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Description

Achieve unparalleled control over your mix with the Waves S1 Stereo Imager, a plugin designed to redefine your stereo field with precision and ease. Whether you're a seasoned audio engineer or a budding producer, the S1 empowers you to widen or narrow your mix with its intuitive Width control. The Rotation and Asymmetry controls offer nuanced adjustments to correct unbalanced stereo signals, all while avoiding those pesky phasing issues.

Beyond mere stereo widening, the S1 acts as a versatile mid-side matrix, enabling seamless conversion to and from M/S recordings. This dual functionality makes it a staple in both mastering and post-production, providing the flexibility needed to tackle any audio challenge. The plugin's clean, straightforward interface ensures that you can make quick, effective adjustments without getting lost in a sea of controls.

The S1 Stereo Imager is not just about expanding your stereo field; it’s also about providing the clarity needed for professional-grade soundscapes. With precision output metering, you can trust the visual feedback to guide your auditory decisions, ensuring every mix is polished to perfection.

Key Features:

  • 3 Components: Shuffler, Imager, and M/S Matrix
  • Up to 24-bit/192kHz with double precision bit resolution processing
  • Stereo and Mono-to-stereo operation
  • Bass Trim to counter imaging issues from unbalanced low frequencies
  • Perfect for enhancing top-notch recordings and fixing flaws in imperfect mixes

Product specs

Software Type Stereo Imager
Platform Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full Full
Download/Boxed Download
Bit Depth 64-bit
Format AAX Native, AudioSuite, VST, AU, SoundGrid
Hardware Requirements - Mac Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), 8GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC Intel Core i5 / AMD Quad-core or higher (AVX required), 8GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac macOS 10.15.7 or later
OS Requirements - PC Windows 10 or later (21H2), 64-bit

FAQs

What are the key features of the Waves S1 Stereo Imager?

The Waves S1 Stereo Imager offers advanced stereo imaging controls, allowing you to widen or narrow the stereo field. It includes features like shuffling and asymmetrical panning to enhance spatial effects in your mix.

Is the Waves S1 Stereo Imager compatible with my DAW?

The Waves S1 Stereo Imager is compatible with major DAWs that support AAX Native, AudioSuite, VST, AU, or SoundGrid formats, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and more.

What are the system requirements for running the Waves S1 Stereo Imager on a Mac?

To run the Waves S1 Stereo Imager on a Mac, you need macOS 10.15.7 or later, an Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), and a minimum of 8GB RAM.

Can the Waves S1 Stereo Imager be used on both Mac and PC?

Yes, the Waves S1 Stereo Imager is compatible with both Mac and PC platforms, requiring macOS 10.15.7 or later or Windows 10 or later (21H2), and a minimum of 8GB RAM.

How does the Waves S1 Stereo Imager affect the stereo field of a mix?

The Waves S1 Stereo Imager allows you to manipulate the stereo field by widening or narrowing it, providing greater depth and spatial clarity in your mix.

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Intro to Stereo Imaging with the Waves S1 Plugin

Video thumbnail for Intro to Stereo Imaging with the Waves S1 Plugin by Waves Audio

Intro to Stereo Imaging with the Waves S1 Plugin

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for How To Use The S1 Stereo Imager by Ryan Demaree

How To Use The S1 Stereo Imager

Ryan Demaree

Ryan Demaree

Video thumbnail for Waves s1 stereo imager vocals - how to use waves s1 imager by Warrior Sound - Unders

Waves s1 stereo imager vocals - how to use waves s1 imager

Warrior Sound - Unders

Warrior Sound - Unders

Video thumbnail for Broaden The Width Of Backing Vocal Arrangements With A Dash Of Waves S1 Stereo Imager by Production Expert

Broaden The Width Of Backing Vocal Arrangements With A Dash Of Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Production Expert

Production Expert

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waves S1 Stereo Imager.

Use cases and applications

  • Engineers use the Waves S1 Stereo Imager to subtly adjust stereo width during verses and choruses for enhanced impact without mono compatibility risks.

