“I think the software is a very necessary tool for the studio/home studio. In my case we are talking about a 10 - 15 % improvement in the frecuency response. Even if the studio is a acoustic treated space you will notice the difference when engaging the calibration. The microphone is a very flat mic and the unique ID number that the software takes in account makes it very precise for the measurement. There should be a more detailed/clear guide as to where in all the posibilities and options you should settle, for example the modes; if you are mixing/mastering you probably dont want phase shifting in the low end so you probably should go for the Linear Phase option. The same could be applied to the other modes, in any case it is not hard to navigate, try or listen to the different options until you find the sewwtspot. The lat thing is that i would recommend doing the measurements at least 3 times and not to go with the results of correction right away, listen to a lot of music and tweek all the options until you find the right place, this is a great tool but as many others you should take your time to know it and play with it so the music can be more alive and more fun to interact with,we are working with/making/creating music or some form of art, ¡have fun! c:”
“After finishing up the acoustic treatment, I decided to make the finishing touches with SoundID Reference.
The software was easy to set up. The reference mic felt a little cheap in the hand (it's a $50 mic so it's expected) but ultimately allowed for a proper calibration of the speakers. The difference was subtle but it cleaned up the mids nicely.
The VST is sleek and I will be using it on every major project from now on.
Would I recommend it though?
If you're in a home studio, probably not.
Just get familiar with your room and your speakers.
Reference on as many sets of speakers as possible.
In a larger studio though, probably yeah.”
“In my home studio I thought to have a good sound with no noticeable peaks or dips in the audio response, having used free software for correction.
When I installed the Sonarworks SoundID Reference for studio and headphones trial version and calibrated studio it with my existing microphone, I was amazed at the result. Not only the sound message was more complete, but also with greater resolution.
The response was already quite flat before but with Sonarworks the result on the low frequencies is really good and evident.
With headphones the result is also incredible and there is a lot of different calibration files for a large number of headphones.
Using Sonarworks I can decide whether to use the maximum flat response or keep the phase alignment, and I personally prefer phase alignment in most cases.
This is because after the trial period I decided to buy the software and the calibration mic. The cost is little compared with the big results.
I recommend Sonarworks to everyone, but especially to those who have a small home studio (because we can't afford investments for environmental correction with acoustic treatments), the result drastically changes the use during the post-production phases by applying the plug-in to your DAW or to the mastering SW.”
“The calibration process for my speakers was straightforward and user-friendly. However, I did find myself uncertain about the optimal height for placing the microphone during room calibration. I assumed it should be at the same height as my listening spot, but clearer guidance on this would have been helpful.
The results post-calibration are impressive. I can now hear highs more clearly, and the overall sound quality is less muddy. This improvement has significantly enhanced my listening experience, making it more enjoyable and accurate. I'm curious how it will affect my mixes.
Speakers - M-Audio BX5”
“Setup was very easy; albeit a bit long, although this was expected. The UI for the room calibration tests was very simple and easy to understand. The sound I got out of my speakers is incredible, the response is incredibly flat and my mixing has improved tenfold.”
“Literally the most essential thing anyone with a pair of monitors needs. Incredible difference. Don’t invest in acoustic treatment until you have installed and set up SoundID Ref”
“Really useful software. I'm looking forward to utilizing it during the course of my studies in college. The microphone is high quality and aesthetically pleasing. The software UI is very well designed. The microphone setup is easy, and the software is intuitive to use and easy to learn.”
