Sonarworks Plugin - You don't need it ?

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by neo lover, Apr 16, 2016.

  1. ampworks

    ampworks Producer

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    You dont know what you are talking about, there is no room emulation, I've used Sonarworks and it is just fixing the EQ of a set of headphones, I yes we can also use Waves NX after Q-Clone also. so run along now.
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
  2. AwDee.0

    AwDee.0 Kapellmeister

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    What actually makes it art and what makes it your art is that you and you alone decide.
     
  3. Hans242

    Hans242 Producer

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    I'm a long time legit Sonarworks Reference headphone plug in user, too. I even sent in a headphone for individual calibration. That's what this plug in is really about for me. Because these guys have the technology to measure my headphones and send me my individual curve for the plug in. But guys, let's face it, this plug in really does literally NOTHING else you can't do with a (linear) (match) EQ. It just evens out the frequency response curves and you can simulate some other gear like cheap or mediocre studio speakers or other headphones. In the case of these simulations there might be some room emulation, but actually it doesn't really sound like a room, only like the EQ curve of the gear, so I doubt that and apart from this, there are only really few emulations contained.

    So come down guys, the headphone plug in part of Reference is just a cleverly marketed EQ software in the shadow of it's big brother the room correction plug in, which has much more to offer and with it's simplicity yet accuracy and low price is almost unmatched (at the moment) on the market.
    But actually I have only purchased and I'm only using the headphone plug in. And it works great for me. Using some little tricks and additional knowledge and testing I can even do some quite ok mastering with Reference and my high quality (1-2 k $) headphones. I won't tell Sonarworks and you which one that is, because I need to cover my real identity here, but Reference really works for me! So much said!
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
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  4. neo lover

    neo lover Kapellmeister

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    I have uploaded 3 audio examples for you to hear -

    [​IMG]

    Audio clip 1 - Unprocessed example

    Audio clip 2 - Processed Sonarworkx example
    Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm

    Audio clip 3 - Processed with iZotope EQ 7 match function [match obtained via pink noise through Sonarworkx previously]
    Gain manually adjusted

    Audio clip 2 & 3 are virtually identical -
    http://www68.zippyshare.com/v/DEJi3zJO/file.html
    14mb compressed file
    :unsure:
    So just to clarify for anyone that is not clear -
    1.Download the Sonarworks demo from their site
    2.Open in your daw and choose the headphone template you want
    3.Run a pink noise signal through the plugin
    [Here is some pink noise 24bit 44.1 sample rate for you to use - incase you have an issue generating some yourself]

    4.Bounce that signal down to audio
    5.Then use that bounced down audio in iZotope EQ 7 with the match function [or some other EQ plugin with match functionality]
    6.Save the preset for future use
    7.Put the saved EQ preset on the master output of your daw in a new project
    8.Leave it on and simply write your new track with your headphones on

    Finished

    The clarification above is for anyone that is not up to speed -
    I'm not just stating the obvious -

     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
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  5. denorte

    denorte Member

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    They do not sound the same. The Izotope sample has different dynamics than the Sonarworks, you cannot hear it? Also, try something more complex. Maybe this way you will notice the difference.
     
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  6. Kohornis

    Kohornis Noisemaker

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    Interesting topic @neo lover! I was already into this some years ago, tried some different techniques with a friend of mine to make our headphones sound flat, but we never really nailed it.

    I think I am going to demo this sonarworks thingy to see how it sounds. :)
     
  7. Talmi

    Talmi Audiosexual

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    Yeah NeoLover good point in favor of sonarworks which I bought two days ago (and I don't know if that's what you were aiming). Clearly the sonarworks and the izotope treated audio file sound nothing alike...
     
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  8. ShadowOfTheZ

    ShadowOfTheZ Ultrasonic

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    how do you open the .xps file attached in Q-clone plug-in to test your presets?
     
  9. neo lover

    neo lover Kapellmeister

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    It will obviously not sound absolutely identical as iZotope EQ 7 is differnet - I only made quick adjustments when I adjusted the gain manually - I also never explored the digital & analog functions - I never applied a compressor either -

    It almost sounds like a perfect match ! It does - Anybody with a good ear can hear that - If you can not work with that level of accuracy then I feel for you -
     
  10. neo lover

    neo lover Kapellmeister

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    I can not believe you are saying that ? it must be because you have spent money on the software - You want to convince yourself that the money was well spent -

    If you read the information on the software they state that it is not absolutly accurate - So I do not understand your point - In reality - The iZotope EQ 7 could in theory be more accurate than the Sonarworx plugin ! Had you not contemplated that ?
     
  11. Talmi

    Talmi Audiosexual

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    I really think it's good if anyone manages to do what Sonarworks does with linear eq, compressors and gain staging. It's both cool because it makes this doable for all without the refernce3 tool but it also proves that this tool of their's actually does something (something that I don't want to laboriously do myself), and I really don't regret the 75€ I spent on it (with the 20% off code I posted on our forums)...
     
  12. m9cao

    m9cao Producer

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    all software calibration tool is shit
     
  13. denorte

    denorte Member

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    Honestly? I make my mixes so much better than before, I do not regret a minute using this tool and my monitors here in front are collecting dust.
     
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  14. Unirorm

    Unirorm Producer

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    Again here man... if you are not trolling around with your comments, you should really read some books to understand how digital sound works.
    That stuff you are just pop out they just don't make any sense. Here are people actually know some stuff and in best case laught at what you re writing, at worst they just get few points higher blood pressure.
    I don't know where you say that IRL and they believe you...
    IF there are any differences between Qclone and actual Sonarworks, are not able to be caught intentionally by the biggest % of those who will AB.
     
  15. Friggy

    Friggy Guest

    I remember Sonarworks saying their software paired with waves NX is a great setup. Sonarworks to correct the headphones, NX to put you in a great room.

    I already use TB Isone for the room part, but never bothered with "correcting" my headphones. Will give this a shot and see if its an improvement.
     
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  16. neo lover

    neo lover Kapellmeister

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    I have just run the test with fabfilter Q2 using the match functionality -
    It's even closer than the iZotope -

    Hear for yourself:

    origanal


    Sonarworkx DT 770 Pro 250 ohm


    Fabfilter Q2 match function

    Don't worry about the delay here it's just latency from the liner phase function

    Sorry guys - You've wasted your money

    :yes:
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2016
  17. flashback23

    flashback23 Ultrasonic

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    i was was also surprised that they show the frankly ridicolous curves.
    anyone wanna make a preset for equality for an akg k240? *whistlinginthedark*
     
  18. ampworks

    ampworks Producer

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    Hi Hanz Yes its true it really is an amazing software, it makes the headphones sound flatter, I would buy this software but i have no job right now, but i would send my headphones HD590 to them if i could.
     
  19. neo lover

    neo lover Kapellmeister

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    I'd spend my money on something more worthwhile - Like a sound engineering tutorial -
     
  20. Talmi

    Talmi Audiosexual

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    I really don't feel that by helping the develloper through buying his product I wasted my money, at least I helped you ! Because his product is the one that you use to grab a response curve to apply to eqs that cost twice what reference does (go figure). And as they clearly state that's the hard part : getting the response curve of headphones, which cost money and take expertise, the eqing comes after and is well done. Pretty usefull for something you think no one needs. :wink:
     
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