Should You Use Room Correction EQ? My Honest Sonarworks Reference 4 Review!

I've been curious about the true response of my speakers & room for over a decade, but never actually measured it... until now!
This video shows you the actual frequency response of my current mix room, discusses whether or not I use room correction software, and the 3 scenarios that make room correction a good idea.

[jeffpollitt]

Jordan, what makes this channel really stand out on YT, is your sheer honesty. Know bullshit, know ego or prima donna crap, just good sincere advice. All the best

[asthemoon]

I own and use this, and I also agree that it's not something you'd wanna set and forget and have it change everything you've already learned about your room and speakers. I use it more like a virtual second set of monitors. I'll flip it on for a few mins to check stuff out, maybe make a few changes, turn it off, listen, etc. For that purpose, I find it a really useful tool.

Thanks for the informative vid! 👍

[Martin-knvc]

I bought this a little over a year ago when mixing in my old "studio"... my 10x10 bedroom. I also found that once the correction was applied, it was like a blanket had been taken off my monitors. I think this is a great learning tool to measure the response of your room, then make adjustments with acoustic treatment to flatten the response when remeasuring. As with anything though, it shouldn't be a tool to lean on for a poor mixing environment (like my old bedroom was). Thanks for the honest review.

[edkrausmixengineer]

I've been using Sonarworks for about a year and a half. What I found is that using the mix knob allows you to painlessly re-learn your speakers. Start at 10 and slow move your way up over time. Example: the 1st of every month move the knob another 10%.

[stephenmunro]

As a mixing engineer who is moving from three different environments this would be a life saver!

[endconnr]

Been a fan of your work since Structures and dead and divine days. It's so cool to have this channel around now days so I can understand the magic that went into many records that are still iconic to me. You are a well spoken and natural dude, I enjoy listening to you and your channel every time a new vid comes out! 🤘

[KyleBrianAbbott]

Had translation issues with my speakers for years (Presonus Sceptres 8") Especially around 150hz. Started using sonarworks about a year ago and...man what a difference. I don't have any translation issues anymore. No more car tests because if it sounds bad in my room...it sounds bad everywhere...if it sounds good in the room..then that's what it sounds like...can't blame my room or speakers anymore.

[punkfreak]

Hey Jordan! For quite a while now I’ve been thinking about what I want to do for a career and mixing music has always been an interest of mine, I love the idea of taking what a band has created and putting my own special touch on it to take their music to the next level. I’ve recently started getting into mixing, spending hours on end watching YouTube channels, reading articles and of course mixing my own projects as practice. I feel having this would help me so much with understanding how a mix should translate and training my ear to what frequencies I should be paying attention to and watch out for. If I do or don’t get it, I do want to say thank you for the videos you post, they are very insightful and easy to understand!

[cropcircle]

This is incredibly solid advice for the "recommended users" portion! I've been an on and off pro musician/producer since the early 90's and I can personally relate to everything said here. Especially the mix checking from desk to back of the room. Standing waves are brutal on your perception! To me that is the key to realizing what is going on in a room. There is a difference between what you hear and what you feel. We tend to lump this whole experience together as a "listener" and that is sometimes the problem when looking for an accurate mix as a "professional."

When it's all said and done, we need the tools! Great video, I just got this in my feed and I'll be checking out more of your stuff!

[dtrsounds]

I have been using SW for a couple years. And I swear by it.
It has helped me with translation in a very big way.
I have Event tuned reference 8 powered monitors.
I seriously struggled even using reference tracks before SW because my speakers have a very muddy midrange.
so between using isoacoustic speaker stands and SW, it has made life much easier for me.
Thanks for your opinion on this Jordan.
I think you have great advice
David

[manuxhaag]

Currently looking to level up my mixing game and already had this on my list! I mix on headphones and in my living room, so this would benefit to my situation!
Also, your honesty and the insights you give on your videos are super sick!

[bikesandbeats]

@6:06 the correction likely sounds harsh because your mix has harshness in it from you compensating for having the dull/muffled highs prior to the correction. If you start a fresh mix with the correction at 100%, you will not overcompensate on the high end and it will sound smooth, considering the mix is good.

[slaytontwentytwo]

This has already been on my wishlist for a while on Sweetwater. I haven't gotten to spend a ton a time on my monitors to really know their sound in my room which is a long rectangle. I think this would help me get a more accurate representation of what I should be hearing and what are the problem areas in my room. Thanks for doing this Jordan and Sonarworks!

[adrienteixeira]

Hey Jordan, I'm actually running the software on demo and loving it. I mix a lot on headphones but I also record in different places and the demo that runs for 20+ days has already been a life saviour. Love your content and I really appreciate you giving us your opinion on that.

[Murray_Mark]

Mixing bass and reverb tails are the bane of my existence. Having a room that is fairly well treated would seem to help and it has tightened up the sound. The studio is my favorite place to be...with 17 homemade mineral wool traps..lovingly created in my garage. The revelation of mix flaws still happens as I check my mixes in the car or on blue tooth speakers... I’m no stranger to the notion of “Back to drawing board!”

[gabrielzander]

I'm mixing In my home studio room for almost 4 years now and I totally agree with you Jordan, I learned how it sounds and how to make things translate outside. Think that's the way to go. The problem is that now during Quarantine and Covid-19 era, my 3 year old daughter can't go to school and I have to Mix/work with her at home all the time, specially at night time and I'm having to force myself to work and mix on Headphones. I Really don't like it but at the same time I know it's possible if I put my heart and effort to make it work. There's where I think a tool like this can help me earn the confidence I'm lacking right now much faster. Would love to have the opportunity. Thanks very much, not only for this one, but for all your videos and courses. Big fan here! Take care and keep on rocking good stuff Jordan!

[mertcanozbek]

All I wanted when I started producing and mixing/mastering music was sound that translated good allround. Since I live in an appartment, I can only use headphones and the Sonarworks would tremendously help me up my game without the hassle of treating my whole room (which I don't have the possibility for doing + funds for).

[TazzSmk]

"new monitors, new room" - that's a nice description of what correction software provides - a different monitoring,
in fact it's often not even "better" because EQ causes phase shifts, and doesn't at all help with frequency decay in the room, just messes things up differently,
and on top of that, human ears are not linear, every ear is different and also internally does certain corrections, so even using correction software on headphones makes very little sense - actually having glasses using headphones may have as big difference as opening a window when mixing on monitors in treated room

[carah.s.]

Hearing you talk about having to walk to the back of your mix room to really hear the low end really took me by surprise, because I did the same thing in my mix room for years! Hearing low end is a bit of a struggle for me on my current setup. Having something like the Sonarworks software would be a huge help for my mixing process!

[chriskarasarides]

When you described having to get out of mix position and go to the back of the room to feel the bass... thats me lol. This sounds like it would help me a lot