BruceJames.studio
longDivision
Frequency-band stereo widener
Version
1.0.0
Platform
Windows
Formats
VST3 and CLAP
User Guide
brucejames.studio
LongDivision

# Contents

01
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.

02 · Concept

# How it works

02

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

1. Close your DAW before installing so it rescans plugins on the next launch.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
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.

05 · Reference

# Parameter reference

05
Shape

Control | Range | Behavior
--- | --- | ---
LFO Amt | 0 to max | How much the LFO sweeps the stereo image. 0 is static.
LFO Rate | Hz | Speed of the stereo image sweep.
Attack | 0 to 1000 ms | How quickly widening fades in when a band enters the Target Window.
Release | 0 to 1000 ms | How long before widening fades out after a band leaves the window.

Target

Control | Range | Behavior
--- | --- | ---
HPF | ~20 Hz to 20 kHz | High-pass cutoff. Bands below this frequency are never widened.
LPF | ~20 Hz to 20 kHz | Low-pass cutoff. Bands above this frequency are never widened.
Tilt | bipolar | Left widens only the right channel, right widens only the left channel, center widens both equally.

Mix

Control | Range | Behavior
--- | --- | ---
Dry / Wet | 0 to 100% | Blend between the dry input and the widened output. 100% is fully processed.

Bias

Control | Range | Behavior
--- | --- | ---
Emphasis | dB | Emphasis threshold. The level at which the emphasis effect engages.
Curve | <1 · 1 · >1 | Emphasis curve. 1 is linear, above 1 is selective toward loud bands, below 1 is broad across all bands.

Utility

Control | State | Behavior
--- | --- | ---
Bypass | on · off | Hard bypass. Processing halts and the input passes through unchanged.
Null Test | on · off | Subtracts the dry signal from the output so you hear only what LongDivision is adding.

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.

07 · Practice

# Workflows

07

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

08
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

09

### 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.

### Support and contact

Studio
BruceJames.studio
Web
brucejames.studio
Support
[email protected]
Version
LongDivision 1.0.0
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