PSP StereoController2 is a versatile stereo imaging plugin that fixes flawed recordings and shapes width, balance, delay, and frequency-specific stereo content.
Purpose and Core Function
PSP StereoController2 is a redesigned version of the original PSP StereoController, focused on controlling, adjusting, and rescuing incorrectly recorded dual-channel stereo tracks. It also supports specialized processing tasks and creative sonic effects. The plugin provides high-quality signal processing algorithms to address common stereo recording issues.
It handles problems such as level differences between channels, slight time misalignments, overly narrow or wide stereo images, off-center instruments, reversed polarity, swapped channels, and M-S encoded material. These capabilities make it a practical tool for fixing problematic recordings before mixing or mastering.
Key Capabilities and Controls
The plugin includes a delay of up to 2 ms to repair distance mismatches between microphones (approximately 68 cm or 2 ft). Width expansion reaches 400% for narrow stereo tracks, and gain control offers ±12 dB. Dedicated low and high frequency sections provide independent width and gain adjustments.
A stability (sides) balance control adjusts the sides without shifting center localization, while a center control repositions the stereo image’s center content. Standard balance, channel swap, polarity switches for both channels, an M-S decoder, a correlation meter, and a balance meter round out the toolset. Parameter filtering ensures smooth, click-free adjustments.
Workflow and Applications
In a mixing workflow, the plugin corrects unbalanced stereo images from dual microphone recordings, aligns channel timing, and adjusts overly narrow or wide stereo tracks. It can virtually shift instruments in the soundfield using combined level and delay panning. For mastering, it fine-tunes stereo imaging with precision.
M-S decoding lets you turn encoded tracks into L/R stereo for further processing. You can also reduce low-frequency width to mono for better speaker or subwoofer reproduction or vinyl cutting, and widen or narrow high-frequency content for airiness or control. Polarity and swap switches fix miswired tracks quickly.
Practical Use Cases
For recorded material, the plugin rescues tracks with time alignment errors using delay compensation, or corrects width problems with expansion up to 400%. It handles polarity and channel swap issues that cause phase cancellation, and adjusts center balance without affecting side content—ideal for fixing off-center vocals or instruments.
In creative contexts, you can emulate instrument placement by combining level and delay panning, or use the M-S decoder to explore mid-side processing. The low and high frequency width controls allow targeted stereo adjustments, such as making bass mono for club playback or adding spaciousness to highs in mastering.
Key features
- High quality signal processing algorithms
- Up to 2 ms delay for mic distance repair
- Width expansion up to 400% for narrow tracks
- Gain control ±12 dB with low/high frequency sections
- Stability (sides) balance without affecting center
- Center control for adjusting center panorama
- M-S decoder, channel swap, polarity switches, correlation and balance meters
Best for
PSP StereoController2 is best for audio engineers and producers who need to fix flawed stereo recordings, correct microphone timing and polarity issues, decode M-S tracks, or shape stereo width and balance across the spectrum during mixing and mastering.