# Mid/Side Encode

Encode a stereo file into Mid/Side channels

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-mid-side-encode

- **Category:** Media

- **Keywords:** audio, mid-side, encode, stereo, width, mastering, pan

## Overview

Converts stereo audio into Mid/Side: Mid = (L+R) and Side = (L-R), with adjustable scaling. Helpful for mastering workflows, stereo width control, or processing center and ambience separately before later decoding.

## Inputs

- **Audio File** (file): Select a stereo audio file
- **Mid Level (0-1.0)** (range): Scaling for the Mid channel (sum of L+R).
- **Side Level (0-1.0)** (range): Scaling for the Side channel (difference L-R).
- **Output Format** (select)

## When to use

- When mastering audio to adjust stereo imaging for better translation across playback systems.
- For isolating center-panned elements like vocals or bass from side-panned ambience and effects.
- In sound design to manipulate stereo width or prepare channels for separate processing before decoding.

## How it works

- Upload a stereo audio file in a supported format such as WAV or MP3.
- Adjust the Mid Level and Side Level sliders to scale the channels between 0 and 1.
- Select an output format from options like WAV, MP3, or FLAC.
- Process the file and download the encoded Mid/Side audio.

## Use cases

- Mastering engineers fine-tuning stereo width for vinyl or streaming releases.
- Podcast producers isolating vocal tracks from background music for cleaner edits.
- Sound designers creating immersive audio by processing Mid and Side channels separately.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Mid/Side encoding?

It transforms stereo audio into Mid (L+R) and Side (L-R) channels for independent control.

### How do I adjust stereo width?

Increase the Side Level to widen the stereo image or decrease it to narrow the focus.

### What audio formats are supported?

Input accepts stereo audio files; output can be WAV, MP3, AAC, M4A, OGG, Opus, or FLAC.

### Is there a file size limit?

Yes, the maximum file size is 200 MB.

### Can I use this tool for mono files?

No, it requires stereo input; mono files will not process correctly.

## Related tools

- [Backing Vocal Width Expander](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-backing-vocal-width): Turn a single vocal into a wide stereo harmony stack of 3, 5, or 7 transposed voices panned across the field.
- [Audio Change Bitrate](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-change-bitrate): Re-encode audio to a new bitrate while keeping the same format
- [Audio Channel Mapper](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-channel-mapper): Remap audio channels to different outputs
- [Audio Channel Mixer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-channel-mix): Mix left and right channels into mono with specific ratios
- [Audio Goniometer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-goniometer): Render a polar stereo image to visualize width and panning
- [Audio Join 5.1](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-join-5-1): Join six mono tracks into a 5.1 surround file
- [Audio Join Stereo](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-join-stereo): Join two mono tracks into a single stereo file
- [Extract Left Channel](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-left-channel-extract): Extract only the left channel to a mono file

## Samples

- [Copyright-Free FLAC Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/flac-samples): Lossless FLAC audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music
- [Copyright-Free MP3 Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/mp3-samples): Collection of royalty-free audio samples for testing and development purposes including nature sounds, meditation music, and ambient audio
- [Copyright-Free WAV Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/wav-samples): Uncompressed PCM WAV audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music
- [Copyright-Free Raw PCM Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pcm-samples): Raw PCM s16le audio samples featuring nature ambience and relaxing music for waveform, playback, and conversion workflows

## Related content

- [Audio Channel Routing and Delivery Verification](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-channel-routing): Route, split, join, and convert mono or stereo audio while preserving left/right intent and checking the final file before delivery.