WIDE / plugin 03

stereo width that holds up in mono.

allpass decorrelation across 40 ERB-warped bands, with per-band correlation feedback that keeps every frequency mono-safe. expand without phase collapse. no Haas tricks.

50 papers. 5 knobs. $29.

KERN WIDE plugin interface

in motion

watch WIDE work.

WIDE v1.3.3 with frequency-dependent spectrum smoothing, peak hold ghost line, and transient flash overlay. April 7 visual identity refresh still in place: editable EQ values, improved inline controls.

listen

hear the difference.

click play. each demo plays the original, then auto-switches to WIDE halfway through. click either box to toggle manually.

🎧 for best results, listen on headphones or studio monitors.

vocal 0:00 / 0:00
vocal II 0:00 / 0:00
drums 0:00 / 0:00
drums II 0:00 / 0:00
pad 0:00 / 0:00
pad II 0:00 / 0:00
piano 0:00 / 0:00
guitar 0:00 / 0:00

explore the interface

see what you're hearing.

WIDE in Stereo mode shaping a guitar loop. the width curve shows where the stereo field opens up, with mono protection below the FOCUS crossover.

KERN WIDE in Stereo mode, width shaping with mono crossover protection

hover the numbered dots to explore the interface

features

what makes WIDE different.

01 / psychoacoustic width curve

width follows human perception of stereo across frequency. most expansion where your ears are most sensitive. based on perceptual research.

02 / three stereo modes

STEREO for natural width. M/S for mid-side balance. HAAS for delay-based widening. each mode uses different psychoacoustic strategies.

03 / mono-compatible by design

per-band correlation feedback keeps every frequency safe for mono. the MONO button lets you check instantly. no phase cancellation surprises.

04 / frequency-focused expansion

the FOCUS knob targets width to a specific frequency range. expand just the highs, just the mids, or the full spectrum.

under the hood

the signal path.

1

input conditioning

M/S encoding separates mid and side channels. the signal is prepared for independent stereo processing.

2

ERB spectral analysis

40 perceptually-spaced bands analyze the frequency content. each band gets independent width control shaped by the psychoacoustic width curve.

3

allpass cascade

40 biquad allpass filters with ERB-warped golden-ratio spacing create frequency-dependent phase shifts. this is the core decorrelation engine.

4

correlation constraint

per-band ICC feedback keeps every frequency mono-safe. no phase cancellation, no collapsing stereo field.

5

auto-compensation

loudness-matched output so the wider signal never sounds louder than the original. you hear the width, not the volume.

specifications

the numbers.

3 stereo modes
40 allpass biquads
under 3% CPU
26 factory presets
4 controls
$29 forever
VST3 / AU
ERB-warped golden ratio
per-band ICC feedback

system requirements

macOS macOS 12+, Intel or Apple Silicon
windows Windows 10+, 64-bit (VST3)
DAW any VST3 / AU compatible host

go deeper

full documentation.

controls, stereo modes, how the allpass cascade works, preset guide, quick start recipes, and technical specs.

read the docs

$29

one-time. yours forever.

or get all three for $59