Stereo Widening Techniques | How To Use Stereo Widening In Mastering Music

Here are a few great stereo widening techniques and how to use them in music. When you listen to music on a car radio, you want that wide stereo sound that extends from the left door to the right. Not just two feet wide right above the stereo!

The stereo widening effect simply increases the perceived stereo width of a track or entire song. This is basically done by changing the phase, character and/or adding a delay to the left and right channels of the input signal.

Some stereo widening processors can also add side coding to a track, which allows it to turn a mono audio track into a stereo track.

Common Uses Of The Stereo Widening Effect In Mixing

Not much to explain here. You either want an individual track or an entire song to sound wider.

Basic Stereo Widening Effect Techniques, Tips, And Tricks

When it comes to expanding the stereo field for an entire song, nothing beats good arranging, panning and proper use of effects to enhance the stereo field of the mix.
I personally use stereo widening on every project during mixing and mastering. Usually sparingly, but I do use it.
But, don’t think just using a stereo widener on your song at the end is the secret weapon to getting that full stereo sound.

The problem - When used heavy, many processors starts to make the center of the song sound in stereo too. Which means your lead vocal and kick drum are in stereo. Not good.
It also doesn’t do a great job turning a mono track into a stereo track. It won’t give you that true sounding stereo width. It’s best to re-record the performance and then pan the two performances left and right.