Riverflux Audio · Mastering chain placement
Where PHIXER sits in a mastering chain
Typical slot: after EQ and compression, before the limiter or clipper. Then mono-check before delivery. PHIXER is free continuous stereo phase repair (VST3 / CLAP / AU). It is not a time-aligner and not a loudness tool.
Download PHIXER free Watch tutorial
Hard clarify: Fix timing and polarity on real dual paths first. Use PHIXER only when a stereo master still hollows in mono after that hygiene. Place it early enough that the limiter does not freeze a phase fight into the loudness stage.
Suggested order (simple chain)
1. Cleanup / surgical EQ
2. Tonal EQ + compression (bus glue)
3. PHIXER (residual L/R phase by band)
4. Optional width / imaging (light)
5. Limiter / clipper (loudness ceiling)
6. Mono check + correlation before bounce
2. Tonal EQ + compression (bus glue)
3. PHIXER (residual L/R phase by band)
4. Optional width / imaging (light)
5. Limiter / clipper (loudness ceiling)
6. Mono check + correlation before bounce
Why before the limiter / clipper
- Limiter reacts to peaks. A phase-restored mid can change crest factor. Repair phase before you set the ceiling.
- Clipper encodes decisions. Once you clip, undoing stereo cancellation is harder without re-limiting.
- LUFS OK is not mono OK. Streaming loudness can look fine while phone mono still eats bass. Mono-check after loudness, not only before.
Why after EQ / compression (typically)
- Tone first. Broad EQ and glue compression define the balance you will mono-check against.
- Then residual phase. Continuous rotation (Amount / From / To) is for leftover spectral L/R fights, not for sculpting tone.
- Exception: If a stereo bed already cancels badly, a quick PHIXER pass before heavy EQ can save you from boosting a hollow band. Re-check after the tone stage either way.
Mono check before delivery
Delivery habit
- True L+R or Utility Width 0% (and a phone speaker).
- Note what disappears (kick body, bass, pad low-mids).
- If dual-path timing/polarity still open, fix that first (phase rotation vs time-align 2025).
- Only then nudge PHIXER. A/B with the plugin bypassed.
- Re-check after the limiter. Bounce only when mono still has body.
When not to put PHIXER on the master
| Situation | Right move | PHIXER on master? |
|---|---|---|
| Kick in/out or DI/cab still late | Time-align in the mix | No (fix upstream) |
| True mono source | Polarity only if needed | No |
| Creative Haas width you want | Keep for stereo stems; strip for mono-safe | Usually no |
| Stereo print still cancels after hygiene | Continuous L/R phase by band | Yes (before limiter) |
Honest limits map: when not to use PHIXER.
Related guides
- PHIXER for TV dialog / broadcast fold: mono fold and dialog intelligibility vs music beds
- PHIXER for Radio broadcast mono fold / mono sum and phase cancellation
- Phase rotation vs time-align 2025
- When not to use PHIXER (honest limits)
- FAQ 2025
- PHIXER for Mastering / master bus mono
- Master bus mono checklist
- Link in bio
- YouTube tutorial · Intro
- Gumroad download
- PHIXER for Vinyl Cut / lacquer mono prep (bass fold and phase)
Takeaway: Park PHIXER after tone/glue, before limiter/clipper, then mono-check before you ship. If timing or polarity still owns the problem, do not use it (when not).