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dime[ms]

About dime[ms]

Along with dime[tt] and dime[mb], dime[ms] is part of time off audio's trio of flexible workflow enhancement tools.

dime[ms] splits your stereo signal into mid and side components, then lets you apply any VST3/AU plugin to each path independently. Process the center and the stereo width separately—up to four plugins per path—for precise mid-side EQ, compression, and creative effects.

Quick start

Setup your account

To get the installers for dime[ms], you will need a time off audio account. Head over to the sign up page to get started.

If you have purchased dime[ms] without creating an account first, one will be created for you, and you will receive an email to create a password and finish the setup of your account.

For any issues with account creation and access, see our account management guide.

Get the installers

The installers for all our plugins are available in the customer portal.

Install dime[ms]

See our plugin installation guide for detailed instructions.

Overview

dime[ms] overview

  • Plugin chains — up to 4 plugins (VST3/AU) can be loaded on the mid path and up to 4 on the side path

  • Mid/Side visualization — real-time waveform display showing how your effect chains affect the stereo image

  • Balance — blend between mid and side in the recombined signal (0% = all mid, 100% = all side)

  • Mid FX chain mix, Side FX chain mix — each path has its own dry/wet mixer

  • Plugin manager (a) — opens up the plugin manager, where third party plugins can be scanned and managed

  • Plugin settings (b) — access plugin display settings, information and support

  • Light/dark mode toggle (c)

  • Bypass (d)

  • Parameter mappings — map plugin parameters to built-in sliders

  • Input gain, output gain and global mix — in the footer global controls

Workflow

Find and manage your plugins

Find and manage the plugins on your system via the Plugin Manager

Adjusting the balance

Use the balance slider to blend between mid and side in the final output. At 50% you hear an equal blend; lower values emphasize the mid, higher values emphasize the side.

Mid and side solo

Use the toggle above the FX chain to solo the mid or side path.

Plugin chains (per path)

You can load up to 4 plugins on the mid path and 4 on the side path. On each plugin slot, you can:

  • Load a new plugin, or copy another plugin into the slot
  • Re-order that plugin by dragging it up or down from the drag handle
  • Bypass the plugin (on hover)
  • Open and Close the plugin's window (on hover)
  • Delete the plugin (on hover)
  • Under the additional options menu, you can:
    • Replace the plugin
    • Deactivate the plugin. This is different from bypassing the plugin, as deactivating the plugin will completely remove the plugin from the signal path, whereas bypassing the plugin will keep the plugin in the signal path but request the plugin to be bypassed.
    • Focus the plugin's window

For each path, you can adjust:

  • Mix: the wet/dry mix for that path's FX
  • Trim: the level trim for that path, after dry/wet mixing

Global parameters

Toggle the global controls popover in the footer to access input gain, global mix, and output gain.

Display settings

Under the "display" tab in the settings window , you can configure the visualization stage (pre-fx vs post-fx) :

  • Pre-fx — shows the visualization at the plugin input level, i.e. the signal going into the FX chain before any processing.
  • Post-fx — shows the visualization at the plugin output level, i.e. the signal coming out of the FX chain after processing.

And the waveform style (e.g. brutalist, precise):

  • Brutalist: a more simplified visual representation. Lighter on the GPU.
  • Precise: a more detailed visual representation.

Visualizers need a working GPU. If hardware graphics are unavailable, the rest of the plugin still works.

Parameter Mappings

Use the Parameter mappings panel to assign parameters of hosted plugins to sliders so you can adjust them from dime[ms]'s interface, instead of having to use the plugin's own interface.

Parameter specs

Balance

  • Blends between mid and side in the recombined output.
  • Range: 0–100%.
  • Default: 50%.

Mid FX chain mix / Side FX chain mix

  • Wet/dry for the effects on that path only. At 100% you hear the full effect of the plugins on that path; lower values blend in more of the unprocessed signal.
  • Range: 0–100%.
  • Default: 100%.

Mid gain trim / Side gain trim

  • Level trim for that path after its effects.
  • Range: −24 dB to +24 dB.
  • Default: 0 dB.

Input gain

  • Level going into dime[ms] before the split.
  • Range: −70 dB to +6 dB.
  • Default: 0 dB.

Output gain

  • Level coming out of dime[ms] after processing.
  • Range: −70 dB to +6 dB.
  • Default: 0 dB.

Global Mix

  • Overall wet/dry for the whole plugin. At 100% you hear the full processed result; lower values blend in the dry (unprocessed) signal.
  • Range: 0–100%.
  • Default: 100%.

On this page

About dime[ms]Quick startSetup your accountGet the installersInstall dime[ms]OverviewWorkflowFind and manage your pluginsAdjusting the balanceMid and side soloPlugin chains (per path)Global parametersDisplay settingsParameter MappingsParameter specsBalanceMid FX chain mix / Side FX chain mixMid gain trim / Side gain trimInput gainOutput gainGlobal Mix