Thoughts on Sonarworks SoundID and similar tools?

[jeremycsf]

I often mix while I produce, which involves me switching between monitors, listening headphones, Macbook speakers, etc. to make sure everything is translating well. Lately, this has become a bit tiresome and I'd like to be able to do it without having to go into Live's Preferences to change my audio output every time.

Are plugins like SoundID good for this kind of use case? Are there any tools that would be better adapted to what I'm trying to do?

Thanks!

[lfm]

There is Focusrite VRM box that has somewhat similar approach to switch between different monitor systems and rooms.
- good idea, but poor performance since not adapted to run other than about 80 ohm phones or so
- they kind of recommended HD280 Pro, which I have, and not a good mixing phone

Stephen Slate has his special headphones VSX and software that goes with it that does the same thing.
- seems some like it
- that idea is better, since software knows what the final speakers are like

There is some other software, don't remember name, that has a selection of knows brands and models of headphones to pick from, maybe overcoming what Stephen Slate does, that software knows how the end speakers are sounding.
- and also different end systems with monitors and rooms etc

But what really seems cumbersome to me is the way you work
- don't bother with "translate well" until everything is there in the mix
- just a waste of time
- I even mean arranging, producing along with writing the song is a waste of time, but that's me
- some even waste time "which kick" to have early, before the song is finished????

When you have listenened enough times on the rough mix to feel if there are things missing and find "no this is ok now", then do final mix attempts
- as long as you find new things are needed, don't bother with "translate well"
- you find it boring and need a break or a bridge or key change or whatever, don't bother with "translate well"
- I would not even bother changing from phones to monitors before everything is there!!!!

Our brain is very good at doing one thing at a time
- as soon as you do two or more things efficiency drops rapidly
- so spending time with "translate well" early is a waste
- FOCUS!

If you have a pair of phones that translate well by themselves you are half finished
- regarding monitors later on very few things needs addressing IMO
- some panning and reverb sends etc is all I do on monitors after phones mixing
- phones has more separated "ears" so no bleed and panning and reverb needs adjustment

I just find Sennheiser HD650 with a good preamp translate very well to other devices.
- then I do monitors
- then I start mastering in the sense of final polish of the mix

Have fun....

[jamcat]

Are plugins like SoundID good for this kind of use case? Are there any tools that would be better adapted to what I'm trying to do?
Thanks!

No, and no.

Despite whatever convolution filters you’re listening through, you’re still just hearing it through your speakers in your listening environment. These convolution filters can’t put back what’s missing in the first place. It’s not going to be like listening through other speakers and it’s not going to reveal anything useful. It’s just going to be your speakers with some arbitrary EQ applied. The worst are the virtual spaces. Those all sound like you’re listening to recordings of speakers from several feet away through your speakers. Because in essence, that’s exactly what you’re doing. It’s all pretty useless. Room correction with a ‘flat’ setting can be helpful, because they allow you to hear the best version of your speakers in your mixing environment. But that’s it.

There isn’t some better alternative either, other than actually listening on other speakers in other environments. There is no shortcut to that.