Since 2012 Sonarworks has been improving the sound in studios by providing software-based correction of the frequency response of speakers and headphones.
An important part of dialing in my monitoring has been implementing Sonarworks Reference 4 software for correcting the last bit of EQ imbalances in my speaker/room setup. Over the years, I have tuned my room to sound great to my ears, and also to provide a sound that translates well to what others will hear on their systems. When I used to record and mix in different rooms every day, I was much more insecure about my mixes translating well – I relied on car checks and a trusted mastering engineer to polish and verify my mixes. I have the gear and plug-ins that I rely on and am intimately familiar with. I am fortunate to record in some of the best studios in the world, but I am more fortunate that when I mix and master projects I almost always work in my own studio. That is due to the fact that I trust that what I hear in my room will sound very similar on most other playback systems. When producing, mixing, or mastering, how frequently do you go out to your car and check your mix? Do you listen on three different headphones and a few different Bluetooth speakers? My answer to this question has changed over the years, and today the simple answer is that I don't feel the need to check my mixes anywhere outside of my studio.