Audio Glossary
Stereo · aka stereo width, stereo field
WHAT IS
STEREO IMAGING?
Stereo imaging is the perceived width and placement of sounds across the left-right field. Good imaging makes a mix feel wide and three-dimensional while keeping the important elements — vocal, kick, bass, snare — anchored in the center. Over-widening can sound impressive on headphones but collapse or go hollow in mono.
Width that survives mono
The trap with stereo width is that it's easy to make something sound huge on headphones that falls apart on a phone speaker, a club system, or anywhere mono. Since a lot of real-world playback is mono or near-mono, imaging has to be checked in mono constantly.
The reliable approach: keep the core — lead vocal, kick, bass, snare — mono and centered, and use width on the elements that support it (reverb, pads, wide synths, backing vocals). Widen the sides in the high frequencies for air, keep the lows mono for punch, and check the mono fold-down to make sure nothing disappears. That's imaging that translates.
Quick answers
STEREO IMAGING FAQ.
Why does my mix sound narrow in mono?
Usually phase issues from over-widening. Sounds panned hard or widened with stereo effects can partially cancel when summed to mono. Keep core elements mono, widen only supporting elements, and check the mono fold-down regularly.
How do I make a master wider without losing punch?
Widen the sides in the high frequencies using mid/side processing while keeping the low end and center elements mono. That adds air and space without smearing the kick, bass, and vocal that hold the track together.
Related terms
The tool for it
Ultimate Master Chain — Ozone
The cleanest, most surgical master in the catalog. Works with Ozone 9, 10, 11 & 12.
View in the shop →