The Focus Elements package consists of simplified versions of our Focus plugins: Stereoizer, Monofilter, and Stereoplacer. Elements plugins use the same powerful technology under the hood in a simplified package.

Monofilter Elements is an optimized version of our Monofilter plugin, providing access to the same bass management technology in a simplified package.

Features

• Sum your bass to mono
• Sharpen, adjust, and define low-frequency information
• Optimize for louder playback
• Mix and master safely for vinyl
• Easily anchor your bass while maintaining the track's original character.

Centering the bass where stereo effects are used.

Applying stereo effects to add life or richness to a sound can do wonders in the mid and high frequencies, but often muddies the bass. With Monofilter Elements, you can add stereo effects while still maintaining a solid center in the bass frequencies by narrowing the width below the point where the stereo nature of the effect ceases to have a significant impact.

During recording and live performance.

When working with live material, paying attention to taming the unpredictable and treating the PA with respect can bring real benefits. Using Monofilter Elements to ensure that subwoofers (and even bass frequencies in general) are centered in the mix can help share the load between overloaded amplifiers and speakers, as well as provide a clearer level of clarity at the low end. Where a more subtle approach would be beneficial, Monofilter Elements can be used with instruments and individual problem groups (toms/laptop performers/DJs/keyboard players using
global delay, etc.)

Stereoplacer Elements is a simplified version of our Stereoplacer plugin, allowing the same frequency-specific panning in a lightweight package.

Features

• Reconstruct a stereo image from mono
• Fix poor stereo microphone placement
• Restore archival recordings
• Organize samples from old records

The rest of the stereo image will remain intact, and the balance of the original sounds will be preserved.

Stereo spectrum analysis

The graphic display in Stereoplacer Elements can be used as a stereo differential spectrum analyzer. Leaving the controls in their default positions will set the plugin to analysis mode. The incoming sound is unaffected but is analyzed for stereo content, which is then displayed visually.

Bass 'panning'.

Generally, it is best to avoid panning bass sounds, as uncentered high energy in the low frequencies can present more problems than it solves. However, using Stereoplacer Elements, the low frequencies present in, for example, a bass track can be left centered while the higher frequencies (i.e., much of the attack component) can be moved across the stereo field with a shelf band, without the usual problems of panning bass, giving the impression that the bass part has been panned when, in fact, only the directional information and high-frequency transmission frequencies have been moved.

Stereoizer is a stereo width plugin with one clear difference: your mix will still sound great in mono. Add natural sound width and depth to any recording, mono or stereo, leaving the source's character intact. Or go super wide: the choice is yours. Achieve a more cohesive sound with polish and spatial balance without adding artificial reverbs, choruses, or delays. Full mono compatibility with no unwanted artifacts.

Features

• Natural stereo extension
• No unwanted artifacts
• Preserves the original character
• Highly mono-compatible
• Limited precision band
• Dynamic visual feedback

Detailed stereo extension

Each of the Stereoizer algorithms adapts the characteristics of your audio using techniques based on how the human ear perceives width. The IID (Interaural Intensity Difference), ITD (Interaural Time Difference), and Linear Width algorithms work independently, giving you maximum flexibility. For more dynamic adjustments, use the IID and ITD controls; the Linear Width control is more subtle and, more importantly, leaves the mix's "center space" intact.

Highly mono-compatible

Mono compatibility is easily overlooked, but it is as important now as it has always been. Many club sound systems and PA systems are still configured for mono playback, and most portable radios, smartphones, and many televisions are mono.

Stereoizer does not add any artificial reverb, meaning there are no disruptive artifacts such as doubling/chorus effects or phase cancellation affecting your mono signal. The 'Collapse output to mono' option allows you to check mono compatibility on the fly for your own peace of mind.

For mixing and sound design.

Stereoizer can be used to introduce width to mono recordings or to expand a limited stereo mix. You can add richness and brightness to your recordings without having to resort to overly cooked EQ and/or heavy compression.

Use Stereoizer to add delicacy by introducing natural sound width, or to position and enhance specific frequencies without altering the sound's inherent balance.

For post-production and restoration.

Stereoizer is a gift for subtly enhancing ambient sounds, clearing space for dialogue in the center, or even injecting stereo life into previously mono recordings.

Whether you are restoring old recordings or optimizing new recordings for louder playback, Stereoizer allows for a natural sound extrapolation from your existing stereo image. This can be used to reintroduce the natural ambience that may have been lost during other stages of the production process.

System requirements

Mac

• Mac OSX 10.7 or later
• 512MB RAM
• 64-bit only
• Available in 64-bit AAX, VST3, AU, and AudioSuite formats

Windows

• Windows XP or later
• 512MB RAM
• 64-bit only
• Available in 64-bit AAX, VST3, and AudioSuite formats