Crave Stereo Enhancer 2 Released

BRISTOL, UK, 6 MARCH 2026 Crave DSP has released Crave Stereo Enhancer 2, a four-band stereo widening plug-in for mixing and mastering. A complete rebuild of the original version, it is designed to provide precise control over stereo width, exceptionally transparent processing, and mono compatibility across both mono and stereo sources.

Download link: https://cravedsp.com/crave-stereo-enhancer

Precision Parametric Stereo Widening

At the core of the plug-in is a parametric stereo synthesis model built around two independent controls: Width and Diffusion. Width determines the amount of synthetic side information added to the signal, while Diffusion adjusts the density and character of the resulting stereo content.

Both controls operate independently across four adjustable frequency bands, allowing widening to be applied selectively in different parts of the spectrum. This makes it possible to keep low frequencies focused while widening higher bands where a broader stereo image may be more appropriate.

In practice, Width establishes stereo spread, while Diffusion can be introduced to adjust the texture of the widened signal. The separation of these two parameters allows different frequency regions to be treated according to the material, with more restrained settings in critical midrange areas and more freedom in the upper frequencies where additional space may be useful.

Transient Preservation and Phase-Aligned Processing

To maintain clarity, transient components are separated before the widening stage, helping preserve the signal’s attacks.

The signal is then split into four bands using phase-aligned crossovers. Within each band, independent Mid, Side, and Transient level controls allow stereo balance and dynamics to be adjusted while keeping all components phase-aligned. This allows changes to be made without introducing phase inconsistencies between channels.

Adjustable Mono Compatibility

Crave Stereo Enhancer 2 includes a per-band Mono-Safe parameter that manages how the processed signal translates between stereo and mono. Rather than acting as a fixed mono safeguard, Mono-Safe applies spectral weighting between the centre, left, and right components.

At 100%, the centre spectral balance is preserved when summed to mono, while 0% preserves the left and right channels. Intermediate values blend both behaviours. In practice, perfectly preserving the centre can allow tonal deviation in the left and right channels. Conversely, prioritising the left and right channels can alter the summed centre. Mono-Safe makes this trade-off adjustable rather than fixed, a choice most stereo wideners simply do not offer.

Architecture and Workflow

Crave Stereo Enhancer 2 uses a four-band architecture with independently adjustable crossover frequencies. Each band supports independent widening and level adjustment, allowing stereo balance and dynamics to be shaped with frequency-dependent precision.

Workflow features include global parameter linking, band solo and bypass controls, adjustable crossover frequencies with direct value entry, mix control for parallel processing, output gain adjustment, centre-channel solo for mono checking, A/B comparison with copy function, undo and redo, and a rescalable interface with optional high-contrast mode. Metering is provided by a stereo visualiser showing frequency-dependent width and balance, alongside output level metering with peak hold.

Key Features

  • Four-band stereo widening with adjustable crossover frequencies
  • Independent Width and Diffusion parameters per band
  • Parametric stereo synthesis model separating width and texture
  • Transient separation prior to widening
  • Per-band Mid, Side, and Transient level adjustment
  • Mono-Safe spectral management for stereo-to-mono translation
  • Band solo and bypass controls
  • Global parameter linking
  • Mix control for parallel processing
  • A/B comparison with copy function
  • Undo and redo
  • Stereo visualiser with frequency-dependent width display
  • Output metering with peak hold
  • High-resolution graphics with user-adjustable scaling supporting up to 8K displays
  • High-contrast mode