Mid/Side Explained: Recording and Processing Techniques Demystified

Explore the ins and outs of both mid/side recording and mid/side processing techniques. Producer and audio engineer De Ana walks you through various practical techniques and demonstrates mid/side’s impact on your audio productions. Learn how to achieve balance between the direct sound and ambient stereo image using mid-side recording, how to decode the captured signals for stereo enhancement and mono compatibility, and what audio tools you can use to accomplish mid/side processing.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Mid/side in recording
02:57 Mid/side in mixing and mastering
05:12 Mid/side stereo imaging
06:35 Mid/side EQ
10:24 Mid/side compression
13:03 Outro

#izotope #mixing #mastering #musicproduction

SYNC ID: MB01FICIBXWTCZ4

[soundsbydiana]

Had so much fun making this! Thank you :)

[BigMTBrain]

EXCELLENT initiation to mid/side recording and processing. Sidenote: The more you learn, the more you learn there's so much more to learn. Be assured, with diligent and determined learning, experimentation and practice, at some point, you reach a level of competency, then MUCH later, mastery. Be sure to do everything you can to keep it fun and light along the way. ... Encouraging words spoken mainly for myself, but hopefully encouraging as well for others at any point and level along their music production journey. IZotope and their many amazing network of music production professions / educators help tremendously! Not to mention the production magic afforded by their superb plugins.

[bassManDavis]

Never thought or heard of mid side processing? What a fantastic video, so clearly presented and full of ways to use this technique! Thank you so much, keep em coming, wonderful

[lucasschachtaudio]

Your studio looks very comfy :) Thanks for the detailed explanation.

[karakisla]

LOVE YOU DIANA! We should see you here, more and more!!! @iZotopeOfficial

[mdk]

This is the first time am seeing / hearing about M/S "Recording". That's a cool technique, especially inverting one copy. Thanks for this comprehensive explanation. Helped a lot!

[_billion_suns]

Hey iZotope! All these videos you make about using your products are EXTREMELY helpful and appreciated! I own all your plugs and these tutorials ensure I’ll keep coming back to your stuff when it’s time to upgrade.

[arpeggioblues]

Thank you.. good simple explanation of M/S processing.. the descritpion of the M/S recording spelled out where this concept came from... So in post processing, it seems that you're trying to simulate the track as if it was recorded with the two mics.. nice.. thank you. clears up a lot

[yaoguangtang]

I like your M/S compression techniques

[mstudiospalmdesert]

That was informative. Thanks. Love the products.

[buckycore]

I love these videos so much. The wealth of knowledge you guys provide beside the killer plugins is mind-blowing

[stevel]

Thank you for that little bit of detail that i didn't know. Side compression pushes in, Mid compression pushes out.

[RokSivante]

Jeezuz, “ya don’t know what ya don’t know…”

I’ve known OF m/s processing for a while though only ever used the Imaging, but have started getting curious since Ozone 11…

That a/b example of the multi and compression on mid getting the drums popping on the jazz… 🤯

New level just unlocked. Lol. Love it. 😎😼

[swapanbiswasmusic]

dear frined...your explain is wonderful....i have aquestions, my recording DAW ALWAYS High gain record, tell what is perfect recording db level in headroom, i hope you exact sugestion me, GOD Bless you

[alex.m]

Thank you for the detailed explanation 👏👏❤

[andydutchman]

Best thing about the topic: when you just realize that you're already using Ozone 10 ;-) Great video!

[sounds-god]

Such a great video ❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥
Can we please talk about
1. What happens with the phase at the point where the frequencies (BANDS) split - if it was just EQ. Also, what happens with the phase in general when I EQ: Let's say I turn down the lows drastically. Do I ruin the phase? And then
2. What happens around those points (between the bands) if I use Multi-Band compression in MS mode.
Thank you! 🙏🏼

[rsutin]

Off label usage: I am a percussionist who does a fair amount of track sweetening work. Mid-side can be a very helpful recording technique for the vibraphone. While a spaced pair is a more normal way to record the instrument, some engineers/producers that I have offered tracks to in the past like to not have the instrument sound so wide in their mix (for instance, a scale from bottom to top of the instrument will run from left to right on the sound stage quite dramatically and in a way not really cool for a background layer... draws too much attention). But if you fold a spaced pair to mono, the phase cancellation can make the instrument sound dull. If I know that is how the tracks I am being asked to offer may be used, I sometimes record them in mid-side to avoid that issue. I create a stereo mix from that which is as wide as I like to hear the instrument and deliver that; if they fold it in to make it narrower there is less harm to the sheen.

[dpinskey]

I definitely love using m/s recording for vocals with multiple mics (usually 3) of varying types and character, with two panned to various degrees and one to hold center. And since all of the mics differ in their frequency responses, there is much less risk of phase cancellation, but if so, then a simple phase flip takes care of the problem.

[vtenort]

Wow! She is Great! A little rushed job. Thanks.