Stereo-Enhancer Manual

What is Stereo-Enhancer?:
Stereo-Enhancer is a VST-plugIn for the PC-platform for the modification of the stereo-width of a signal. The adjustment can be made for low, mid and high frequencies seperately. The separation of the frequency-bands is achieved by means of linear-phase FIR-filters. This is, because the sum of the three filtered (not yet modified) signals should sum up exactly to the original signal. From the use of FIR-technology results a quite high CPU-usage, because convolutions have to be implemented - sorry for that. The adjustment of the stereo image itself is based on amplifying/attenuating the difference of the respective channel with the mono-sum. This also implies, that the plugIn can't be used to create pseudo-stereo signals from mono-signals, as this difference is exactly zero in this case. It's just a Stereo-Enhancer, not a Stereo-Creator.

general Parameters:
On the right side of the plugin window you find the general parameters, these are:

• Mono: This switch mixes the final output signal to a mono-signal, to quickly check out the mono-compatibility of the resulting output signal.
• Dry/Wet: crossfades between original signal and effect signal
• Vol: the global output volume

Parameters for the different frequency-bands:
As already mentioned, prior to the actual stereo-width regulation the signal is splitted into three frequency bands. The crossover frequencies are controlled via the CrsFrq-Knobs. For each frequency band, there are the following parameters:

• Width: This is the knob for the actual stereo-width - it controls, by which amount the mono-sum-signal and the respective difference-to-the-mono-sum-signal goes to the left and right output channel. A setting of 0% will only put the mono-sum to the left and right channel, with a setting of 50% both signals will go to the channel with equal amounts (and thereby reconstruct the original signal), and with a setting of 100% only the respective difference-signal goes to the channel.
• Gain: As difference-signals are very small in signals with a weak stereo-width, and on the other hand the mono-sum is quite large here, the need for a gain control may arise.
• Mute: Sometimes one may want to listen to the different frequency bands seperately. That's why each band can be muted.

Have much fun in making music, Braindoc.