Studio Application 1
Mix and mastering engineers managing stereo width contrast between verses and choruses.
Fat Berry DSP / Stereo imaging plug-ins Buying Guide
Width that survives the mono button.
Stereo imaging plug-ins control the width, mid/side balance, and spatial placement of tracks and buses across the left-to-right soundstage. Use BIG to expand synth pads, guitars, and overheads while keeping sub-bass anchored in mono and preserving phase correlation for club and phone playback. BIG: Shape stereo width in the frequency range you choose. Begin with a balanced mix and listen to the centre: the kick, bass and lead vocal should have a stable place. Widen a supporting part first, then compare the result in stereo and mono at the same level. A little separation can make room without changing the whole arrangement. Listen to the low end as well as the bright edges. Save the setting that makes the musical parts easier to follow on speakers and headphones, and check it again after the final bus processing. Try every paid option free for 30 days on your own tracks.
Written & tested by Rory Browne (Founder & DSP Developer) · Last updated:
Compare 1 stereo imaging plug-ins
Use Cases & Fit
Who stereo imaging plug-ins are for — and how to choose
Perceived width in a mix does not come from making every track as wide as possible—it comes from contrast between a rock-solid mono centre (kick, snare, bass, lead vocal) and carefully widened supporting layers. A dedicated stereo imager lets you shape width intentionally while safeguarding low-frequency mono focus.
Studio Application 2
Electronic and pop producers who need wide synths, pads, and backing vocals that do not collapse when summed to mono.
Studio Application 3
Engineers tightening unfocused stereo low end on drum buses, synth basses, and full mixes.
At the desk
How do you choose and dial in stereo imaging plug-ins?
Keep low frequencies centred
Sub-bass and lower-mid fundamentals below 120–150 Hz carry maximum punch and headroom when both speakers push air in unison. Narrow the low end before widening the upper midrange and air.
Create width contrast across sections
If the verse is already 100% wide, the chorus has nowhere to grow. Keep verses slightly more focused and automate stereo width open on chorus pads, guitars, or overheads.
Never judge stereo width without toggling mono
Aggressive phase-inversion wideners can make a sound feel outside the speakers in stereo while disappearing by 10 dB on a mono smart speaker or phone. Always verify mono fold-down.
Leave the lead vocal and snare in the dead centre
Widening secondary pads, reverbs, and rhythm instruments makes the un-widened centre elements sound deeper and clearer.
Signal-chain placement
On individual buses or tracks, place after EQ and compression; on a stereo master bus, place immediately before the final brickwall limiter.
Side-by-side specifications
Stereo imaging plug-ins comparison table
The specifications below come from the published catalogue and release metadata. All licences are perpetual single-user licences (3 machine activations, 14-day full refund window).
| Plug-in | Price (USD) | Formats | OS Support | Best For / Sonic Role | Walkthrough |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG | $14.99 | VST3, AU | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit (x86-64) · 11.0 | Shape stereo width in the frequency range you choose. | Audio & specs ↗ |
How we test at -16 LUFS
Listening tests & common mix mistakes to avoid
Primary listening check
Set your desired stereo width on monitors, then press your DAW or monitor controller mono button. The widened element should drop no more than 1 to 2 dB in mono and should retain its core midrange tone.
Four-step studio audition checklist
- Audition the stereo imager inside the full mix rather than on a soloed pad.
- Ensure sub-120 Hz frequencies remain mono-compatible and phase-coherent.
- Alternate between headphones, studio monitors, and mono sum to check translation across all listening environments.
- Match output loudness before comparing bypass so increased side-channel energy is judged honestly.
Common mistakes when using stereo imaging plug-ins
- Widening every track in the session until the mix sounds like a hollow ring with nothing in the middle.
- Applying stereo widening to sub-bass and kick drums.
- Pushing side-channel gain so far that phase correlation drops into negative territory.
The tools
Stereo imaging plug-ins, made by Fat Berry.
Each card links to current formats, controls, demos and the live price on its product page.
Studio notes
Read it, then hear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stereo imaging plug-ins FAQ
Which stereo imaging plug-in does Fat Berry DSP offer?
BIG (/plugins/big) is Fat Berry DSP’s dedicated stereo imaging processor ($29.99 USD regular price), available in 64-bit VST3 for Windows and VST3/AU for macOS.
Why does my mix lose bass or vocals when played on a phone speaker?
Many phones, Bluetooth speakers, and club PA systems sum stereo audio to mono or place speakers millimetres apart. Any stereo signal with out-of-phase left and right information cancels out when summed.
Should I use a stereo widener on the master bus or on individual groups?
Applying BIG selectively to synth, guitar, or backing-vocal buses gives you surgical contrast while leaving your kick, snare, and lead vocal completely untouched. On the master bus, stick to subtle 5–15% enhancements.