5. Adding width with mid/side EQ
Traditional amping has plenty to offer when it comes to stereo processing. Guitarists who are serious about stereo simply get two stacks. But what about mid/side processing? Guitar Rig allows us to quickly apply mid/side EQing to our guitar tone, unlocking powerful mixing tricks that are typically the domain of studio nerds.
What exactly are the “mid” and “side” parts of a signal? The mid band contains all the parts of the sound that are the same in both the left and right channels of a stereo signal. The side band, meanwhile, contains all the sounds that differ between left and right. Guitars tend to be in mono, meaning they’re all “mid.” But effects such as chorus, phase, and delay – so long as they are stereo effects – can add juicy “side” content to the sound.
We experience this additional content as “width.” By processing the side band with simple EQing, we can enhance this feeling of width, emphasize the effects used, and create a glossy, immersive guitar sound. This trick works particularly well with heavily processed guitar parts that are intended to feel dreamy and expansive.
The key to unlocking mid/side processing in Guitar Rig 7 is the Split M/S component. Apply this component to your signal chain and then drop Solid EQ into the “side” band.