How to Add Space in Your Music Recordings

I introduce the Haas effect into almost everything I mix. It works wonderfully on vocal tracks, as long as you ensure the source remains focused and with mono capabilities. It helps to create or simulate a more 'natural environment.' It can be used on multiple sources and helps to separate instruments without introducing false depth (i.e. reverb). And more importantly, no repeats. My incredibly concise explanation of the Haas effect would be described as: Any delay between approximately 5 to 40 Ms. 1 Ms = 1 Ft. Assuming the above equation is accurate, one could effectively simulate a room size of up to 40 feet without any echo.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A digital audio workstation
• An integrated delay plug-in
• Powered speakers for monitoring
• An audio source

1. Create a mono track.
2. Create a stereo aux channel (set at Unity).
3. Assign the aux input to buss 1/2.
4. Assign the aux output to Analog 1/2.
5. Assign mono track to buss 1/2.
6. Instantiate a stereo delay to the aux channel.
7. Set the left side at 16 Ms and the right side to 32 Ms (100 percent wet, no feedback, depth, echo-nothing but delay in Ms).
8. Adjust the track buss level/pan to taste.

Tips & Warnings

• This also, works well with instruments panned hard with the delay panned to the opposite side. I have actually, applied it to a hi-hat with a 10 Ms delay. The hi-hat panned at 1 or 2 o'clock and delay panned hard left. Raising the level from infinity to the desired level. Just enough to where you hear it open up slightly on the left side. More or less just a perception of depth and space.
• Just remember to use this carefully and continue to check for phase coherency.