (though that could be my imagination!)

The whole pursuit started after I became enchanted with the sound of the analog unit Spacecraft. The chain doesn't have the same sound, but I do like what it does, still.

Luke wrote: ↑May 12, 2025 10:58 amI'd be curious to hear what frequency you guys settle on for Mono filtering in these stereo wideners; for me it usually ends up being somewhere between 70Hz - 100hz

Finally tried it. Pretty damn impressive. In mono I can't hear any sonic changes as I widen from 0% to 200%, but it's definitely doing the business in stereo. And Luke, I find the LF crossover pretty much where you say.

My kind of plugin. Dead simple, no fuss, just the controls you need to do one job perfectly.

Agreed, Guy. Super simple, effective and free (!). Their other plugs are useful too, if not exactly "dead simple."