The Unknown Value of Stereo Imaging
What is Stereo Imaging?
Stereo Imaging is the act of digitally placing a sound source somewhere in the sensed space. It can be either on the left, right, or center directions of the stereo image, and settings of depth and width also help position the sound closer or further. We use this technique to control the audio immersion.
Many plugins like Ozone Imager by iZotope feature detailed visual feedback of the stereo content regarding the signal's source location, size, and intensity. This visual display is an excellent tool for understanding the principles of pan and width and how they relate to stereo imaging.
5 tips how to use a Stereo Imager
• Don't assume it'll sound better
The most reliable tool in your arsenal is your ears, so make sure to prioritize the information they are getting more than the visual content seen in the stereo width plugin. Use pan and spatial width regularly and note the slight differences. Furthermore, use the A/B function, commonly present in these plugins, to get a gist of what's changing in the mix.
• Monitoring
Even with diligence and plugins, you can only get so far if your speakers or headphones aren't up to the task. Commercial hi-fi speakers and headsets color your sound by adding stereo width, bass, and so on. Hence, monitoring on professional headphones or studio monitors will give you much better results.
• Be careful
Stereo widening is a powerful tool, and it can backfire quickly. It's vital to understand that the signal's width expands at the cost of phase coherency; overdoing it will make your sound thinner and weaker in mono. For instance, if you look at iZotope's Ozone Imager mastering manual, you'll find that the plugin only widens a little value in the high-end bands while leaving the bottom-end untouched. Remember to apply it gradually and smoothly.
• The higher, The wider
A general rule of thumb is that the higher the signal is in the frequency spectrum, the wider you can set it. Kicks, subs, and basses benefit from staying in the stereo image's center. Pads, pianos, and keys can provide excellent results when completely widened. For example, you can set a snare's lower frequency at the center and spread the higher frequencies. Percussion can give good results if you pan it in many directions.
• Take advantage of an EQ
When you use an Equalizer in the Left / Right and Mid/ Side modes to manage the frequency information in the stereo image, you'll have fantastic results. For example, if you place the hi-hat on the left side, place a Left/Right equalizer on the rest of the mix, and attenuate the higher frequencies on the right side.
• Contrast
If you've widened all elements in your mix, the lack of contrast will make it sound surprisingly less wide. You'll only get clean wide sounds in a mix if a contrasting mono sound accompanies it. The ideal mix has a good relationship between all sounds, and that includes spatial balance.
Now that we have some idea about how stereo imaging works let's look at the 3 of the best stereo widening plugins.
There are more than a handful of ways to manipulate the stereo field. For instance, the popular panning method changes the amplitude levels on the left and right channels. If both left and right channels feature different outputs, the sound is in stereo.
Another technique uses delay techniques to achieve a widening effect, popularly known as the Haas effect when one channel's signal is delayed compared to the other. However, even with many methods and techniques, some artifacts and obstacles, such as phasing issues, can slow your progress of getting wide sounds in a mix.
In a nutshell, here are the 3 best Stereo Imager Plugins:
1. iZotope Imager 2
Ozone Imager has a pleasant-looking interface with solid stereo information and visual representation. The free plugin by iZotope can easily control the whole stereo image.
The first version of Ozone Imager got many compliments from producers all over the globe. The second version works with even more complex algorithms while remaining just as straightforward.
The plugin allows for width enhancement and stereo conversion from mono recordings. All processings
appear in three distinct vectorscope meters, providing you accurate visual information.
Key Features:
• Controls
The plugin has two sliders in its central panel. Both sliders are for controlling the width and stereo content from the mix. By adjusting the "Width" slider, you can make any track massively profound or gently narrow. The "Stereoize" slider can turn a mono signal into a stereo one without adding reverberation or a doubling process.
The two modes in "Stereoize" are for different texture additions.
• Visualization
The whole spatial spectrum is easilv monitorable in the plugin's handy visual display on the main panel.
Furthermore, you can choose between three graphic-representation of the stereo image: Polar level, Lissajous, and Polar sample.
All modes feature sound movements on a center, left, and right field.
Summary:
Ozone Imager is reliable at the mastering stage with its three distinct visual monitoring graphs of the stereo image. Furthermore, you can take advantage of the straightforward controls in the plugin's interface to convert mono signals to stereo sounds and adjust the amount of depth the audio receives.
A free plugin, Ozone Imager is highly optimized for all kinds of productions.
2. Flux Stereo Tool v3
StereoTool accurately controls the input gain and panning of both the left and right
channels while providing handy feedback.
The feedback display shows precisely what the signal is becoming in the stereo image. The highly detailed analysis makes this free plugin very versatile.
Its metering system provides information of the inputs, outputs, and phase correlation's content, which you can adjust and see the visual feedback changing in real-time.
Key Features:
• Controls
Stereo Tool v3 by Flux has precise controls dividing the signal into two segments, left and right. Both sides feature an Input Gain knob, a Phase switch, and panning positioning control. You can define a setting for these parameters, save it, and switch between A/B settings, which will enable two different preset saves.
• Interface
The interface has a straightforward design, with the essential controls and slides in fitting places. The two handy sliders below the plugin's feedback graphic allow for width enhancement and Mid/Side settings.
The plugin's intuitive look is optimal for quick setups.
• Monitoring
The in-depth analysis of any signal's stereo image is outstanding in Stereo Tool V3. A Vector Scope display informs any phasing behavior in the mix. Furthermore, both the left and right sides feature values that you can monitor in the dual metering below the main sliders.
Summary:
Flux Stereo Tool V3 is a free plugin for producers who enjoy quick results and fast setups. The detailed analysis in the plugin's built-in meters and feedback displays are outstanding and provide cautious stereo enhancement while avoiding phasing issues. Furthermore, the friendly interface is straightforward to work with, yielding significant results.
3. Polyverse Wider By Infected Mushroom
Polyverse Wider creates stereo information while avoiding phase problems. It quickly expands the spatial field by providing a rich amount of depth.
The plugin by Infected Mushroom is optimal for avoiding balance issues and muddiness when providing stereo effects. It compensates for any flatness or dynamic lack from the processes.
Its intelligent algorithms can turn a mono signal into a stereo sound and increase its stereo image by two hundred percent, providing a massive presence.
Key Features:
• Algorithms
The plugin features modern algorithms to process signals. An exclusive all pass and comb filtering by Infected Mushroom works efficiently at crafting stereo images while using organic textures, allowing for authentic sonic character to thrive in mono to stereo conversion. Furthermore, the sides won't show any phasing issues by the process; the mono-compatibility is a robust quality in Wider.
• Swift
You can set the plugin's effect swiftly. Wider only features a single panel where a sole adjustment provides the track with how much intensity vou want. The quickness that its straightforward interface provides is highlv friendly in fast-paced productions.
