The S1 Stereo Imager provides special super wide stereo effects on submixes, full mixes, correcting a 'narrow mix', and correcting or moving the center channel in an off center mix, and more.

Three of the four processes in the S1 Stereo Imager are fully phase compensated, thus providing full mono compatibility.

The S1 offers four distinct stereo processes. The QExpander offers one process with a dynamic center channel compensation. Both offer 'L R injection', called width in the S1 and spread in the QExpander. Neither process is phase compensated (it can't be, L R is anti phase). Adding L R produces increased perceived stereo image width, thereby making the sound appear to be wider than the speakers.

Shuffling adds width to the stereo image of low mid and low frequencies. The S1 Stereo Imager offers a frequency control which controls where the shuffling process begins (from that frequency and below). The frequency range is from 350 to 1400 Hz. The amount of shuffling is variable. In essence, shuffling expands the image of low frequencies so they can have the same width as the highs, thus giving more spaciousness to the bass.

Rotation and asymmetry are two more phase compensated stereo processes of the S1. Rotation allows repositioning of the center channel without altering the left right balance, a useful technique to correct an off center mix or for special effects.
Asymmetry is the opposite of rotation. Asymmetry changes the left right balance without altering the center channel position. For example, an otherwise perfect mix as a guitar panned hard right that is too loud. The volume of the guitar can be reduced without shifting the center channel.

Yes. Above the output meters the is a switch that change from L/R metering to M/S (mid/sides) metering. The M/S metering measures the M (the left meter) and the S (the right meter) and gives valuable information about the stereo signal. The more S signal in comparison to the M, the more stereo information there is. If, without any processing, the S of the signal is higher than the M, the signal is most probably out of phase. This could be due to an analog domain wiring error or an incorrect phase switch setting. It is worth noting that certain one-point source stereo miking techniques can create a very wide sound source and the central sounds will be in phase.

Fortunately, the S1 has a channel polarity switch on the input. If you have a stereo signal that is out of phase, simply change one of the sides to a "-" to fix the problem.

Shuffling increases the stereo width at bass frequencies to help compensate for the fact that the ears hear stereo effects as being more narrow in the bass than in the treble. The S1's shuffler is fully phase compensated.The effect is subjective, but usually settings between 1.6 and 2.5 are best.

Stereo effects generally result in a apparent loss of bass frequencies. Therefore the bass trim is included to add them back in.]

Frequency controls the frequency below which the shuffling width is increased.For normal stereo monitoring, a frequency between 600 and 700 Hz usually sounds best. A higher frequency may be desirable when used with multimedia or portable systems and a lower frequency is useful when adjusting stereo images originating from stereo miking techniques where the mikes are spaced by 20 or 30 cm.

The balance control offers a better way of manipulating the direction of the central image. This is because it adjusts the position of the center image without affecting the width of the image. It is possible to move the center of the image using to mono pan controls, but it requires that you position on of the pan controls closer to the center than the other. This causes a narrowing of the stereo image.

Yes. The Asymmetry controls allows you to rebalance the relative volumes of the left and right sides without affecting the position of the center channel. This can help you fix poorly mixed instruments in the stereo image as well as fix a mix that is left or right heavy.

Yes. Simply click the "L - R" button that is above the phase and channel swap buttons. It will change to read "M - S". Then make sure you have the M coming into the left input and the S coming into the right side. The S1 will make you MS signal into a LR stereo signal.