CMX
by Stillwell Audio · Imaging · Stereo microshifter
Not rated yet
CMX thickens and widens mono sources with independent micro pitch shifts and delays on each side.
It uses a pitch algorithm tuned for tiny shifts and costs $59.
Best for: Vocals, Guitars, Keys & Synths. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: vocals, wide, pitch-shifting, digital classic, electric guitar, hardware emulation, mixing, mono, synths, enhancement, gentle, mono-compatible, perpetual licence, spacious, subtle, thick.
What it does
CMX is a stereo microshifter, originally a Schwa plugin, for "when a vocal or lead feels flat in mono and needs width without obvious doubling." It shifts the left and right sides by tiny, different amounts of pitch and delay to create width from a single source.
- Per-side pitch shift: independent micro pitch shifts on the left and right channels.
- Per-side delay: independent short delays on each side, combined with the pitch shift.
- Shift range: from one cent up to about a quarter-tone.
- Schwa pitch algorithm: optimized for tiny, precise shifts rather than large transpositions.
- Phase coherence: designed to hold up on exposed lead and vocal material.
- Gentle to deep: subtle fullness at low settings, and a deliberately produced depth when pushed.
This is version 4.1.2. A free evaluation copy is available, and updates are free with no subscription.
Source: Stillwell Audio product page
When to use it
CMX is the pick when a mono vocal or lead needs width, because it creates the stereo image itself with micro pitch shifting and delay. Unlike Ozone Imager (iZotope) or S1 Stereo Imager (Waves), which widen or narrow material that is already stereo, it works from a mono source. Compared with the free Wider (Polyverse), it gives you separate pitch and delay settings for each side instead of one knob. It works in the same territory as Soundtoys MicroShift. The forum report of high latency (see below) makes it a mixing tool more than a tracking one.
- Best for: widening mono vocals, lead guitars and synths without an obvious double.
- Genres: any; especially pop and rock vocal and lead production.
- Look elsewhere if: you only need to adjust existing stereo width; Ozone Imager or S1 Stereo Imager are simpler.
What producers say
There is little published discussion; the few users on Stillwell's own forum like the sound, with latency the main issue raised.
- Stillwell forum users said it "sounds great" (2012) and called it "my go to plugin!!!" (2014).
- Criticisms: a 2012 user found it unusable in Digital Performer because of latency; the developer replied that CMX adds 4096 samples of latency by design and pointed to the host's latency compensation.
Where to buy
- Stillwell Audio: $59
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