SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones calibration plugin interface by Sonarworks

SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones: Studio Calibration Plugin by Sonarworks Free Download

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (60 ratings)

SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones is a calibration plugin and app from Sonarworks that corrects speaker and headphone response to a consistent studio reference sound. It is available as VST2, AU, AAX and standalone.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones is aimed at producers who want their monitoring to match across rooms, speakers and headphones. It works as a plugin in major DAWs or as a systemwide app that applies correction to audio from any source on the computer. Sonarworks describes the goal as a flat, consistent reference sound, so mixing decisions carry over more reliably between setups.

Best for

Speaker calibration
Headphone mixing
Mix translation checks
Shared reference sound
Remote mix collaboration

Developer: Sonarworks
Category: Referencing Tools
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

DAW plugin and systemwide calibration app
Calibration profiles for more than 500 headphones
Adjustable custom target curve in real time
Selectable frequency range for calibration
Three filter modes: zero latency, mixed, linear phase
Library of 20 translation check simulations
Free trial available

03In depth

Speaker and Headphone Calibration Workflow

Calibration starts with a measurement. Sonarworks recommends treating your room acoustically before measuring speakers, since the software is not a substitute for acoustic treatment. Speaker calibration requires a measurement microphone, and the developer says the process takes about 15 minutes. Once the speaker profile is saved, the correction can be applied through the plugin in your DAW or through the standalone app.

For headphones, the software ships with presets for more than 500 headphone calibration profiles. A profile is applied to your existing headphones, and the target response is set to be flat across the audible range, which the developer says is designed to emulate neutral-sounding speakers.

Key Controls and Translation Checks

The plugin includes a custom target curve that can be adjusted in real time, and you can choose the frequency range the calibration applies to. Three filter modes are available: zero latency for live tracking, and mixed or linear phase for higher clarity.

A library of 20 predefined simulations lets you check a mix against different listening environments, which helps when judging how a track will translate to other playback systems.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Sonarworks
Type	Plugin
Category	Referencing Tools
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05Upgrades

Upgrade and crossgrade options

Option	Store link
SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones Upgrade from Sonarworks Reference 3 or 4 Studio Edition	Plugin Boutique ↗
Sound ID Reference for Speakers & Headphones Upgrade from SoundID Reference Headphones	Plugin Boutique ↗

06FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats is SoundID Reference available in?

SoundID Reference is available as VST2, AU, AAX and a standalone application.

What operating systems does it support?

It runs on Windows and macOS. The listed requirements are 64-bit only, with macOS 10.14 to 13 and Windows 10 or later.

What do I need to use it?

You need a supported audio interface with +48V phantom power and 44.1 kHz sample rate capability, plus 2 GB of RAM and a 1024 x 768 display. Speaker calibration requires a measurement microphone, such as the SoundID Reference microphone or another omnidirectional measurement mic. Headphones and speakers are not included.