The Wow Thing
by Korneff Audio · Imaging · Lo-fi stereo widener
Not rated yet
The Wow Thing models a lo-fi tabletop spatial enhancer used on 90s rock records, plus the SRS Megawide rackmount algorithm.
It has a WOW widening knob, TrueBass low-end enhancement and a Mix control, for $19.99.
Best for: Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keys & Synths, Mix Bus. Genres: Rock & Indie, Metal, Lo-Fi.
Keywords: wide, lo-fi, 90s, wobble, electric guitar, enhancement, keys, built-in mix knob, samples & loops, hardware emulation, advanced, bass, bus processing, drums, full mix, heavy, huge, mix bus, mixing, room mics, spacious, pads, swirling.
What it does
The Wow Thing models a cheap 1990s consumer box that used heavy EQ and psychoacoustic tricks to make small speakers sound bigger. Korneff Audio calls it "a secret weapon for huge-sounding guitars", after a rock engineer used the original on an influential metal album.
- WOW knob: adds stereo width and psychoacoustic movement to a stereo source; pushed hard, it gives a deliberately confusing, swirling image.
- TrueBass: low-frequency enhancement that adds depth and rumble under the widened signal.
- TYPE 1: emulates the original tabletop hardware unit.
- TYPE 2: based on the SRS Megawide algorithms used in the related rackmount enhancer.
- Selectable TrueBass frequencies: choose where the bass boost sits to suit guitars, loops or keys.
- Hidden options: the TYPE switch and bass frequency live in an advanced panel opened by clicking the nameplate; a dry/wet mix sets how much of the effect you blend in.
The current version is 1.0.5.
Source: Korneff Audio product page
When to use it
The Wow Thing is the pick when you want width with obvious colour: it changes the tone and the low end as well as the stereo image, much like the cheap 90s box it copies. Compared with Ozone Imager or Waves S1 Stereo Imager, it has no band splitting, correlation metering or precise width values, so it is a creative effect rather than a mastering tool. It is also more lo-fi and less mono-safe in intent than Polyverse Wider, which is built to stay clean when summed. Against those it is cheap and very fast, with two main knobs and a type switch.
- Best for: big 90s-style rhythm guitars, room mics, reverb returns, pads, and flat loops or keyboard patches that need more presence.
- Genres: rock, metal, alternative and lo-fi.
- Look elsewhere if: you need transparent, measurable widening on a master or mono-safe width; Ozone Imager or Wider suit that better.
Where to buy
- Korneff Audio: $19.99
- PluginFox: $19.99
Tutorials and reviews
- WOW Thing by Korneff Audio
- Mixing with The Wow Thing - a deep dive with some hacks!
- The "Other" Way To Use The Korneff Audio WOW Thing, SRS Megawide + Randy Staub's Vocal Chain
- Have your guitars amaze your audience with Korneff Audio' s WOW Thing
- HEAVY GUITARS - Korneff WOW THING - No Talking
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