Logic Pro 9 Spreader plugin

[nulldevice]

I know what the spreader does, but...how does it do it? What's going on under the covers? Some M/S mojo, or some comb-filtering and panning...I'm curious about this.

Also, with such a plugin, what are the ramifications of using it, in terms of phase? I know with some plugins it's incredibly easy to screw up the phase alignment of a track with stereo spreading. Is this one of those too, or is Spreader a bit hardier about that?

 

[Peter Ostry]

I know what the spreader does, but...how does it do it? What's going on under the covers? Some M/S mojo, or some comb-filtering and panning...

Basically it is comb filtering and panning. The Logic Effects manual explains the function quite well.

Also, with such a plugin, what are the ramifications of using it, in terms of phase?

I think you have to be careful with all functions like this. Precise comb filtering should not make problems but there is no real precision in audio world. Maybe you don't only get phase problems with one frequency but a little of them with multiples or divisions of this frequency? Or subliminal "phase waves" due to wandering frequencies? On the other hand, stereo more or less lives on phase shifting beside the time differences. You need good ears to hear if you make your mix better or if you are on the way to disturb the stereo balance.

Regarding the Logic Stereo Spread plugin, I think it is was not a very good idea to provide the most radical setting as the default state. The manual talks about mastering but with this default setting the plugin introduces itself as a rather brutal effect.

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It would be interesting how people evaluate various stereo imaging plugins when it comes to spreading. I use the Logic Stereo Spread, Flux Stereo Tool, Sonalksis Stereo Tools and Brainworx plugins. They all sound different to me. Can someone with better knowledge and/or better ears tell where the audible differences may come from?

 

[nulldevice]

This is sort of what I thought. I figured it if it was a comb spreader then it'd be phase-tricky.

It's in the manual? Well, shoot, I shoulda just looked there! 🙂