What is Mid-Side Processing? And WHY to Use It!

Justin Colletti talks about how to use an often-misunderstood mode found in an increasing number of plugins and hardware devices: Mid-Side processing.

What does it mean, and what can it do for your productions? Justin discusses this, and more importantly the "why" of mid-side processing, especially in mastering, but also in special mixing circumstances.

Thanks to Gear Club, Soundtoys and YOU for sponsoring this episode.

[brucedickert]

I'm completely down with Q & A sessions. You would be an awesome resource in that capacity. Thanks Justin!

[watsonstudios]

I'll use mid-side in the mix on stereo groups if needed. I mostly use mid-side to widen hard panned guitars. I dip around 1-2k in the mid channel of the guitar group to push the guitars further out to the sides.

[rb]

Thanks. This is the most coherent explanation I have heard about m/s processing. I had avoided dealing with m/s processing because of an incorrect assumption it only applied to sources recorded in a m/s microphone arrangement.

[sebastianhabicht]

very well presented. Not a second of my time was wasted which is usually the case with most YouTube explanation vids. I appreciate the time you save people by putting in the time yourself to prepare a well structured coherent presentation.

[TheyStillCallMeRicky]

DS the vocal in the mid channel .. this one statement blew my mind
ty man! 8-)

[augustte]

Really clear video on M/S. Thanks for this.

[artisan]

A fun mixing use for mid/side is to put occasional vocal effects (delay, glitch, etc.) on the sides only, and thus leave the center vocal unaffected. Rare need, but it is pretty slick.

[soulelle]

I'm down for a weekly live q&a, thanks Justin!

[russellszabadosaka-pindin]

Another great video Justin, thank you. As you implied, I’ve found myself only needing mid-side processing in mixing when needing to gate or tame particular elements. Generally speaking, Fabfilter plugins taught me what M/S processing is, reading & following Bob Katz taught me how/when to use it.

[AlexAvila-hwys]

I used mid side a lot for my drums when I used a teac 3340s. Often times, I only had 2 tracks for drums L and R this allowed me the ability to grab the snare and kick drum and bring it out in the mix better.
I made the ms on my small consol

[elianmusic]

Lovely. Excellent. Quality.
Forever grateful for justin's existence and this wonderful podcast, cheers from Cairo <3

[patrickwilliams]

you did an amazing job on explaining this . I thought it was necessary for the mix. I do Hip hope and R&B with no live instruments, just software instruments and loops

[Nikitahristich]

I'm down for weekly q&a that would be amazing!

[lunarlabaudio]

I’d love to see a Q&A video. Haven’t seen them show up so, not sure you got enough interest for this.

As far as L-C-R, could you use a plugin like Waves Center to reprint your track as isolated Mid and Side tracks and then use an unlinked L/R plugin to affect only one side?

[DannyBoy.]

Yes please do more of these it is incredibly helpful. Best Danny

[Btvstudio]

I love your tutorials, you've got a great personality for it.

[Microwaved]

Hey Justin, I really like your podcasts. I'm down with the Q&A sessions!

[escenastudio]

Q&A on fridays will be great, go ahead and thanks for your help from Spain

[DeltaWhiskeyBravo]

Excellent info on mid side Justin. I'm using MS on my 2 bus Pulsar 8200, and then using MS for 2 different saturation types within the mid and side earlier in the mix.

[somethingsomething]

Sounds like Mid-Side processing isn't something you'd use most of the time, but can be a useful tool for some creative problem solving. Awesome video! Thanks for the information and insight! :)