02-25-2025, 03:54 AM
Thank you for educating me on the options already included in the software! I actually did not even think about using Channel mixer for separating m/s, but of course.. Regarding the plugin delta and mix knob complications, I fully get that you want the interface to be as uncomplicated as possible. A minimalistic example of this is the way it's realized in Reaper:
There's a fairly descreet mix knob on top right corner of every plugin wrapper window, which enables user to mix between 0-100% dry and wet signal, for every plugin. In addition, if you left click the knob with a keyboard modifier key pushed, it engages the delta solo mode. Reaper is not known for hiding options, but perhaps they have "hidden" this delta button because of the screen estate. I guess it also prevents people from accidentally messing with it. I just became aware of it some time ago because of this, I would have happily been using it instead of some manual work, if I only knew it before.. I guess the advantage for having the button is that because it's easy, you end up using it more in order to understand what a specific plugin does to you signal. But I get it might not be a priority for many users.
Concerning the m/s waveform and editing, I believe Wavelab has had this option for a while, from 10.x version at least:
https://www.steinberg.help/r/wavelab-pro...ide_c.html
iZotope RX has this option as well in later versions, but as I haven't upgraded my version from 8 I have been unable to try it. I believe they first encode the track to m/s in order to show the waveform and spectogram, and for playback (real time) and rendering (offline) they decode it back to stereo? Anyway it seems like it's possible to edit mid and side information separately in both of these editors. I guess you should be able to first convert a LR file offline to mid/side in Audio File editor with Soundop, then add some parallel and channel mixer effects to FX Rack in order to decode the track to LR in realtime in order to enable mid / side editing while still listening it as LR? Using just one button to enable M/S editing would be quicker/simpler though.
I believe using m/s editing (in waveform and spectral view) can be especially useful if you work with post production and dialogue, as you could easily repair and edit stuff for the mid channel only, without affecting too much the ambient sound for example. Or to edit unwanted ambient sounds out in order to create more room and less distraction for your mid signal (dialogue, probably). But for music production and mastering work as well, especially for repairing unwanted artefacts.
Cheers!
There's a fairly descreet mix knob on top right corner of every plugin wrapper window, which enables user to mix between 0-100% dry and wet signal, for every plugin. In addition, if you left click the knob with a keyboard modifier key pushed, it engages the delta solo mode. Reaper is not known for hiding options, but perhaps they have "hidden" this delta button because of the screen estate. I guess it also prevents people from accidentally messing with it. I just became aware of it some time ago because of this, I would have happily been using it instead of some manual work, if I only knew it before.. I guess the advantage for having the button is that because it's easy, you end up using it more in order to understand what a specific plugin does to you signal. But I get it might not be a priority for many users.
Concerning the m/s waveform and editing, I believe Wavelab has had this option for a while, from 10.x version at least:
https://www.steinberg.help/r/wavelab-pro...ide_c.html
iZotope RX has this option as well in later versions, but as I haven't upgraded my version from 8 I have been unable to try it. I believe they first encode the track to m/s in order to show the waveform and spectogram, and for playback (real time) and rendering (offline) they decode it back to stereo? Anyway it seems like it's possible to edit mid and side information separately in both of these editors. I guess you should be able to first convert a LR file offline to mid/side in Audio File editor with Soundop, then add some parallel and channel mixer effects to FX Rack in order to decode the track to LR in realtime in order to enable mid / side editing while still listening it as LR? Using just one button to enable M/S editing would be quicker/simpler though.
I believe using m/s editing (in waveform and spectral view) can be especially useful if you work with post production and dialogue, as you could easily repair and edit stuff for the mid channel only, without affecting too much the ambient sound for example. Or to edit unwanted ambient sounds out in order to create more room and less distraction for your mid signal (dialogue, probably). But for music production and mastering work as well, especially for repairing unwanted artefacts.
Cheers!