Ozone Imager is a stereo imager that iZotope gives away for free. A stereo imager adjusts how wide a sound spreads from left to right (the stereo width). Widen it and the sound feels bigger; narrow it and the sound becomes more focused. This page covers the fact that it is free, what it can do and how to get it, using only information from the maker’s official page.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-in is free, and its features, were checked on iZotope’s official page around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get Ozone Imager
- Open the Ozone Imager page on the iZotope official website.
- Use the “Free download” button to go to the download process. The official page says “Download: available immediately”.
- The download process may require an iZotope account. Follow the on-screen instructions to register.
- Choose the installer that matches your computer, then download and install it.
- Open your DAW (recording and music-making software), rescan for plug-ins, and load it as an insert on a track.
Where to get it: iZotope official website (free)
What is Ozone Imager?
Ozone Imager takes the imager function from iZotope’s mastering suite Ozone and offers it as a free stand-alone plug-in. The official page describes the free version as a taster of what Ozone has to offer. If you want newer features, there are paid versions of Ozone (Elements, Standard and Advanced). Ozone Imager is included in every edition of Ozone, according to the page.
The main job is changing the “width” of the sound. You can use it as part of mastering, but also on individual tracks. The official page even quotes a scoring mixer who says he uses Ozone’s imager on individual tracks.
Main features (per the manufacturer)
- Widen or narrow the sound (per the manufacturer): Works on any track, widening or narrowing it. The official page suggests uses such as widening piano, synths and cymbals to fill the space, or narrowing bass and kick to tighten the low end.
- Stereoize (per the manufacturer): A function that turns a mono sound into stereo. It is described as adding width without reverb or doubling (layering the sound). It has two modes: “Stereoize II”, which widens subtly, and “Stereoize I”, a coloured phaser effect (shifting the phase to make the sound wobble).
- 3 kinds of vectorscope (per the manufacturer): A vectorscope is a meter that shows the spread and balance of the left and right signals as a picture. The 3 meters let you check the stereo width and whether left and right are properly aligned.
- Resizable window (per the manufacturer): You can enlarge the window to make the meters easier to read.
Who it is for
- People whose mix feels narrow and who want to try adding width for free.
- People who want to keep bass and kick in the centre to reduce low-end muddiness.
- People who want to adjust left-right width while checking numbers and diagrams.
- People who may use Ozone in the future and want to get a feel for it for free first.
Tips for using it
What follows is general thinking about stereo imagers, not operations specific to this product.
- Low sounds (bass and kick) generally belong in the centre. Spreading them too wide can weaken the impact on speakers. Narrowing the width may be the easier direction to use.
- High sounds and airy sounds (cymbals, pads, strings and so on) tend to gain depth when widened.
- After widening, listen in mono and compare. If sounds disappear or thin out in mono, that is a sign you have widened too much.
- Vocals generally belong in the centre. Widening them too much can make the singing feel distant.
- Matching the volume before and after your adjustment makes it easier to judge whether the width improved the sound or it just got louder.
- A vectorscope is handy for confirming what you hear. Avoid deciding from the picture alone.
Things to know before you download
- Formats and operating systems: Check the “System Requirements” section of the official page for supported operating systems and plug-in formats (VST3, AU and so on). It is safest to confirm that your DAW can load the format before downloading.
- Account: An iZotope account may be required for downloading or authorization.
- Where to get it: Always download from the official iZotope website. Files on third-party distribution sites can be outdated or modified.
- Difference from the paid versions: The free version is a taster of part of Ozone’s functions. If you need the full set of mastering tools, the next step is to consider a paid version of Ozone.
FAQ
Q. Is it really free?
The official page says “Free download”, so you can get it for free. Please check the official page before downloading to confirm there are no conditions such as a time limit.
Q. What is a stereo imager for?
It is for shaping how wide a sound spreads from left to right. In a mix, you can adjust the sounds you want wide separately from those you want kept in the centre. It is also used in mastering to shape the width of the whole mix.
Q. Can it make a mono recording stereo?
According to the official page, the Stereoize function can turn mono into stereo. However, how well it works depends on the material, so adjust by ear.
Q. Is wider always better?
No. If you widen too much, sounds can thin out when heard in mono and the centre can feel weak. Moderation is the rule.
Related articles
To browse free plug-ins across categories, see Free DTM plug-ins: a roundup. For tools used to finish a mix, see Mastering plug-ins compared, where you can see ranks on the same criteria.
For free options
Pages about free products in this category:
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