Stereo Width

Stereo width describes how much of the stereo field a sound occupies, from a mono point locked in the center to a wide image that seems to surround the listener. Width is created through differences between the left and right channels — detuned unison voices spread across the field, short delays, chorus, and dedicated widening tools all generate it. Used well, width adds a sense of space and grandeur and helps busy arrangements feel open. It comes with a caution, though: low-frequency elements like kick and bass are usually kept narrow or mono for a solid, focused low end, and overly widened mixes can lose impact or partially collapse on mono systems, so checking a mix in mono is a standard habit.