Focus
by Box Of Rules · Imaging · Stereo narrowing with centre focus
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Focus is a one-dial stereo tool that narrows the image while bringing the centre forward, like side shields for audio.
Four MOOD modes change how the sides are reduced, and it is zero-latency and free or pay-what-you-want.
Best for: Mix Bus, Vocals, Keys & Synths, Guitars. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: low latency, zero-latency, bus processing, mix bus, synths, wide, electric guitar, free, single knob, tracking, beginner-friendly, corrective, full mix, gentle, mid/side, minimal controls, mixing, pads, surgical, vocals.
What it does
Focus is a one-dial stereo narrower from Box Of Rules that works like audio "side shields": the stereo sides close in and the mono middle comes forward. The idea comes from Goghini's Focus Frames glasses, which block peripheral vision.
- One dial: 0 to 100% sets how far the sides close in and the centre is pushed forward. At 0% the signal passes through bit-exact, so it can sit on a track with no effect until you need it.
- QUIET mood: a surgical cut of the side signal, narrowing the image without touching the middle.
- CALM mood: narrows the image while keeping the perceived loudness, so the track doesn't drop in level as it gets narrower.
- PRESENT mood: brings the middle forward with a presence lift and gentle saturation, the only mood that colours the centre.
- DEEP mood: folds the lows to mono first, then the highs, progressively, until the whole signal is mono at the top of the dial.
- Mid/side design: in QUIET, CALM and DEEP the mono middle is left untouched, so the mono fold-down stays the same.
- Tracking-safe: zero latency and stereo only, by design.
The current version is 1.0.1, built on JUCE 8. It is pay-what-you-want and free for any use, including commercial. The plugin sends anonymous usage data (install ID, version, OS and DAW), which can be switched off in its SYS panel.
Source: Box Of Rules product page
When to use it
Focus is a quick, free way to narrow and tighten a stereo source with one control. Compared with Ozone Imager and S1 Stereo Imager, it only narrows, never widens, and works on the whole signal rather than per band, but its four moods give musically different kinds of narrowing from the same dial. Its DEEP mood is the closest it gets to multiband work, folding the lows to mono before the highs. Unlike CenterOne 3, it doesn't rebalance or extract the centre in detail; PRESENT simply lifts and saturates the middle a little. Zero latency means it can stay on while tracking.
- Best for: taming overly wide synths, pads, doubled guitars and stereo effects, and pulling the centre of a mix bus forward.
- Genres: any; it is a utility for stereo width.
- Look elsewhere if: you need to widen as well as narrow, or set width per band; Ozone Imager or S1 Stereo Imager do both. For detailed centre and side rebalancing, use CenterOne 3.
- Tip: use DEEP on a wide bass-heavy synth to make the low end mono while keeping some width up top.
Where to buy
- Box Of Rules: Free
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