SAMPLED

Mixing and mastering · updated 2026-08-16

MID/SIDE

Splitting a stereo signal into what's shared (mid) and what differs (side) so you can process centre and width separately.

A Solid State Logic Matrix mixing console with channel strips, faders and pan pots — the desk layout behind the gain, EQ and balance terms in this section.
Mixing and mastering — A Solid State Logic Matrix mixing console with channel strips, faders and pan pots — the desk layout behind the gain, EQ and balance terms in this section.

Photo: Solid State Logic (SSL) Matrix Mixing Console at Audio Mix House, Studio C (opens in a new tab) by Audio Mix House (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

Key takeaways

  • Splitting a stereo signal into what's shared (mid) and what differs (side) so you can process centre and width separately.
  • It lets you EQ or compress the centre and the sides independently — tightening a bass in the middle while opening the reverb around it.
  • High-pass the sides below 120 Hz to keep low end mono and stable on club systems.
  • Watch out: widening the sides heavily for impact.
  • Sits under mixing and mastering in this glossary, with 2 primary sources below.

Quick checklist

  • Can you define mid/side in one sentence without looking?
  • Can you point at mid/side in a real session, mix or contract?
  • Have you tried the practical move above at least once?
  • Would you catch the common mistake before it costs you a take?
  • Have you opened one of the primary sources below rather than a forum thread?

MID/SIDE IN DEPTH

Mid/side processing splits a stereo signal into what is common to both channels and what differs. It lets you EQ or compress the centre and the sides independently — tightening a bass in the middle while opening the reverb around it.

How it works in practice

High-pass the sides below 120 Hz to keep low end mono and stable on club systems.

The mistake people make

Widening the sides heavily for impact. It sounds bigger in stereo and can partly vanish when the playback system sums to mono.

WHERE MID/SIDE SITS

Mid/side belongs to mixing and mastering in the Sampled music glossary. The processing vocabulary, plus the loudness standards streaming services actually measure you against.

TEST YOURSELF

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3 quick questions on mid/side. Answers are marked instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.

  1. 1. Which statement best describes mid/side?

  2. 2. What is the mistake people most often make with mid/side?

  3. 3. In practice, which of these applies to mid/side?

Ready for the full thing? Take the 25-question terminology test and get a certificate with your name and score.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS

Free, primary references for mid/side — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material. Each one lists the line of this entry it backs up.

  • AES technical library (opens in a new tab)

    Professional standards body · Audio Engineering Society

    “Splitting a stereo signal into what's shared (mid) and what differs (side) so you can process centre and width separately.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: AES writes and reviews the engineering standards and peer-reviewed papers this terminology comes from.

  • Neumann knowledge hub (opens in a new tab)

    Primary reference · neumann.com

    “Mid/side processing splits a stereo signal into what is common to both channels and what differs.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: Published by the organisation responsible for the thing being defined, so it is a first-hand source rather than a summary of one.

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