ModulTone has launched MS Widener 2.0, an updated version of its free mid/side stereo widening plugin. The update introduces a redesigned interface, additional stereo-processing controls, and monitoring features for working with stereo and mono signals.
The new interface provides two views. The Line view displays the stereo field alongside the controls, with width adjustable by dragging the edge of the displayed field. The new Route view illustrates the signal path from input to output.
MS Widener 2.0 adds Generate Sides, which creates a side signal from the mid signal above 150 Hz using eight all-pass filters. ModulTone states that this allows mono sources to be widened while leaving frequencies below 150 Hz unchanged. The generated component is designed to cancel when the signal is summed to mono.
Other new processing controls include Lift, which adds width to parts of the signal that are louder than the preceding few seconds, and Air, a side-only high-shelf filter at 3 kHz with adjustment up to 6 dB in either direction. Rotation can turn the stereo image by up to 45 degrees left or right before widening is applied.
The Listen control provides Stereo, Mono, and Side monitoring modes. The plugin also now includes correlation and mono-sum readouts, intended to help users check stereo compatibility. Additional workflow features include nine presets, A/B comparison, undo and redo functions, and bypass.
ModulTone has also corrected an issue in version 1.x where the goniometer displayed the left-channel signal on the right. MS Widener 2.0 includes an in-plugin automatic update function, and the update installs over version 1.x. Sessions created with version 1.x are stated to open with the same settings and sound in version 2.0.
MS Widener 2.0 is available free of charge without a licence key. The download link is sent by email from the ModulTone product page, while MS Widener 1.1 users are offered the update within the plugin.
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