How do I make my mix wider without affecting the drums?
Q&A
Jan 26, 2026
To widen your mix without affecting drums, I use mid/side EQ to boost only the side channels of melodic elements while leaving the drum bus untouched. In one of my examples, I took a guitar and synth melody group and added a high-frequency boost to the sides while reinforcing fundamentals in the mid channel, which created width across the whole mix without adding any width to the drums. I've also found that combining a side-channel high-shelf boost with a slight reduction in side channel gain (around 3dB down, mids 3dB up) gives you stereo width that still folds perfectly into mono.
Post adapted from the video below:
I cover these exact mid/side EQ techniques in my full Mid/Side EQ deep dive course at Futureproof Music School, where you'll learn how to control stereo image, fix phase problems, and make creative mixing choices. Check out our complete mixing curriculum at futureproofmusicschool.com.
Dubstep pioneer and touring artist with millions of streams. Known for his heavy bass drops and intricate sound design, Max has released on major labels and performed at festivals worldwide.