    Source
  • The S1 is particularly effective when used on tracks that already possess a stereo image, enhancing the existing width rather than creating it from scratch.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Mid-Side or Sum & Difference modes in Waves S1 are noted for adding impact selectively, deemed suitable for experienced engineers.

    Source
  • The Waves S1 is noted for its ability to effectively position sounds in the stereo field, unlike some tools that only broaden the stereo image.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Waves S1 is preferred over Izotope for its stereo imaging capabilities by some users, although Mid-Side EQ might be a safer choice in certain situations.

    Source
  • Users highlight that the Ozone Imager is a multiband stereo tool, while the Waves S1 allows for precise stereo field manipulation, offering unique capabilities between them.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The Waves S1 is praised for being mono-compatible, crucial for mixes intended for mono playback environments like phones and TV.

    Source
  • The A1 Stereo Control plugin, mentioned as an alternative, cannot convert mono to stereo, only enhance existing stereo width, highlighting a limitation compared to other tools.

    Source

User experience

  • Some users find the S1 less intuitive or effective than the Ozone Imager, suggesting a learning curve or preference dependent on user familiarity with the tool.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 26 Ratings

5 star
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namesuppressed

Awesome. Wish I'd bought it sooner!

I love the S1 Imager! I spent so many years using alternatives like the PSP StereoPack, Flux Stereo Tool, Auburn Panagement, and I should have just bought the S1 all along. The S1 has something extra (maybe the Shuffler feature) that makes it feel like I'm positioning the sound, not just panning it. The stereo widening is excellent, but I'm mostly using the S1 to narrow stereo channels in the mix & position them so the instruments don't overlap and are distinct, but without reducing them to little mono dots. Of course you can also automate the width, to get pulsing narrow/wide synth sounds. If you absolutely can't afford the S1, the free Flux Stereo Tool is a good alternative, but I'm so glad I switched to the S1 and the Waves Silver/Gold pack.

juniorprimate

Great tool

Great tool with a very easy to use workflow.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jonas Blue uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Jonas Blue

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

At 12:38 Jonas Blue is using this Plugin

See how Ashley Wallbridge uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Ashley Wallbridge

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

Ashley Wallbridge uses the Waves S1 Stereo Imager in the master channel, as shown in his Instagram post about mastering a new track for his performance in Ottawa.

See how Lil Baby uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Lil Baby

Rapper

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used for vocals on "Sum 2 Prove", as stated by mix engineer Tillie in this June 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

"All Lil Baby's vocals go through an aux track," says Tillie, "on which I have the Waves DeEsser, Avid EQ3 7-band, Waves SSL Channel and Compressor, Waves RCompressor, UAD J37 and the FabFilter Pro‑DS de-esser. There are two sends to reverb aux tracks and one to a half–note delay. The Waves DeEsser is there because I felt the vocal was too bright. The EQ3 has a pretty involved curve, with a low cut at 69.8Hz, notches at 184.7Hz and 425.2Hz, and me adding at 2kHz and high end at 5.37kHz, because I wanted some more presence. The SSL Compressor is not doing much, it's just there for vibe. I do the actual compression with the RCompressor.

"The J37 adds analogue vibe — it's one of my favourite plug–ins on vocals. It really brings them to life. I did all the heavy lifting with the first de-esser, and the Pro‑DS is just to catch anything that's the result of the EQ curve that I added. There's also a Vocal Parallel aux with the Softube Tube‑Tech CL‑1B to add more body and a bit of beef. I think that compressor just makes everything sound better. It gives you a different tonal character.

"The first send goes to the Verb aux track, which has the DVerb, set to a Large Hall, and an EQ3 7-band, taking out low end below 100Hz. The second send goes to the Verb 2 aux, with the Waves RVerb, the Waves REQ, again rolling off low end, and the Waves S1 Stereo Imager. I use the Imager on my reverbs probably 75 percent of the time. My style of mixing is very wide, so I tend to spread out my instruments and my effects, and I place things in different places in the stereo mix. I always like to add width and depth, so you can feel things and they are not necessarily right up in your face. But I leave the vocals to be the centre point of the mix."

