Comparing your mixdowns to professionally polished music is the road to developing well trained ears and well-made music.

Both bedroom producers and revered producers make a habit of comparing an A/B mix reference track. So, having just one tool that allows you to do this can dramatically simplify your workflow. Therefore, the latest plugin by Sonnox, ListenHub, is a mix comparison tool that your plugin library could really benefit from. Needless to say that your music could also benefit massively!

Sonnox ListenHub

ListenHub doubles as a standalone application or plugin for macOS devices, to the dismay of PC and Linux fans. However, ListenHub has optional remote control capabilities from Android or iPad/iPhone devices too. You can use this tool to A/B reference your track against any music from music streaming services or even storage devices.

But rather than be “just another reference app”, ListenHib has functionalities that go above and beyond any predecessor.

Firstly, you can isolate the low, mid, and high frequency ranges and stereo positioning (mid / side) of your track and your reference track and make detailed comparisons.

For further evaluation, you can also solo stereo channels and assess how the sound in mono (as not all listeners will have stereo speakers). You can zero in on your bass with low-end focus too!

Loudness matching and metering options that vary from peak metering to a spectral visualizer allow you to dissect the frequencies of your music. You can assess where your track is lacking while watching the frequency response of the reference track. You can switch between different outputs if you have different sets of monitors and/or headphones, as well as host AU plugins on any output as well.

Audio meters are often intimidating because they are contextless and show many different standards. ListenHub features easy metering tools that help you stay on track with your music. These are meant to complement your ears, not replace them!

Sonnox

These awesome features make it possible for you to run your third-party room correction/headphone simulation software as an extension of your ListenHub setup for better referencing.

Stepped volume control allows for exact volume adjustment, auto-mute tames spikes in loudness, and short-term LUFS metering allows for a consistent level between different parts of your track.

And finally, the free iOS and Android companion app allow you to control your monitors and signal routing from your mobile or tablet device.

Pricing and Combability

ListenHub by Sonnox costs $60 and you can run it as a standalone application or a VST, AU, AAX plugin on macOS 10.12 or later. The ListenHub mobile application is only compatible with iOS 9.3, iPad OS 13, or Android 9 and above.

A 15-day demo is also available, and you’ll need an iLok account or USB dongle is required for authorization.

This story was first reported by Gear News.

---

Great mixdowns all share one thing: the use of great samples.

The sampling revolution has risen in popularity and shaped music since the early 1970s. Sample culture continues to transform how millions of artists and producers do their thing in DAWs.

You too can break conventional norms, challenge the status quo, and open Pandora’s box of sound design.

Mixxed works with a growing number of sample labels and contributors to provide you with an affordable sample subscription service that’s more accessible than any before.

You’ll have access to our growing catalogue of loops, one-shots and sound effects that you can browse, download and keep forever for less than $3 a month.

Sign up today to find your sound!