Stereo Width & Phase Correlation
Published June 2026 · 7 min read
A professional mix balances expansive stereo width with rock-solid mono compatibility. If your left and right channels are out of phase, folding the mix to mono will cause instruments and vocals to disappear entirely due to destructive interference.
Phase Correlation Meter: Ranges from
+1.0 (perfect mono/phase alignment) to -1.0 (complete phase inversion). Professional commercial masters generally stay between +0.3 and +1.0.
Interpreting Phase Correlation Values
| Correlation Value | Spatial Characteristic | Mono Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| +1.0 | Identical left and right (Pure Mono) | Perfect |
| +0.5 to +0.9 | Balanced stereo image | Excellent |
| +0.1 to +0.4 | Very wide stereo, immersive | Check bass |
| 0.0 to -1.0 | Phase cancellation risk | Unsafe / Cancels in mono |
How CoProducer Evaluates Stereo Space
CoProducer analyzes channel difference (Side signal) relative to sum (Mid signal) to quantify stereo width percentage and phase correlation across the frequency spectrum. If phase correlation drops below safe thresholds, CoProducer flags it so you can correct stereo wideners or low-frequency phase alignment before release.