Center by Waves stereo width and mid-side effects plugin interface

Center: Stereo Width and Mid-Side Plugin by Waves

Center is a mid-side stereo processing plugin from Waves that separates the center and side channels of an already mixed track. It lets you adjust stereo width, vocal level and the balance of centered sounds without the original multitracks.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

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01Overview

Center is built for stereo mixes that are already finished. It splits the center "phantom" channel from the sides, so you can change how much of a sound sits in the middle or spreads out to the edges. The developer positions it as a way to fine-tune or remix a track during mastering, without access to the original session. Use it to rebalance a mix, open up space for pads, or narrow the low end for vinyl cutting.

Best for

Vocal level adjustment
Stereo width enhancement
Mastering stereo bus
Vinyl mastering prep
Remixing finished tracks
Opening space for pads

Developer: Waves
Category: Stereo Width
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Separates the center phantom channel from the sides of a stereo track
Changes vocal levels in already mixed stereo tracks
Widens stereo imaging for more impact and clarity
Opens space for stereo pads by adjusting centered sounds
Remixes old stereo mixes without the original multitracks
Narrows low frequencies for vinyl mastering

03In depth

Mid-Side Control for Finished Stereo Mixes

Center works by separating the mono-compatible center from the stereo sides, a technique usually done with mid-side processing. Waves describes the plugin as putting that process into a simpler interface, so you can work with it without building a mid-side routing chain yourself.

Once the center and sides are separated, you can widen or narrow the stereo image or change the relative level of each part. This makes it possible to adjust lead vocals or other centered sounds inside a stereo file, which is hard to do with standard EQ or compression alone.

Practical Uses in Mixing and Mastering

The plugin covers several common problems. You can widen a mix for more impact and clarity, or open space for stereo pads by moving some energy away from sounds mixed to the center. For mastering, the low frequencies can be narrowed, which is useful when preparing material for vinyl.

Center also supports remixing older stereo material when the multitracks are no longer available. It is a stereo-processing tool rather than a replacement for a full session, so its results depend on how the original mix was made.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Waves
Type	Plugin
Category	Stereo Width
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Center used for?

Center separates the center and side channels of a stereo track so you can change the balance of centered sounds, such as lead vocals, and adjust stereo width. Waves lists remixing old mixes and narrowing low frequencies for vinyl mastering among its uses.

Do I need the original multitracks to use Center?

No. Center is designed to work on stereo mixes that are already finished, so the original multitracks are not required.

Which formats and operating systems does Center support?

Center is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS. Mac support covers macOS Monterey 12 through Sequoia 15, and PC support covers Windows 10 and later.