On the software side, Reference 3 is only Mac compatible currently, with older versions still available for PC users. The FAQ online says that “you can use any calibrated measurement microphone”, so you need not use the Sonarworks microphone if you have your own. The mic itself is well-built and individually calibrated so any bias towards certain frequencies are accounted for by the software by way of a calibration file. Unfortunately trying to access the help menu from the software itself didn’t… well, help.
Whilst Reference 3 is designed to be intuitive and simple to use, I did have some questions which were only partially answered by the online FAQ. I’m not sure if the Software suite & Mic Bundle pictured above comes with any documentation, but there was none to speak of in the microphone-only package.
Sonarworks reference 3 full download trial#
The package I got included their XREF 20 measurement microphone which is bundled with a free trial of Reference 3. Other reviews have been broadly positive so I was excited to give it a go and see how it could help improve the sound of my home studio space. Sonarworks were kind enough to send DesigningSound a copy of Reference 3 and their calibrated microphone to review. It does this by taking numerous measurements around the mix position with a calibrated measurement microphone, then generating a preset for their plugin that makes EQ, delay and level adjustments in an attempt to calibrate your system to either a flat, emulated or desired response curve. Sonarworks Reference 3 is a software/hardware solution that attempts to account for the combination of your monitors, the space they’re in, their placement and your mix position.
Aside from all of those, there’s something else you might try… Steps such as using more transparent gear, learning the various biases of our existing equipment and account for them, acoustic treatment and extensively testing final mixes under a variety of conditions. It’s easy to quickly turn to despair in the face of all this, but there are steps we can take to minimize the influence of some of these variables. This is why dubbing mixers or mastering engineers often are heard saying something along the lines of, “that’ll be the last time anyone hears it as it’s meant to sound”. city noise)Īs a result of all of this, the only thing you can be sure of is that no one will ever hear your music or sound the way you do. End user device hardware limitations (e.g.How the authorship software processes audio.When you consider the variables in play when dealing with audio, it amazes me that we’re able to create anything that sounds even half-decent to someone else.