Published by PitchChanger · Updated · How these guides are made
How to use this workflow
Choose a shared window
Use an external editor to select the same source-time window in the original and the reconstruction. Keep channel routing, export gain and monitoring consistent. Avoid comparing an intro dominated by one panned instrument with a full chorus. Record window boundaries with each reading.
A calculated RMS balance example
RMS is the square root of the mean squared sample values. For left samples [0.5, −0.5] and right samples [0.25, −0.25], RMS values are 0.5 and 0.25. Their level difference is 20 log10(0.5 / 0.25) ≈ 6.02 dB. This synthetic two-frame calculation is not a measurement of music or separated stems.
Swipe or scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Channel | Samples | RMS |
|---|---|---|
| Left | 0.5, −0.5 | 0.5 |
| Right | 0.25, −0.25 | 0.25 |
| L/R level difference | 20 log10(2) | 6.02 dB |
Locate the cause before centering
If only the reconstruction changes, inspect swapped channels, mono-track imports, pan laws and unintended balance controls. Compare individual roles to identify which contributes the shift. Do not normalize left and right independently just to force equal readings; asymmetry can be intentional and that operation changes the stereo image.
Check another property separately
Listen in stereo, then make a defined mono comparison in an external editor. Equal left/right RMS does not guarantee mono compatibility: opposite-polarity equal signals can cancel. PitchChanger’s automatic output gain is not a stereo correction system. Keep the untouched files so you can reverse any external routing edits.
Common questions
Does equal left/right RMS guarantee mono compatibility?
No. Equal-level opposite-polarity channels can cancel in a mono sum. Use a separately defined mono check.