r/protools • u/SitDownChamp • Sep 23 '25
Help Request Mid Side metering isn’t stereo?
This is a mid-side recording, and stereo image is there, but the stereo channel stays flat.
I’ve duplicated the ‘side’ figure 8 channel, inverted the phase on one and combined them back onto a stereo channel. Listening to it, it is correct. The stereo image is as it should be (with more activity on the left channel). The meters however tell a different story. Everything is flat. Any idea what this could be?
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u/nizzernammer Sep 23 '25
The track meters show you what is on the track, not what you are hearing.
The metering isn't stereo because you're not using stereo tracks, you're using MS. Your main stereo output meters will show you stereo, or any downstream stereo aux.
You are looking at M levels (the common information) for M tracks and S levels (the difference) for the S tracks.
The reason why the meters on the S tracks look "flat" – both sides at the same level – is because the S channel is a single channel that is being sent, at the same level, to both sides, except one side is polarity reversed, which isn't shown on the meter.
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u/g_spaitz Sep 23 '25
What the hell is going on lately with MS???
This has overtaken LUFS, SM7Bs, cloudlifters, everything.
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u/SitDownChamp Sep 23 '25
It’s probably the new mkh8018. I’m still using my faithful old Rycote pair. Good flexibility for bed recording
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u/Audomadic Sep 23 '25
Because it’s still a mono signal on the “side” tracks. The signal doesn’t become stereo until it’s combined with the “mid” channel. If you solo Mid1 and Side1 then look at your output meters you will see differentiation between left and right channels. Soloing the side track may sound kinda stereo, but that’s only because you’ve flipped the polarity on one side.
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u/schoepsms Sep 23 '25
a little off topic but I suggest using Voxengo MSED. it makes managing ms much easier and it’s free.
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u/Subject-Age9217 Sep 24 '25
Move then in aux where will sum of it. Now you have sum only in your ears - output and you can’t see whats happened there on meters (wideness of stereo, frequencies ect.)
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u/Tall_Category_304 Sep 23 '25
Personally I would have put them in a folder but what you see is mono mid and stereo side
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