Stereo Expander — Your Sound. More Space.
Stereo Width, Mid/Side Processing & Live Analysis Plugin
Give your sound more room in the mix.
Stereo Expander by HighLife Samples brings together independent left and right delays, Mid/Side controls, and live stereo analysis in one resizable plugin.
Give a lead more space, add width to a vocal, or pull a wide pad back toward the center. Adjust the timing and balance of your stereo image, then use the live analyzer and Mono Check to see and hear how your settings translate.
Three Interface Layouts
Choose the layout that puts your most-used controls where you want them.
- STUDIO — A wide analyzer below the main controls, with the limiter and monitoring controls alongside it.
- CONSOLE — A central analyzer with processing controls grouped into left and right columns.
- ORBIT — Processing sections arranged around the analyzer, keeping the display in focus.
All three layouts scale with the plugin window. Switch between them while keeping your audio settings.
Take Full Control of Your Sound
- HAAS DELAY (0–50 ms per channel) — Adjust the left and right delays independently. Use small timing differences to create a sense of width, then listen in mono to check the result.
- MID/SIDE LEVELS (0–200%) — Adjust the center and sides separately. Bring a vocal forward in the center, give a synth lead more width, or narrow an overly wide sound.
- BALANCE — Shift the stereo image left or right.
- DRY/WET MIX (0–100%) — Blend the original signal with the processed sound to dial in the amount of widening you want.
- INPUT & OUTPUT GAIN — Set the level feeding the wet processing and adjust the final output.
- OUTPUT LIMITER — Control peaks with a stereo-linked limiter and an adjustable release from 5 to 1,000 ms.
- MONO CHECK & BYPASS — Audition the mono sum and compare your settings with the original signal.
8 Factory Presets
Start with Wide Vocal or Wide Lead and adjust the settings to suit your source. Try Haas Air for timing-based width, Mono Focus for a more centered image, or Deep Space for a broader effect.
The full collection includes Initialize, Haas Air, Left Dimension, Wide Matrix, Mono Focus, Deep Space, Wide Lead, and Wide Vocal. Save your own presets to recall your settings in future sessions.
Additional Features
- Live Mono/Mid and Stereo/Side spectrum with separate RMS readouts
- Left/Right spectrum and Mono/Stereo waveform views
- Freeze to hold the analyzer display while audio continues
- Stereo correlation meter and left/right output meters
- Resizable interface with three selectable layouts
- User preset saving and loading
- Built-in Producer Tips and optional hover explanations
- Offline activation using the same license code on Windows and Mac
Windows and Mac Compatibility
| Platform | Requirements | Formats |
|---|
| Windows | 64-bit Windows with a compatible DAW for plugin use | VST3, plus an optional standalone application |
| Mac | macOS 11 or newer with a compatible DAW | VST3 and Audio Units (AU) |
The universal Mac build supports Apple Silicon and Intel processors.
Installation and Downloads
Your download includes the installer for your operating system, eight built-in factory presets, two factory preset files, and PDF user and installation guides. Close your DAW before installing, then reopen it and rescan your plugins if needed.
Open Activate or Menu → User License and enter your 90-character license code. The same code works on Windows and Mac. Complete activation separately on each system.
The Windows installer is unsigned, and the Mac installer is not notarized. If your operating system displays a security prompt, follow the included installation guide.
