M-Imager

Name: M-Imager
Price: 129 USD
Author: Techivation

by Techivation · Imaging · Spectral stereo widener

Not rated yet

M-Imager widens mono or stereo tracks using phase-only decorrelation instead of delays or frequency panning, aiming to keep mono compatibility and transients.

It has mid/side gain, a dynamic side-channel EQ with mono cutoff and a goniometer, and costs $129.

Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Keys & Synths, Vocals, Guitars. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: wide, mono-compatible, spectral, clean, electric guitar, full mix, mastering, mid/side, subtle, vocals, synths, undo/redo, backing vocals, bus processing, flat UI, linear-phase, mix bus, mixing.

What it does

M-Imager is Techivation's spectral stereo expander for widening mono or stereo material while keeping it mono compatible. It builds side signal from the mid channel with phase-only decorrelation instead of delays, which the developer says keeps transients and tone intact, aiming at "mastering-grade precision".

Widen and Widen Range: set the amount of stereo expansion in percent and the frequency range it applies to, so the low end can stay untouched.
Mid and Side gain: independent level control for each channel, with Solo Mid and Solo Side for checking what each one carries.
Mono Cutoff: rolls off the side signal below a chosen frequency at 9 dB/oct, or can be switched off.
Dynamic side EQ: a linear-phase high shelf on the side channel with Frequency and Gain; a Threshold makes it react to the mid level, so it only opens up or cuts on louder passages.
Goniometer: a real-time stereo-field display in decibels, plus a curve display for the side EQ.
Workflow: clean output gain, artifact-free bypass, undo/redo, optional tooltips and a UI scalable from 80% to 150%.

A 14-day free trial is available. The product page does not state a version number.

Source: Techivation product page

When to use it

M-Imager is the pick when you need to create width rather than just rebalance it, and keep the result safe in mono. Unlike Ozone Imager and S1 Stereo Imager, which mainly adjust the width already in a signal, it generates new side content from the mid channel, so it also works on mono sources. Compared with bx_stereomaker, which also widens mono material, it adds a frequency range for the widening and a dynamic high shelf on the side channel. It has no multiband width split like Ozone Imager, so it is less suited to narrowing or rebalancing bands of a finished mix.

Best for: widening mono synths, guitars, backing vocals, pads and reverb returns, and subtle width on a master while keeping mono compatibility.
Genres: any.
Look elsewhere if: you want to narrow or rebalance width across several bands; Ozone Imager is quicker for that.
Tip: the developer's cheatsheet suggests modest width on mono sources with Mono Cutoff raised to 120 to 150 Hz, so the lows stay centred while mids and highs spread.

What producers say

Early coverage is positive, though M-Imager is new and independent reviews are still few.

Bedroom Producers Blog called it "a seriously impressive tool" for subtle, precise mix enhancement, with clean, natural widening and no phase problems on background vocals and guitar leads.
Bedroom Producers Blog also found the dynamic side EQ "really clever" and liked the clean interface and monitoring options.
Criticisms: none raised; the article is a launch write-up rather than a long-term test.

Bedroom Producers Blog review

Where to buy

Techivation: $129

Tutorials and reviews

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