bx_shredspread Presets — Fast Starting Points for Metal Guitarists

bx_shredspread Presets — Fast Starting Points for Metal Guitaristsbx_shredspread is a stereo-width and phase-manipulation plugin originally designed to give electric guitars a wide, aggressive, and polished sound without sacrificing mono compatibility or low-end focus. For metal guitarists and producers working in heavy styles, well-crafted presets speed up workflow and provide reliable starting points that translate across mixes. This article explains how bx_shredspread works, the key controls you’ll use, preset design principles for metal, and a set of practical presets with recommended settings and use-cases.

How bx_shredspread works (brief technical overview)

bx_shredspread creates width and stereo separation by manipulating the phase relationship between two processed versions of the guitar signal and applying an intelligent low-frequency mono-safety filter. It’s different from simple stereo delays or chorus: it preserves the power of the low end (so palm-muted chugs stay tight) while adding high-end separation and harmonic clarity. The plugin often includes controls for:

• Width / Spread — amount of stereo separation applied.
• Low Cut / Mono-sum — frequency below which the signal is kept mono.
• Phase/Shift parameters — fine-tunes the timing/phase differences between channels.
• High-frequency enhancement or shaping — to emphasize pick attack and clarity.

Why presets matter for metal guitarists

• Speed: Getting from raw DI or amp DI to a convincing stereo guitar tone can be time-consuming. Good presets let you audition full-width tones instantly.
• Consistency: Presets create repeatable sounds across songs and sessions.
• Translation: Well-built presets balance width and mono-compatibility so heavy riffs remain controlled on all playback systems.
• Education: Studying presets teaches how width, phase, and mono-safety interact.

Design principles for metal presets

1. Preserve low-end tightness: keep palm-muted chugs mono below ~120–200 Hz.
2. Emphasize pick attack: add presence/brightness or high-frequency widening.
3. Avoid phase collapse: ensure the spread settings don’t cause severe cancellation when summed to mono.
4. Use subtle width for rhythm, bolder for leads: too much spread on heavy rhythm guitars can sound thin.
5. Match the amp and DI chain: presets should be adjusted depending on whether the signal is raw DI, amp-sim, or mic’d cabinet.

Practical presets — descriptions, starting settings, and use-cases

Below are five ready-to-use preset concepts. Exact parameter names vary by plugin version; adjust to taste.

1. “Tight Rhythm — Classic Metal”

• Purpose: Palm-muted chugs and tight double-tracked rhythm guitars.
• Starting settings: Width low–medium (20–40%), Low Cut / Mono-sum ~140 Hz, Phase shift minimal, High-frequency shaping slight boost around 3–6 kHz.
• Use-case: Down-tuned rhythm parts, mics or DI; keeps low-end punch while adding narrow stereo definition.

1. “Big Chug — Modern Aggro”

• Purpose: Larger-than-life rhythm tone with a fuller stereo image.
• Starting settings: Width medium (40–60%), Low Cut ~160–200 Hz, Slightly increased phase/time offset for more separation, High-frequency enhancement moderate.
• Use-case: Modern metal with multi-layered guitars where some width helps separate rhythm stacks.

1. “Surgical Tightness — Mono-Safe Mix”

• Purpose: Ensures maximum mono-compatibility for broadcast or club systems.
• Starting settings: Width low (10–20%), Low Cut higher (200–250 Hz), Minimal phase shift, High-frequency shaping conservative.
• Use-case: Single-tracked guitars or situations where mono-summing is likely; keeps tone solid.

1. “Lead Spread — Shred & Solo”

• Purpose: Wide, present lead guitar that sits above rhythm beds.
• Starting settings: Width high (70–100%), Low Cut ~120 Hz (so low harmonics remain focused), Larger phase/time offset for airy stereo, High-frequency boost around 4–8 kHz for cutting presence.
• Use-case: Solos, harmonized lead lines, and melodic passages where you want perceived width and sustain.

1. “Aggressive Stereo Stack — Wall of Guitars”

• Purpose: Massive stereo field for layered rhythm guitars and chorused parts.
• Starting settings: Width medium-high (50–80%) on individual tracks, Low Cut per-track around 120–180 Hz, Use complementary panning and slightly different spread settings across layers to avoid phasing, Moderate HF shaping to prevent harshness.
• Use-case: Large productions with 6–8 guitar tracks per side; helps each layer breathe without clashing.

Workflow tips when using these presets

• Start with the preset, then solo the guitar and toggle the plugin to compare. Adjust Width and Low Cut while listening in context with the drums and bass.
• Use a reference track you trust to judge stereo width and mono-compatibility.
• When stacking multiple guitar takes, vary the preset parameters slightly between takes (different spread, slight phase/time offset, or HF shaping) to create a fuller stereo image.
• Check mono regularly — collapse the mix to mono and ensure the chugs stay tight and no critical elements disappear.
• Automate width or spread subtly for parts that need to sit wider during leads and tighter during dense sections.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Thin or hollow sound when summed to mono: raise the Low Cut/Mono-sum frequency, reduce width, or lower phase offset.
• Harsh top end: reduce HF enhancement or use a gentle high-shelf cut after the plugin.
• Loss of low punch: confirm the plugin’s mono-sum is active below your chosen LF and that no downstream stereo EQ is cutting low frequencies asymmetrically.

Final notes

Presets are springboards, not finish lines. Use the suggested settings as starting points and tweak by ear in each mix. For metal guitarists, the goal is to balance aggression and clarity while ensuring mixes translate to both stereo listening and mono playback environments.