Widen. Unmask. Elevate Your Mix. Lateral Expander is a high-performance stereo enhancement tool designed to bring depth and dimension to your sound. It utilises a combination of LFO-modulated delay, pitch detuning, and intelligent cross-mixing to create expansive, immersive soundscapes. Whether you are opening up synths, thickening guitars, or pushing vocals to the edges of the mix, Lateral Expander lets you reshape space with musical control. What’s New in v2.0? Full Cross-Platform Support: Now fully optimised for both macOS and Windows, including native support for Apple Silicon. Professional Installers: Dedicated .pkg and .exe installers automate the setup of VST3, AU, and AAX components alongside global preset directories. Enhanced Stereo Metering: Real-time bulb meters provide immediate visual feedback on exactly how much energy is being pushed to the sides. Secret Feature: Auto Make-up Gain Expanding stereo width can often lead to phase cancellation or perceived level drops. The Lateral Expander v2.0 includes an intelligent Auto Make-up Gain algorithm that automatically calculates the RMS difference between the dry input and processed output. It applies a smooth gain ramp (up to 3x) to ensure your signal maintains consistent volume as you widen it. Core Interface & Controls Independent Panning Sliders: Control the independent width of the left and right voices to sculpt a custom stereo field. Symmetry Link: Activate the LINK button to snap both sides together for perfectly balanced widening. Detune Wander: Sets a static pitch offset (0 to 50 cents) to create thickness and simulate organic double-tracking. Stereo Delay: Adjust precision micro-delays (0 to 30 ms) to leverage the Haas effect for perceived width. Modulation Depth & Rate: Control the intensity and speed of the LFO-driven chorus effect for evolving spatial movement. Solo & Flip: SOLO isolates the wet signal for detailed shaping, while Flip Input swaps the output channels for alternative spatial perspectives. Advanced Preset Management v2.0 includes curated presets managed by a custom browser accessible directly from the header bar: Default: Balanced expansion (75% width) with subtle delay. Wide Chorus: Full width with high modulation and detune for lush, shimmering effects. Haas Effect: Precision-timed 18ms delay with no modulation for pure psychoacoustic widening. Technical Specifications Platform: macOS 10.13+ (Intel & Apple Silicon) and Windows 10+. Formats: VST3, AU, AAX. Interpolation: High-quality Hermite Interpolation for artifact-free sound during parameter changes. Memory: 4GB RAM recommended. Expand your horizons and master your stereo field. Visit www.auricleaudio.co.uk for more.