Hi guys,

I've just completed my first album, the songs are all mixed then exported so I can master them in a separate session (my preferred way of working).

I've just got Sonarworks reference 4 and measured my room, but can't find info on how to use and export tracks if they've already been mixed without it. Can it be done and if so, any tips for best results?

Terry

 

Yes you're fine to use Sonarworks. No special info needed, just put Sonarworks in your master bus, load your profile and work as usual. Make sure you remember to switch Sonarworks off for export though; that can be easily overlooked.

 

Or would it be easier to use Pro Q3 to add opposite EQ curves from my profile to try and correct the room colouration?

 

You can't.

The purpose of Sonarworks is so you can have a flatter response on your monitors or headphones which in turn helps you make better mix decisions.

It's either you redo your mix with Sonarworks or you can just master your songs with Sonarworks.

Just remember to turn Sonarworks off before export.

 

Last edited: Aug 30, 2023

I would suggest for you to install the systemwide setup and forget about it ever after. That way, there's no plugin to put on your 2 bus and no way you can forget to remove it before rendering.

 

Yeah, I've already installed the system wide version but that doesn't seem to help when the tracks have already been mixed and mastered. Any ideas?

 

What do you mean by ''it doesn't seem to help'' ?

I don't know if that's what you meant but Sonarwork is not supposed to process your rendering output. It only apply a filter to your outgoing sound. so it doesn't affect your 2 Bus output .

It's for monitoring purposes. Not for rendering purposes.

 

In case you want to add an "inverse" of Sonarworks to your finished mixes in order to subtract the measured room deviations, then no. It just doesn't work this way.

 

Ah ok gotcha, so would you apply an EQ to the master to try and match the filter curves from my speaker profile, then disable it before rendering?

 

Thanks mate, so would I be better using it back at the mixdown stage instead of on the master?

 

Mixing stage – yes. Actual Mixdown (rendering) process – no. If you're mastering the tracks, then you would also want to use it during mastering.

To avoid any misunderstandings: Sonarworks' SoundID is used to correct your monitoring (speakers/headphones/room acoustics). It does not correct your mixes or masters and therefore should be disabled during rendering when used as a plug-in.