Gonio Meter (Lissajous)

General

• a Gonio (also Called “Lissajous”) Meter Shows the Stereo Field Through a Dot that Moves and the Movement is Controlled by the Audio Signal

• Feed Signal Only from the Left Channel will Make the Dot Move Diagonally (between Upper Left and Lower Right)

• Viceversa Feed Signal Only from the Right Channel will Make the Dot Move Diagonally (between Upper Right and Lower Left)

• Feed Signal with Mono Center Signal Only the Dot Moves Straight Up/Down in the Center (if Left and Right is Equally Loud), this Corresponds to the Mid Signal in MS Processing

– when Left vs Right is Out of Phase which Each Other, i.e. are Identical but have Opposite Polarity, then the Dot Moves Left and Right, this Corresponds to the Side Signal in MS Processing

• with Mostly Key Elements are Centered the Gonio Meter Represents the Movement Mostly Vertical, but the More Spacious Panned Stuff is Added the More the Movement Gets Horizontally 

• i.e. Most Mixes Show a Gonio with a Fuzzy Ball that is Taller than it is Wide

Main Usages 

1. Check Position of Image, i.e. Gonio Shows Well if a Signal Tends to Shift More Towards 1 Side 

2) Detect Heavy Limiting when the Gonio Shows a Characteristic “Diamond” Shape

• and when Heavy Clipping his Used then the Diamond Shows Additional Sharp Edges

– Clipping can BTW also Better Heard on the Side Signal, i.e. Listen for the Crackling

3) Detect Overly Wide Elements 

• i.e. when the Gonio Shows Larger Horizontal Movement, it can be a Sign that there is Phase Shifting and thus a Problem for Mono Compatibility