izotope ozone Manual Do Utilizador
MULTIBAND STEREO IMAGING
Throughout the development of Ozone, we spent countless hours downloading independent
(typically “un-mastered”) songs from mp3.com and analyzing them. There are some really
(typically “un-mastered”) songs from mp3.com and analyzing them. There are some really
well mastered material songs there, but there are also a lot of songs that could use a little
Ozone. In particular, we found that the stereo imaging was a common problem on these
independent projects.
Granted, stereo imaging is a tough task. It’s difficult to get a cohesive mix that still has a
sense of space and imaging. Usually the over-application of effects makes it all the more
difficult to “image”. A second problem, when compared to many commercial mixes, is that
difficult to “image”. A second problem, when compared to many commercial mixes, is that
they have some degree of stereo widening or other enhancement applied. Just like you’ll never
get the sound of a multiband harmonic exciter with an EQ, you won’t get that “sound” of a
stereo widener with panning.
stereo widener with panning.
It seems like we start each effects section by suggesting that you don’t overuse the effect.
Stereo widening is no exception. The modules in Ozone have high quality processing and are
designed to sound very natural, so it’s easy to overdo it until the natural effect is no longer
designed to sound very natural, so it’s easy to overdo it until the natural effect is no longer
natural sounding.
Stereo widening a very simple effect, which expands the difference between the left and right
channels by actually subtracting them from each other. Signals that are present in both
channels are decreased. Since a signal that is the same in both channels is perceived as “in
the middle” the result is a wider sound. This “channel subtraction” is a simple effect to design,
the middle” the result is a wider sound. This “channel subtraction” is a simple effect to design,
but the strength in Ozone is in the multiband separation and summation. A full bandwidth
stereo widener is trivial, where a multiband one (that sounds natural without phase or
summation artifacts) takes significant effort to implement.
If you’re following the principle behind stereo widening, you may already be seeing the
potential misuse of it. As you widen the left and right you lose the middle. In midrange
frequencies this can create a “hollow” sound or a mix with a hole in the middle. In lower
frequencies this can create a “hollow” sound or a mix with a hole in the middle. In lower
ranges, especially if your bass and kick are panned to the middle, you can completely lose the
low end.
The solution is a multiband stereo widener that allows you control the amount of widening
applied to individual frequency regions. And not surprisingly, that’s what you have in Ozone.
Bonus Tip: Alt-click is a “solo” key combination in Ozone. For example, if you Alt-click on the
EQ you solo a region of frequencies. If you Alt-click on the Active light of a module (as shown
below) you solo that module. Or…Alt-click on the M (Mute) button of a multiband to solo that
below) you solo that module. Or…Alt-click on the M (Mute) button of a multiband to solo that
multiband – as shown below as well.
Ozone™ Mastering Guide
Page 39 of 66
©2003 iZotope, Inc.