[LAU] M/S processing w/o 'convenient' plugins

[Jörn Nettingsmeier]

On 05/14/2016 05:35 PM, Paul Davis wrote:
>
>
> On Sat, May 14, 2016 at 4:57 AM, Fons Adriaensen <fons at linuxaudio.org
> <mailto:fons at linuxaudio.org>> wrote:
>
>
>     It only makes sense if you use different EQ on M and S (otherwise
>     there's no point to convert to M/S in the first place). That's a
>     case not covered by Ardour's strip structure, unless you have
>     a stereo EQ plugin that has separate controls for the two channels.
>     If not, you need to build the required path using additional mono
>     bus strips.
>
>
> Not true in nightly builds.

And with older versions of Ardour:

1. you have a stereo track already. disconnect it from the master.
2. create a mono "M" bus-
3. create a stereo "S" bus (yes, see below).
4. route both outs of the stereo track to "M".
5. route the L out of the stereo track to the first input of "S".
6. route the R out of the stereo track to the second input of "S".
7. invert the polarity of the second input of "S".
8. now add your desired processing (usually EQ) to M and S (use mono 
plugins for S despite the bus being stereo).
9. set the M panner to center.
10. set the S panner to center and maximum width.
11. set the M and S faders to -6dB to begin with, adjust S level to taste.

But: M/S processing is really only useful when you are remastering a 
stereo mix without access to the individual components, or maybe if you 
are dealing with stereo mic recordings as part of a larger mix.
If you are creating a multitrack mix from individual channels, M/S buys 
you exactly nothing that couldn't be done better and more precisely in 
the individual channels.



-- 
Jörn Nettingsmeier
Lortzingstr. 11, 45128 Essen, Tel. +49 177 7937487

Meister für Veranstaltungstechnik (Bühne/Studio)
Tonmeister VDT

http://stackingdwarves.net