See how T-Pain uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

T-Pain

Singer, Rapper

Z-Pain

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used on Flo Rida and T-Pain's vocals for "Low", as stated by mixer Fabian Marasciullo in this Sound on Sound interview.

"For space around the vocals I used the Digidesign Revibe, and the Echo Farm delay and Waves S1 Imager on the Aux tracks called '1/4', '1/8', 'Tape1/4' and 'Tape 1/8'. Oh, and there was a Metaflanger spread on the 'Spread' aux track, affecting the hook. The '1/4' denotes quarter–note delay and '1/8' eighth–note delay, using the Echo Farm. I use that a lot. It's cool because it simulates tape delay and it gives this kind of old Beatle–esque delay. Basically, '1/4' and '1/8' are the clean–sounding delays, and 'Tape 1/4' and 'Tape 1/8' are dirty–sounding delays. I put the S1 Stereo Imager straight after the Echo Farm, to get the delay just a little bit out of phase, so you're feeling it more than hearing it. I do this pretty much on every record that I do.

See how Pierce Fulton uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Pierce Fulton

Music Producer

...
Verified via reddit

Mentioned in this September 23, 2014 Reddit reply for an AMA.

LonALKA: Yo Pierce! How do you go about PANNING YOUR SYNTHS and creating so much SPACE - your productions are so wide but seem to have no phase issues when played back in mono?

OfficialPierceFulton: I'm pretty sloppy with it so I guess a lot of the non phasing is luck haha. I do use the S1 Imager from Waves a lot, also the spreaders on Logic like the sample delay and Stereo Spread plugins. I only ever spread small arp/lead elements and detuned chords.

See how Bad Snacks uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Bad Snacks

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via YouTube

In this YouTube video Bad Snacks mentions using this plugin at 8:26.

See how New World Sound uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

New World Sound

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via YouTube

@17:33 they talk about what they use to make bigger saws

See how Flo Rida uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Flo Rida

Rapper

The Groundhoggz

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used on Flo Rida and T-Pain's vocals for "Low", as stated by mixer Fabian Marasciullo in this Sound on Sound interview.

"For space around the vocals I used the Digidesign Revibe, and the Echo Farm delay and Waves S1 Imager on the Aux tracks called '1/4', '1/8', 'Tape1/4' and 'Tape 1/8'. Oh, and there was a Metaflanger spread on the 'Spread' aux track, affecting the hook. The '1/4' denotes quarter–note delay and '1/8' eighth–note delay, using the Echo Farm. I use that a lot. It's cool because it simulates tape delay and it gives this kind of old Beatle–esque delay. Basically, '1/4' and '1/8' are the clean–sounding delays, and 'Tape 1/4' and 'Tape 1/8' are dirty–sounding delays. I put the S1 Stereo Imager straight after the Echo Farm, to get the delay just a little bit out of phase, so you're feeling it more than hearing it. I do this pretty much on every record that I do.

See how John Christian uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

John Christian

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video: "John Christian's Studio Sessions: Next Level" at the minute 18:29 we can S1 Stereo Imager from Waves.

See how Maurice West uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Maurice West

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

He used this on the break from the track "Don't You Say"!

See how Guy Sigsworth uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Guy Sigsworth

Composer, Music Producer

Frou Frou

...
Verified via YouTube

"Also notice that I'm using the S1 Imager. I love the Imager. I just can't get enough of it, because I always want things to have that kind of out-of-the-loudspeakers sound." - at 8:54 in the Waves webinar with Guy Sigsworth

See how Eestbound uses Waves S1 Stereo Imager

Eestbound

Music Producer

...
Verified via Instagram

This plugin can be seen open on Eestbound's screen in this Instagram picture

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Waves S1 Stereo Imager, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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