What's new in SoundID Reference?

In this article:

• What's new in SoundID Reference
• What's new in SoundID Reference for Multichannel 
• More new features and improvements are still to come!

What's new in SoundID Reference

SoundID Reference comes packed with various features. Some of them are visible from the very first glance while others silently work in the background to provide you with an excellent experience. 

Here's what SoundID Reference has to offer (free trial available here):

• Translation Check: simulate different devices without leaving your monitoring space
• Custom Target: fine-tune the target curve with a built-in parametric EQ
• New system-wide drivers: near-zero latency audio drivers for the standalone app on Windows
• VST3 support: VST3 plugin format is now available for both Mac and Windows
• Multichannel calibration: (* license upgrade required) - calibrate surround & ATMOS setups
• Virtual Monitoring Add-on: (* license add-on required) - spatial simulations on headphones
• L/R channel switch and Mono/Stereo Mode: useful new mix-check features
• Profile Export: export your calibration profile and upload it directly to supported devices
• Target Mode: switch between new calibration target modes
• 'For listening' profiles: support for earbuds and in-ear headphones with 147+ new models
• User presets in DAW plugin: configure multiple profiles with customized settings assigned
• Dark Theme & Appearance: now available in the DAW plugin, sync with OS setting supported
• Resizing, zooming, and Compact View: adjust the standalone app GUI to your needs
• Zoom feature in DAW plugin: adjust the magnification level of the plugin window
• Login-based authorization: access everything you need from your Sonarworks Account
• New sample rate formats: SoundID Reference Measure now supports 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz

What's new in SoundID Reference for Multichannel 

With the release of SoundID Reference for Multichannel, we are releasing a product upgrade that offers speaker calibration for various multichannel systems.

SoundID Reference plugin for Multichannel has been updated in many different aspects to provide users with the best experience when working with a multichannel calibration profile. A separate license is required for access. Here is the list of changes and improvements you will find in the SoundID Reference Multichannel plugin:

• Reworked and updated UI - SoundID Reference plugin has new elements for Surround and Atmos setups, dedicated channel groups, improved UI visuals, and tooltips.
• LFE channel support- Subwoofer can now be measured as part of your speaker setup
• Improved speaker volume adjustment process - SoundID Reference Measure will help you get the most out of your multichannel setup and improve your Listening Spot experience
• New tutorials - New and improved Tutorials that will guide you through the measurement process
• Support for various audio systems - Support for 2.0 - 9.1.6 systems
• Improved speaker volume adjustment process - SoundID Reference Measure will help you get the most out of your multichannel setup and improve your Listening Spot experience
• Channel volume matching - SoundID Reference Measure will check and help you match the channel volume
• Time alignment feature in SoundID Reference for Multichannel - SoundID Reference will measure phase alignment and apply the correction
• Microphone multi-angle calibration profile - SoundID mic profile now supports multi-angle calibration curves for accurate measurements
• Multichannel group adjustment sidebar - Reworked sidebar where users can preview speaker configuration, and later make adjustments for the Custom Target mode.
• Channel group selection sidebar - This feature allows to either highlight the channels to see the calibration curve assigned, or check a group of speakers to modify the calibration curves of a selected group.
• Translation check - The translation check feature allows you to simulate different devices & device classes so you can check your mix on things that are really relevant & bring the translatability of your mix to the max.
• Filter Types - At launch, the plugin will offer only a "Zero Latency" filter.
• Digital signal metering - The meters will now represent Incoming or Outgoing signals depending on the selected option. Up to 10 channels will be presented in a single row, where 11 or more channels will be arranged in a stack. The signal peak indicator will be represented by a red dot. 
• Master output gain - The master gain fader will affect all the channels, any adjustments made to the individual channel groups would be increased or decreased proportionally.
• Safe Headroom - Safe headroom has been updated with 3 modes: Specific, Unified, and Disabled. 
• Listening Spot - When a multichannel profile is loaded, the Listening Spot feature will not allow for loudness correction between speakers, but rather only group delays/time alignment.
• Dry/wet mix - Dry/Wet mix fader would increase and decrease the calibration amount to all channel groups equally, it cannot be tweaked individually for channel groups.
• Calibration curve assignment- The calibration curve assignment feature will allow the users to select which calibration curve of the measured profile would be applied to the respective channels. To aid in this process a test tone button is placed next to each channel in question for easier identification.
• Dolby Atmos Music target - Calibrates audio to the Dolby Atmos Music curve target.
• Multichannel profile export - export your multichannel profile to supported devices (available in the standalone app)

More new features and improvements are still to come!

You can expect continuous improvements and new features to be released with upcoming SoundID Reference software updates.