Goal Action Make wider → Width +50% (check correlation) Make mono (center) → Width 0% Fix phase issues → Reduce width until meter >0 Mono track → stereo → Stereoize ON, Amount 30–70% Check mono compatibility → Correlation meter >0 always
Ozone Imager anticipates this danger by providing a robust section at the bottom of the interface. While the Width knob opens up the sound, the Limiter acts as a safety net. The "Stereo Link" button is particularly important here. When engaged, it links the left and right channels of the limiter, preventing the image from shifting unnaturally when limiting occurs. Furthermore, the vectorscope provides the visual cues necessary to avoid disaster. If the "legs" of the stereo image are stretching too far horizontally, turning white or red at the edges, the producer is likely pushing the width too far, risking severe mono collapse. how to use ozone imager
functions as a channel-based panning widener. It works by manipulating the difference between the left and right channels. If a track already has some stereo information (such as a drum overhead recording or a synth with a chorus effect), Stereo I will emphasize the differences between the channels. This mode is transparent and simple, but it is best reserved for sounds that already contain stereo information. If applied to a purely mono source, Stereo I will have no effect until the signal is panned away from the center. Goal Action Make wider → Width +50% (check
| Source | Recommended Width | Notes | |--------|------------------|-------| | Kick, bass | 0% (mono) | Keep centered for low-end punch | | Snare | 0–30% | Can be narrow | | Vocals (lead) | 0% mono | Center | | Vocals (doubles/backing) | 40–80% | Adds space | | Pads/strings | 60–120% | Can be very wide | | Synth leads | 30–70% | Depends on style | | Mix bus | 10–30% max | Too much width ruins mono | When engaged, it links the left and right
Uses Haas delay principles for a more colorful, classic phasing effect.
Upon opening Ozone Imager, the user is greeted with a visualizer that is as functional as it is striking. The centerpiece is the stereo vectorscope, a plot that displays the stereo image of the audio in real-time. Unlike a traditional meter, the vectorscope shows where the sound sits in the stereo field. A vertical line indicates a mono signal (sound coming from the center), while horizontal spreading indicates stereo width. The brighter the lines on the scope, the more frequent those frequencies are occurring. This visual feedback is crucial; it trains the producer to "see" the width of their mix, correlating what they hear with what the plugin displays. Surrounding this scope are the controls: a large "Width" knob, stereo mode selection, and a limiter section.