bx_control V2 or Waves Center

[adam79]

I've been getting into M/S recently and I'm looking to expand my plugs in this area. Would you guys recommend the bx_control V2 or Waves Center? Both are on sale, $19 and $29 respectively.
I haven't had a chance to demo either, but since I'm new to this I might be missing something while demoing that I'll want further down the road, when I'm more familiar with M/S.
Any other suggestions on similar plugs is definitely welcome.

Thanks,
Adam

[Stephen Bond]

I guess you mean Control V2 I recently got it and am finding it more useful than I first imagined.

I used Waves Center a lot and like it very much. These plugins do similar things in one respect but each has excellent features the other doesn't have. So, you guessed it, get both. You might be waiting for this price point to come round for quite a while for either, if at all.

Stephen

[Stephen Bond]

Just to further muddy the waters, this has just come up on sale at $29 also.

http://www.waves.com/plugins/emi-tg1...12345-overview

JJP said the Spread control revolutionised his mixes and if Waves ever dropped it he was "out"!

Certainly sounds great in my ears and I used to like the results when my mastering engineer would use it at Abbey Road.

Stephen

[adam79]

Can the Voxengo MSED be a substitute for Waves Center? Does it's Mid and Side gain knobs work the same as the Center and Side faders in Center? Also, can the combo of MSED and an EQ with M/S do everything that the Waves Center and bx_control V2 do?

I was checking out a plug just now that can separate mid and side and export each one into their own track. This sounds rad, but I think I accidentally closed the tab and forget it's name.

I'll definitely check out that EMI channel strip, especially if what I wrote above is accurate and I can skip over Center and bx_control.

[amagras]

Bx_solo and MSED are free, see if those can give you what you want first.

[Stephen Bond]

In short, Waves Center features Hi, Lo and Punch controls which you can direct to the mid, sides or anywhere in between. They turn out to be more useful that you might imagine.

The bx Control V2 features the mono maker which is very useful in its own right. The width control can be cranked right up, maybe extra wide compared to the Waves and TG but I'm personally unlikely to use it on max. Monitoring and panning options are fully featured in this plugin and once again will probably prove themselves to be more useful than one might first imagine.

The TG is just a spreader but probably has a different sound to the bx and the Waves. The Waves is purely mid side level control, the bx and the TG width likely add some inverted phase stuff but my guess is they sound different. Certainly, I like the TG first and foremost for a little extra width.

Hope that helps!

Stephen

[adam79]

Originally Posted by Stephen Bond

In short, Waves Center features Hi, Lo and Punch controls which you can direct to the mid, sides or anywhere in between. They turn out to be more useful that you might imagine.

The bx Control V2 features the mono maker which is very useful in its own right. The width control can be cranked right up, maybe extra wide compared to the Waves and TG but I'm personally unlikely to use it on max. Monitoring and panning options are fully featured in this plugin and once again will probably prove themselves to be more useful than one might first imagine.

The TG is just a spreader but probably has a different sound to the bx and the Waves. The Waves is purely mid side level control, the bx and the TG width likely add some inverted phase stuff but my guess is they sound different. Certainly, I like the TG first and foremost for a little extra width.

Hope that helps!

Stephen

I think someone already said this, but isn't the Mono Maker just a high pass on the mid channel? I think I can rephrase my question now that I'm a bit more versed in this M/S stuff. M/S mode is only as good as the EQ it's being used on. What EQ's do you guys think excel at M/S?

Also, how's the phase effected with the spread control on the TG1234? It looks like it may be a CPU hog. I won't have a chance to demo it, or any of the other plugs mentioned 'til tomorrow.

[amagras]

Originally Posted by adam79

I think someone already said this, but isn't the Mono Maker just a high pass on the mid channel?

I don't think it is, just to be safe don't count on that. You can try A1stereocontrol

Originally Posted by adam79

What EQ's do you guys think excel at M/S?

For mixing, mastering? I like SIRAudio StandardEQ and Fabfilter ProQ, Soundspot Overtone and bx_digital

[adam79]

Originally Posted by amagras

For mixing, mastering? I like SIRAudio StandardEQ and Fabfilter ProQ, Soundspot Overtone and bx_digital

That was my other question I forgot to ask. When I initially was googling for M/S info the results were mainly about mastering. Are there certain things you use M/S for when mixing and then other ones when mastering? I'm still trying to figure out mixing so I have even touched on mastering yet.

[adam79]

Originally Posted by Stephen Bond

In short, Waves Center features Hi, Lo and Punch controls which you can direct to the mid, sides or anywhere in between. They turn out to be more useful that you might imagine.

How is that different then using an EQ in M/S mode?

Originally Posted by Stephen Bond

The TG is just a spreader but probably has a different sound to the bx and the Waves. The Waves is purely mid side level control, the bx and the TG width likely add some inverted phase stuff but my guess is they sound different. Certainly, I like the TG first and foremost for a little extra width.

Have you tried the AIR Stereo Width plugin (I think that's what it's called)? When I bought PT it came with an AIR plugin suite.