FAQ

What formats and systems does WidthForge support?

On macOS: VST3, Audio Unit and a standalone app, as a Universal binary for Apple Silicon and Intel, macOS 11 or later. On Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit): VST3 and a standalone app. There is no AAX build, so it does not load in Pro Tools.

Will widening make my mix worse in mono?

No — that is the point. Width only scales the Side signal, so the mono sum stays the same. Turn on Phase Guard and no band can go out of phase. The MONO readouts show, in dB, how much each band and the whole mix lose in a mono fold-down.

Does it add latency?

No. WidthForge reports zero samples of latency: every stage is IIR or all-pass, with no lookahead and no FFT in the audio path. The spectrum and the scopes are only computed while the window is open.

Can I use it live?

Yes — it was built for that. Zero latency, under 1 % of one core at a 64-sample buffer, click-free switching of everything including bypass, and MIDI on every control. The amber MONITORING banner tells you when Mono, Side, Delta, Compare or a Solo is changing the output, and a session always reopens in normal listening. Start with the Live FOH Safe preset.

What is the difference between Bass Mono and turning the Bass band to 0 %?

Bass Mono sums everything below a frequency you choose (20–500 Hz) with a 12, 24 or 48 dB/oct slope, independent of the band crossovers, and Recover Sides keeps the energy of out-of-phase bass. The Bass band's width knob works on everything below the first crossover.

Does Stereoize work like a delay widener?

No. It is an all-pass decorrelator: no delay, no Haas echo, no time smear, and the mono sum does not change. Only content above FOCUS is widened.

Why does Compare sound quieter or louder than I expected?

With MATCH on, Compare plays the input at the loudness of the processed sound, so you judge width and not level. The button shows the gain it applies. Turn MATCH off to hear the raw input.

How do I control it from MIDI?

Every sound parameter is automatable, so your host's MIDI learn works in every format. In VST3 and the standalone app you can also right-click any control and choose MIDI Learn…. In Logic Pro, where WidthForge runs as an Audio Unit, use Logic's Controller Assignments. See MIDI.

Does Program Change load presets?

Yes, when Program Change selects preset is on in the MIDI menu: Default is 0, then menu order. The presets are deliberately not exposed as host programs, because some hosts re-send the program value after loading a session and would load a preset over your settings.

Do my WidthForge 1 sessions still open?

Yes. The v1 parameters keep their IDs and ranges and are carried over on load: v1 Mono Bass becomes Bass Mono at the first crossover with a 48 dB/oct slope, and v1 Mono Check becomes Monitor = Mono.

Is there copy protection?

No iLok, no activation and no online check. The licence covers the computers you personally own or use — for example your studio machine and your live laptop.

How do I buy it, and are updates free?

Through Gumroad as a one-time €19 purchase. You get instant access to the installers, and every 2.x update is free and appears in your Gumroad library.

Do I need to activate anything on my Squaresmile account?

No. WidthForge lives off-platform; the dashboard tile and the /widthforge page open the Gumroad listing.