If Ozone Imager 2 is free, why pay $20 for Pour?

Ozone Imager 2 (the free standalone) is single-band only and is essentially a marketing on-ramp for the paid Ozone suite. Pour is a dedicated multiband stereo imager with three frequency bands, an integrated goniometer/correlation meter, and a focused workflow - closer in capability to the Ozone Imager module inside the paid Ozone 11 ($249+) than to the free standalone. $20 is the gap between 'demo on-ramp' and 'finished tool.'

What's the difference between Pour and the Imager module in paid Ozone?

The Imager module inside Ozone 11 has four bands instead of three, integrates with the rest of the Ozone mastering suite, and includes Ozone's stereoize-from-mono algorithm. Pour has three bands, a correlation-aware goniometer, and a dedicated workflow without needing to load the entire Ozone shell. Pour wins on price (~$229 cheaper than Ozone 11 Standard) and focus; Ozone wins if you're already mastering inside the suite.

Does Pour have a goniometer?

Yes. Pour ships with a real-time goniometer (X/Y phase scope) and a correlation meter so you can see exactly how wide your image is and whether you're approaching mono-compatibility problems. The free Ozone Imager 2 standalone has only a basic vectorscope; the paid Ozone Imager module has a more elaborate one. Pour's is purpose-built for the imaging workflow.

Will Pour work for mastering?

Yes - Pour is at home on a stereo bus or master fader. The three-band design lets you keep the low end mono while widening the highs, which is the standard mastering use case. If your full mastering chain is built around Ozone, Pour replaces only the Imager module; you'll still want EQ, compression, and limiting from your existing tools.

Is there a free demo of Pour?

Yes. Pour has a free demo at carbonatedaudio.com/pour - full plugin with a periodic mute. You can A/B it against Ozone Imager on the same master bus and decide which workflow you prefer.

Plugin Comparison

Pour vs Ozone Imager
Multiband or single-band stereo imaging?

If you are weighing single-band against multiband stereo imaging, this is the difference and when it matters. An honest, feature-by-feature look at a $20 multiband imager with a goniometer and the iZotope Imager - both the free standalone and the paid Ozone module.

Pour: $20
Ozone Imager 2: Free
Ozone 11: $249+

Quick Verdict

Pour is the better pick if you want a dedicated multiband imager with a real goniometer at a focused $20 price - without buying into the entire Ozone mastering suite. Ozone Imager 2 (free standalone) is fine for casual single-band widening but limits intentionally to push you toward the paid Ozone. Ozone 11's Imager module is excellent if you're already mastering inside the suite, but it costs $249+ to access. Pour fills the gap: pro-grade imaging without the suite tax.

Get Pour - $20 Try Pour Free

Feature Comparison

Feature	Pour	Ozone Imager 2 (Free)	Ozone 11 Imager Module
Price	$20 one-time	Free	$249+ (full suite)
Number of Bands	3 bands	1 band	4 bands
Standalone Plugin	Yes	Yes	Module inside Ozone
Goniometer / Vectorscope	Yes - purpose-built	Basic	Detailed
Correlation Meter	Yes	Limited	Yes
Crossover Display	Visual band split	N/A (single band)	Visual band split
Mono-Maker (low-end mono)	Yes	No	Yes
Stereoize From Mono	No	No	Yes
License System	Email-based	iZotope account	iZotope / iLok
Subscription Required	No	No	No (one-time)
Free Demo	Yes	Free	Trial available
Total Suite Cost	$20	$0	$249-$1,499

When to Choose Pour

You want multiband stereo imaging without buying into a full mastering suite - three independent bands cover the standard mastering and bus-imaging use cases
You want a real goniometer and correlation meter built into the plugin so you can see your stereo image and mono-compatibility in real time
You're a producer or songwriter who needs an imager on a synth bus, a guitar bus, or a stereo master, but doesn't want $249 of mastering tools you'll never touch
You want one-time licensing without iLok or an iZotope account
You want the complete Carbonated Audio toolkit - all 9 plugins in one bundle: Pour, Carbonator, De-Sipper, On Tap, FIZZFUEL, TALLBOY, FOAM, SPRITZ, and Still
You want a focused workflow - open the plugin, see the goniometer, dial three bands, done - without wading through Ozone's full module list

When Ozone Imager 2 (Free) Is Enough

You only need single-band widening and don't care about controlling lows, mids, and highs separately
You're casually messing around with stereo width on individual sources and aren't doing serious mastering
You're already an iZotope customer and want the Imager 2 standalone as a quick sketchpad
You don't mind that the free standalone is intentionally limited as a marketing on-ramp to the paid suite
$0 outweighs feature breadth for your current workflow

When to Choose Ozone 11 Imager (Paid Module)

You're already inside the Ozone mastering ecosystem and want everything in one shell
You need four bands instead of three for very granular master-bus imaging
You want the stereoize-from-mono algorithm to give a mono source artificial stereo width
You routinely master albums and the time saved across the full Ozone workflow earns the $249+ price
You've already paid for Ozone (or a subscription that includes it) and the imager is part of what you've bought

The Real Differentiator: Suite vs Standalone

iZotope's pricing model is built around the suite. Ozone Imager 2 (free) is a marketing on-ramp - single-band, intentionally limited, designed to make you want the paid Imager module inside Ozone. The full Ozone 11 starts at $249 for Standard and goes up from there for Advanced.

That model is great if you actually master inside Ozone. EQ, dynamics, exciter, low-end shaping, limiting, dithering - all in one shell with consistent metering. But if you only need an imager, you're paying $249 for one module you'll use and seven you won't.

Pour exists for that case. It's a focused $20 multiband imager with a real goniometer, mono-maker, and correlation meter - all the features that matter for the imaging job - without the suite tax. It's not trying to replace Ozone; it's trying to be the plugin you reach for when imaging is the only job at hand.

The Bottom Line

If you already own Ozone or you actually want the full mastering suite, the Imager module inside it is excellent and you don't need anything else. The $249+ buys real value when you use the whole shell.

But if you only need an imager - on a synth bus, a guitar pad, a vocal effect, or a stereo master - Pour gives you the focused workflow and the real metering at 1/12th the price. The free Ozone Imager 2 is intentionally limited; Pour is intentionally focused. That's a meaningful difference for $20.

Try the demo first. The full plugin is free to download with a periodic mute, and you'll know within a single session whether the three-band workflow and goniometer click for you.

Pro-Grade Imaging, $20 Flat

Download the free demo - full plugin, no credit card, no iLok, no suite tax. Just imaging.