Hey friends,

actually many new Plugins of this kind are flooding the market.
I know, that they have different purpose ( Soothe - Gullfoss for example are different)

Actually my sound lacks in Dynamic in the frequencies and also some problems with Equalizing.
I´m making Electronic music (Hardstyle, EDM, Melodic )
I know that i need to research into this topic because i think this kind of dynamic Spectral Processing via Sidechain input can help a lot. I saw some Youtube Tutorials.

For Example i want to start with Pro-Q4´s new Spectral feature. It also has a sidechain function:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3b-PCq9C4M4

Is this some kind of Soothe´s Sidechain function? Soothe is definitly too expensive for me !

Like i said, i just start to get into this topic and it would be nice so hear some advice in which direction to go.
I can´t test them all :D




Thank you very much

 

Last edited: Apr 8, 2025

Yes, pro q's is similar in function to Soothe's, and can be a great way to help carve space in a mix for conflicting frequencies, just don't over-do it. It can be best to use a static eq + a side-chained spectral eq.

 

All your favorite edm tracks of the last 15 years or so were created without the spectral dynamic eqs you speak of, stop overthinking it and make great music and arrangements.

 

Why mute all the ringing sounds? I'm not a fan of this type of technique. All the masking frequencies happen in a specific area, so overall shaping is more important.

 

Pro-Q 4 for Spectral Dynamics and Sidechaining

FabFilter Pro-Q 4 offers Spectral Dynamic Mode, a feature similar to Soothe2, that automatically attenuates resonant frequencies. This mode analyzes the signal and reduces disruptive peaks in the frequency spectrum, which is particularly useful for synthetic sounds (hardstyle/EDM).

Application tips:
- For punchy kicks: Sidechain a dynamic band (80–100 Hz) to the kick to automatically duck bass frequencies.
- Smooth out resonances: Apply Spectral Dynamic mode to leads/pads to reduce harshness.

 

I got you
I'm also a friend of the older days Music.
But there are also some nice new IDs which sound spectacular for my ears.
And I don't hear the classic "ducking" or pumping anymore.
So I think this can only be good source sounds, equalizing and ja some spectral sidechain magic.
Some of the Productions sounds so super rich and clean.

 

Yes, it's nonsense. There are no "ringing" tones. In history ringing tones were never fixed not even mentioning on a dynamic level but somehow they are still not audible.
It's all perception. People just like to fix problems but fact is there are none but their listening environment.

 

Soothe has been out for a while, and is widely used in electronic genres, for sound design and mixing.

Overall tonal shaping is definitely more important, but these sort of spectral tools can also be a godsend, especially for huge edm genres. They can be abused for sound design, and can be used with side-chain to open up space in a mix transparently, dynamically, in a way which a static eq or traditional side-chain compression cannot. Its also a useful tool when you are abusing things, which is common in heavier EDM genres. Soothe can help tame a massive, saturated super-saw in a magical way. Its not about ringing tones, its about subtly soothing things out, creating space etc.

Agreed the pumping thing is much less prominent in modern EDM genres. Sound selection is the most important aspect in my opinion. You don't have to do a bunch of processing if the sounds work together from the start.