BruceJames.studio
longDivision
Frequency-band stereo widener
- 01Overview and the core idea02
- 02How it works03
- 03Installation and authorization04
- 04Interface tour05
- 05Parameter reference06
- 06The Target Window in depth08
- 07Workflows09
- 08FAQ and troubleshooting10
- 09License and contact11
01 · Overview
A widener that only touches what needs widening
LongDivision splits the incoming stereo signal into frequency bands and measures how correlated each band is, from perfectly mono to fully out of phase. It then widens only the bands whose correlation falls inside a target window you define. Everything outside the window passes through untouched.
The result is selective and mono compatible. Already wide material is left alone, so widening is applied where it is useful rather than across the whole signal.
In one line
Measure correlation per band, capture a range of it with the Target Window, and add stereo width only to the captured bands.
Three ideas explain almost everything LongDivision does: per-band correlation, the Target Window, and the per-band gate.
01Per-band correlation
The signal is divided into frequency bands set by the Resolution control. For each band, LongDivision compares the left and right channels and places the band on a correlation axis. Bands where left and right are nearly identical sit toward Equal. Bands where the channels diverge or invert sit toward Opposite.
02The Target Window captures a range
The Target Window is a dual-handle slider running from Equal to Opposite. Its two handles define a correlation range. Only bands that land between the handles are processed. In the spectrum display the captured zone is shown in yellow, so you can see exactly which bands are being widened in real time.
Equal · monoCaptured rangeOpposite · out of phase
Schematic. Bands extend left and right from the center line by an amount that reflects their correlation. The yellow region marks the inner and outer handles. Bands reaching into that region are widened; the rest are left as they are.
03A gate tracks the window
Bands move in and out of the window as the music changes. A per-band gate manages those transitions: Attack sets how quickly widening fades in when a band enters the window, and Release sets how long it takes to fade out after a band leaves. This keeps the effect smooth rather than chattering as content crosses the boundary.
Mono compatibility
Because widening is confined to a chosen correlation range and can be capped with Lock to Window, LongDivision avoids the phase problems that come from widening an entire mix indiscriminately.
03 · Setup
Installation and authorization
03
LongDivision runs on Windows in VST3 and CLAP hosts. Installation places the plugin in the standard system folders that compatible DAWs scan automatically.
Install
- Close your DAW before installing so it rescans plugins on the next launch.
- Run the installer and accept the license agreement. The VST3 build installs to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 and the CLAP build to C:\Program Files\Common Files\CLAP.
- Launch your DAW and let it rescan. If LongDivision does not appear, trigger a manual rescan or add the folders above to your plugin paths.
- Insert LongDivision on a stereo channel, bus, or master. The plugin operates on stereo signal, so a mono track has nothing to widen.
Authorization
Open the plugin and use the Authorize control to enter the license key from your purchase confirmation. Once accepted, the key is stored and applies to every instance on that machine. Until then the plugin runs in its trial state.
Updates
The settings gear includes an update check. When a newer build is available, an Update Available indicator appears near the top of the window. Updates install over the existing version; your saved presets and project state are preserved.
Display scaling
The window is 1120 by 716 pixels and scales to 75, 100, or 150 percent from the settings gear. Choose the scale that suits your display, then save it as part of your default state.
04 · Reference
Interface tour
04
Three zones: controls on the left, the live spectrum and Target Window in the center, and the shaping groups on the right.
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1Bypass · NullHard bypass and the null test for monitoring only what is added.
2WidthStereo spread added per captured band, 0 to 8.
3ResolutionNumber of analysis bands, 4 to 256.
4Lock to WindowCaps widening at the outer handle position.
5Status readoutPlugin name, state, and version.
6Spectrum displayPer-band correlation, left and right of center, with the captured zone in yellow.
7Target WindowDual-handle slider from Equal to Opposite.
8Magnitude BiasNone, Loud, or Quiet weighting across captured bands.
9Shape groupLFO Amt, LFO Rate, Attack, Release.
10Target groupHPF, LPF, Tilt.
11MixDry and wet blend.
12Bias groupEmphasis threshold and Curve.
13Settings gearDisplay scale and update check.
05 · Reference
Parameter reference
05
Every control, grouped as it appears in the plugin. Ranges and behavior follow the in-app tooltips.
Left panel
| Control | Range | Behavior |
|---|
| Width | 0 to 8 | How much stereo spread to add per captured band. 0 is off, 8 is maximum. |
| Resolution | 4 to 256 | Number of frequency bands. More bands give finer detail at higher CPU cost. |
| Lock to Window | on · off | When on, scales widening so processed bands cannot be pushed wider than the outer handle position. |
Center · Target Window
| Control | Axis | Behavior |
|---|
| Inner handle | Equal side | Lower bound of the captured correlation range. Sets how mono a band can be before it is processed. |
| Outer handle | Opposite side | Upper bound of the captured range. Sets how wide a band can be and still be processed. |
Center · Magnitude Bias
| Mode | Tooltip | Behavior |
|---|
| None | Flat | All bands within the window are widened equally. |
| Loud | Louder Wider | Louder bands get widened more. |
| Quiet | Louder Mono | Louder bands stay narrow; quieter bands get widened. |
Tip
Magnitude Bias decides which captured bands lean wider based on level. The Emphasis and Curve knobs in the Bias group shape how strongly that weighting is applied.
