How do I fix mono phase and avoid thinning when widening synth pads with midside?

[RichardT]

I’m trying to get a really clean, wide stereo image for my synth pads, but every time I use a simple delay offset trick, the center feels weak and phasey in mono. I’ve heard about using mid-side EQ to address this, carving out conflicting low-mid information from the side channel. Has anyone had success with that approach without making the sound thin?

[LukeIM]

I tried a stereo side channel approach last week. I kept the center wide but carved a touch of 300 to 600 hertz from the side channel and boosted air in the top. It helped the mono sum stay less phasey but the pad did get a little thinner in the mids especially when the reverb was doing a lot of widening. It was a delicate balance I watched the meters and backed off.

[Logan43]

Could the real issue be not the processing at all but the patch itself or the reverb density masking the center when heard in mono?

[Donald.T]

I kept the changes tiny and checked in mono every now and again. A small delay offset without blowing up the side too much helped keep the center stable while the pad stayed wide but you still notice it if you push the mix loud.

[LaylaB]

One time I wandered into thinking about the room vibe and the way the space changes perception but I still came back to the pad and kept the processing light and the center more solid when I listened in mono.