The original question was about widening an (already) stereo signal, making a wider sound-space.
I've tried Flanger, but it introduces non-stereo artifacts... can you suggest a couple of other strategies or maybe minimalist Flanger settings to try, or maybe other filters or plug-ins to consider?
First, you can get some creative "special effects", but
most of this stuff is going to mess-up the sound of a song to some extent.
If you understand the algebra, you can accomplish most of what's described in the Wikipedia article with the
Channel Mixer. (If it makes it easier, you can create L-R and R-L files and mix/blend these with the original.)
Try: Effect -> Stereo -> Channel Mixer with the
Inside Out preset.
Or, try a something like this:
-- Left Channel --
Left volume = 75%
Right Volume = -25%
-- Right Channel --
Left Volume = -25%
Right Volume = 75%
Or, this isn't exactly "widening", but to add to the "stereo feeling" you can try mixing-in some delayed signal from the opposite channel:
- Create a copy of your file.
- Use the
Exchange Channels preset in the
Channel Mixer on the copy.
- Create a short delay by adding about 25 milliseconds (0.025 sec) of silence to the beginning of the copy-file.
-
Mix the modified file into the original at about 30% volume.
-
Volume Maximize to reduce the mixed volume and prevent clipping.
You can experiment with the delay settings and mix-levels to see if you get a pleasing result. Delays greater than about 50ms start to sound like an echo, and this
probably isn't what you want. Re-mixing in a short delay also creates a comb filter (similar to phasing/flanging without the "movement"). A lower mix-in level will minimize the comb filter effect.
Notes:
- Experiment freely with the
Channel Mixer, but it's generally best to keep the left & right "balanced"
- The minus sign is a phase inversion.
- Some operations will alter the volume level and you can
Volume Maximize or
Max/Match to keep a high level and also reduce the levels if necessary to prevent clipping (distortion).
-
Mixing is done by mathematical
addition. So for example if you mix a phase-inverted signal with itself you are effectively subtracting. (You can mix/blend the widened sound with the original, but try to understand the math because you can end-up doing things like completely eliminating one channel, etc.)
- The bass is generally in-phase and similar in both channels, so some of these effects can reduce bass. To compensate, you can use filters to create a separate bass file and re-mix in the bass after any "widening".
- Out of phase signals will cancel completely when played on a mono system. So, the
Inside Out preset will act like a center-channel vocal remover on a mono system. And, some out-of-phase "center channel" information will be subtracted acoustically (in the air) when played in stereo.
Have fun!