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Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in for Speakers & Headphones

Speaker and Headphones Calibration Software - Mac/PC Standalone, VST, AU, AAX Native
$249.00

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Compatible with:

Mac
Windows
AAX
VST
AU

Software Compatibility

Most software is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, but check to make sure.

If you're using Pro Tools, AAX plug-ins (or RTAS for older versions) are what you need. Most other Mac DAWs support AU plug-ins. VST is compatible with a number of Mac and Windows programs. Be sure you choose plug-ins that work with your DAW!

To learn more about software compatibility, check out our buying guide.

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This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

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This Software Delivers Mixes That Translate Everywhere

At Sweetwater, we often say, "If you can't hear it, you can't mix it." This conundrum certainly doesn't apply to Sonarworks SoundID Reference, an intelligent software that calibrates your speakers and headphones to ensure consistent, accurate monitoring in an endless array of production environments. SoundID Reference works by applying a calibration profile to your monitoring output, supplying you with a ruler-flat response across all audible frequencies. The software is a breeze to use — most users find that they can complete the calibration process in less than 20 minutes. SoundID Reference permits you to make custom, on-the-fly curve adjustments, and you can save as many profiles as you'd like, which makes moving between different speakers, headphones, and rooms seamless and effortless. You can also audition your mixes on more than 20 different simulated devices without leaving your workstation. Think of SoundID Reference as insurance for mix translation. With it in your toolkit, you can be confident that your mixes will sound as good as gold everywhere.

Achieve ultra-accurate monitoring — effortlessly

Calibrating your studio monitors with SoundID Reference is a piece of cake. Just connect a measurement microphone to your audio interface, fire up the software, and you're good to go (microphone sold separately). And since it comes with more than 280 ready-to-use headphone calibration profiles, tailoring the software to your headphones is even easier. SoundID Reference's calibration profiles create a target frequency response that's flat across all audible frequencies. This calibration software also allows you to make custom, real-time adjustments to the target curve for profiles that are tailored to your individual application. And since you can save as many profiles as you'd like, switching between different speakers, headphones, and rooms is 100% seamless.

Overflowing with pro-level features

Sonarworks SoundID Reference is packed with an astounding number of pro-requested features. For starters, the software includes both DAW plug-in and standalone desktop application components. You get three filter modes: zero latency, mixed, and linear phase, along with extra DSP processing controls, including mono, dry/wet, and safe headroom. SoundID Reference's Translation Check feature alone is worth the software's price of admission, enabling you to audition your mixes on more than 20 different simulated devices. The SoundID Reference application includes MIDI mapping for various parameters, as well as user presets for switching between predefined output devices/channel pair combinations.

Sonarworks SoundID Reference Features:

  • Calibrates your speakers and headphones to ensure consistent, accurate monitoring
  • Delivers a ruler-flat response across all audible frequencies
  • Speaker calibration process typically takes less than 20 minutes (calibration microphone sold separately)
  • 280 ready-to-use headphone profiles for instant headphones calibration
  • Permits you to make custom, on-the-fly curve adjustments to your profiles
  • Save unlimited profiles for seamlessly moving between different speakers, headphones, and rooms
  • Audition your mixes on more than 20 different simulated devices without leaving your workstation
  • 3 filter modes: zero latency, mixed, and linear phase
  • Extra DSP processing controls: mono, dry/wet, and safe headroom
  • MIDI mapping for various parameters
  • User presets for switching between predefined output devices/channel pair combinations
  • Includes both DAW plug-in and standalone desktop application components
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Tech Specs

  • Software Type: Audio Analysis/Calibration for Sonarworks Supported Speakers & Headphones
  • Platform: Mac, PC
  • Upgrade/Full: Full
  • Download/Boxed: Download
  • Bit Depth: 64-bit
  • Format: AAX, VST, AU
  • Hardware Requirements - Mac: Intel Core 2 Duo or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
  • Hardware Requirements - PC: Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
  • OS Requirements - Mac: macOS 10.14 or later
  • OS Requirements - PC: Windows 10 or later
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SW5SD

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Great mixing and mastering tool

If you want to bring your mixes to the completely next level this is the tool for this. Taking mixing decisions now became much faster. Translation within different sound systems has also improved a lot and I don't have to make infinite mix changes for achieving that. Awesome product, totally recommend!
Music background: musician, mixer, producer, arranger
Rated 5/5

Amazing

Invaluable tool for mixing. Evens out awkward rooms nicely. Even with good acoustic treatment you can still improve the room response to get better mix translations.
Rated 5/5

My mixes got so much better

I've been using dsp eqs to correct my room deficiencies for a while now. The eq unit broke down and i tried sonarworks as an alternative. An oh boy did it do the job better than anything before! The room is really small, 3m x 3m, so acoustics are totally ruined by default. Sonarworks managed to tame most of the boominess at the listening spot and I'm able to do much more precise mixing now.
Rated 5/5

Must have!

SoundID Reference has completely changed the way I work. I don't know how it would be possible for me to work without it now.
Rated 5/5

Amazing results with some caveats

Room analyzer:

I'm using two Focal shape twins with a Focal Sub 6. My room has conditioning but could be better. For me part of calibrating the room was balancing the sub with the mains. This process was primarily experimental. From 300hz to 20Khz, SoundID found various deviations up to about 3db and handled those deviations very well. From 300hz down, as expected the deviations were greater. At first I had one deviation close to 12db. SoundID was not able to tame that well. Once through speaker balancing and room treatment I was able to get the deviations below 6db, the results were fabulous! First time I have ever been able to completely trust what I was hearing and not try to estimate where something was in the mix. Detail of every "voice" in the mix was greatly enhanced. Minor changes on a track are heard very well. No more guessing. You will need an interface that will turn off direct monitoring to do the measurements. The VST plugin works very well with Steinberg products.

Headphones:

SoundID provided a profile for my Focal Spirit pros that really cleaned things up making my cans much more valuable. The profile for Sony MDA 7506 did improve those cans. The profile for BeyerDymanic 770 Pro's was interesting. Not sure what SonarWorks was shooting for here. It did not flatten the cans. Frequencies were emphasized to include bass. Maybe they were trying to enhance "enjoyment" cans?

APO:

I don't have every interface known which should be obvious. The APO did not like Presonus firewire drivers one bit. Had to completely unplug the firewire interface from the mixer and use a Steinberg interface to get the APO to work. I usually use the Presonus for playback of my mixes which I can still do if I am using the VST but to play audio directly from the PC e.g. Youtube and use the APO, I have to use the Steinberg interface and route that interface through analog inputs in the board which routes my speakers.

SonarWorks technical support:

I have placed two tickets to date. From both I immediately received a response indicating delay per heavy call volume. I sensed that the support engineers were sincere in attempting to provide support but in both instances I solved the problem through experimentation before they provided resolve. I'm talking weeks here.

Bottom line for my system was a greatly enhanced ability to hear, mix, and master.
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