MicroShift stereo widening plugin interface by Soundtoys

MicroShift: Stereo Widening Effect Plugin by Soundtoys

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (1,089 ratings)

MicroShift is a stereo widening effect plugin by Soundtoys that adds width to vocals, lead guitars, synths and other tracks using pitch shifting and time-varying delay. It offers three widening flavours modeled on classic hardware.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

MicroShift is built around a classic studio stereo widening technique. It combines micro pitch shifting with delay that changes over time to create a rich, wide image. Soundtoys says the plugin is designed to capture the character of sought-after hardware pitch shifters, including their saturation and de-glitching behavior. Its interface keeps the controls simple, so producers can widen a track quickly or fine-tune how the width is applied.

Best for

Background vocal widening
Lead guitar width
Synth stereo spread
Mix blending
Muddy-free stereo width

Developer: Soundtoys
Category: Stereo Width
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Widens vocals, lead guitars, synths and other tracks
Three widening flavours based on sought-after hardware
Focus knob to add width to a specific frequency range
Detune control for micro pitch shifting amount
Delay control for time-varying delay range
Clean, simple interface for fast results
Includes Little MicroShift mini version

03In depth

Sound and Character of the Widening Effect

MicroShift gives you three different flavours of stereo widening, selected for their resemblance to well-known hardware. Soundtoys says the design draws on the Eventide H3000, which used algorithms originally designed by the company's founders, and the AMS DMX 15-80s. According to the developer, the plugin reproduces quirks of these units, including saturation and their different de-glitching approaches.

The effect works on a range of sources. It can add spread to background vocals so they blend subtly into a mix, or make a lead guitar or synth feel larger.

Key Controls and Workflow

The Delay control sets the amount of time-varying delay used for the width. The Detune control sets the amount of micro pitch shifting. The Focus knob adds width to a specific frequency range, which helps you avoid widening low and mid content that can sound muddy on some tracks.

Soundtoys also includes Little MicroShift, a simpler version of the effect with a three-button, one-knob interface, for adding width to a track with minimal setup.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Soundtoys
Type	Plugin
Category	Stereo Width
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does MicroShift support?

MicroShift is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS and is 64-bit only.

What do I need to run MicroShift?

A free account at ilok.com is required. A physical USB iLok is not required. The plugin supports sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.

Which DAWs are supported?

The developer lists support for Pro Tools 12 or higher, Logic Pro X 10.7 or higher, Ableton Live 10.0 or higher, Studio One 4.5 or higher, Cubase 9.5 or higher, Nuendo 8 or higher, Reaper 6 or higher and Bitwig 4 or higher, with format availability varying by host and operating system.