06 · Deep dive
The Target Window in depth
06
The Target Window is the heart of the plugin. Understanding the two handles makes everything else fall into place.
Reading the two handles
The window runs along the correlation axis. The inner handle, toward Equal, is the lower bound: it decides how close to mono a band may be before it qualifies for widening. The outer handle, toward Opposite, is the upper bound: it decides how wide a band may already be and still be captured. A band is processed only when its measured correlation sits between the two.
Narrow window versus wide window
A tight window near Equal targets only the most mono content. This is the surgical setting: widen a boxy, narrowly recorded element without disturbing parts that already have stereo information.
A broad window reaching toward Opposite captures most of the signal, leaving only the widest material untouched. Use it for gentle, program-wide widening on a bus.
Lock to Window
With Lock to Window enabled, the widening is scaled so a processed band cannot be pushed wider than the outer handle position. Rather than adding a fixed amount of spread, the effect respects the ceiling you set with the outer handle. This keeps results inside a defined stereo field, which matters when stems are being re-widened for a specific delivery format.
When to reach for it
Turn it on whenever predictability matters more than maximum width: mastering, stem preparation, or any context with a hard stereo-field requirement.
Watching it work
Keep an eye on the spectrum display. Bars that extend into the yellow zone are being widened in that moment; bars outside it are passing through. Because content shifts constantly, the captured set changes with the music, and the Attack and Release values smooth those transitions.
Starting points, not rules. Adjust to the material and trust the display.
01Gentle bus widening
Place LongDivision on a drum bus or mix bus. Set a moderate Width and open the Target Window to cover the center-to-moderate correlation range. Elements that are already wide stay where they are, while the more mono center gains a little air.
Width 3 to 4Window broadBias NoneDry/Wet 100%
02Fixing a narrow or boxy element
On a narrowly recorded source such as a close-mic room or a mono DI, keep both handles close to Equal so only near-mono bands are captured. Raise Width until the element opens up without smearing.
Window tight, near EqualWidth 5 to 8Lock optional
03Surgical control with Lock to Window
When the widening needs to stay within a defined stereo field, enable Lock to Window and set the outer handle to your ceiling. This is the setting for stems being re-widened for a specific format.
Lock onOuter handle = ceilingWidth to taste
04Monitoring what you are adding
Enable Null Test and solo the track. You hear only the widening signal, a phase difference of what was added. Use it to confirm the effect is clean and free of artifacts before committing.
Null Test onSolo track
05High-resolution precision
For dense material where you want to widen specific frequency ranges precisely, raise Resolution to 128 or more. Lower it again for lighter CPU use on simpler sources.
Resolution 128 to 256Window tightCPU watch
08 · Support
FAQ and troubleshooting
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LongDivision does not appear in my DAW.
Confirm the DAW has rescanned plugins after installation, and that the VST3 and CLAP system folders are in its scan paths. Some hosts require a manual rescan or a restart.
Nothing seems to happen on this track.
The plugin widens stereo signal, so a mono source has nothing to act on. Check that the channel is stereo, that Mix is above zero, and that bands are actually reaching the yellow zone in the display. If the Target Window is set too tight, no bands may be captured.
CPU usage is high.
Resolution is the main cost. High band counts give finer detail but use more CPU. Lower Resolution on simpler material, or freeze and bounce dense sessions.
The effect chatters or pumps as the music plays.
Bands are crossing the window boundary quickly. Increase Attack and Release to slow the gate transitions, or widen the Target Window so bands sit inside it more consistently.
My widened mix collapses in mono.
Enable Lock to Window to cap the spread, narrow the Target Window so less material is widened, and use Null Test to check what is being added. Reducing Width also helps preserve mono compatibility.
What does Null Test actually do?
It subtracts the dry signal from the output, leaving only the difference LongDivision is introducing. Solo the track with it engaged to audition the widening signal in isolation.
How are Magnitude Bias and the Bias knobs related?
Magnitude Bias chooses the weighting mode, None, Loud, or Quiet. The Emphasis threshold sets the level at which that weighting engages, and Curve sets how selective it is.
Do my presets survive an update.
Yes. Updates install over the existing version and preserve saved presets and project state.
09 · Legal
License and contact
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License
Use of LongDivision is governed by the end user license agreement included with the distribution as license.txt. Please refer to that file for the full terms. Your purchase authorizes installation under the conditions described there.
Included files
The distribution archive contains the installer along with readme.txt for installation notes, changelog.txt for version history, and license.txt for the agreement. The readme is the canonical source for installation details.
Before you write in
Including your DAW, its version, your Windows version, and the plugin format you are running helps support resolve issues faster.
longDivision
Frequency-band stereo widener · Windows · VST3 and CLAP