Continuing the bpb Freeware Studio series after a bit of pause, here’s a list of the best freeware VST/AU plugins designed for stereo enhancement purposes. There are plenty of useful free stereo expander tools available both for Windows and Mac which is great, but please be careful – tools like these can either make or seriously break your mix!
Follow the links for screenshots & download info:
- bx_solo by Brainworx (Mac, Windows)
- DualPanner by Sleepy-Time DSP (Windows)
- Haa5 by Apex Audio Technologies (Mac, Windows)
- MStereoExpander by MeldaProduction (Mac, Windows)
- Rescue by Variety Of Sound (Windows)
- Stereo Tool by Flux (Mac, Windows)
- Stereo Touch by Voxengo (Mac, Windows)
- Stereoizer Free by Hbasm (Windows)
- UpStereo by QuikQuak (Mac, Windows)
- WideBug by Betabugs Audio (Windows)
My go-to plugin for this sort of stuff is Stereoizer Free. Simple interface and handy controls for preventing phasing issues make it a perfect tool for quick and easy stereo enhancement tasks.
For those careful and subtle tweaks on full mixes, Rescue by Variety Of Sound is the way to go. This plugin will help brush up the stereo image slightly, without messing it up like a stereo tsunami. The PRO version has a additional filter controls, useful for keeping the focus in the bass frequencies.
Those are my two favorites, but make sure you check out the other plugins on the list too, especially Stereo Tool, bx_solo and MStereoExpander which are often praised on audio forums.
And that’s all for today. Did you like the article? Have I missed any good freeware stereo expander plugins? Leave your replies in the comments section below!
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Last Updated on May 11, 2015 by Tomislav Zlatic.
