PRODUCT
TESTS
Sonarworks Reference 4 Studio Calibration Software
By Adam Gallant
S
onarworks has updated its award-winning Reference studio
calibration software to include many new features as well as
improved OS and DAW implementation.
Up for a test in this issue is Reference 4 Studio Edition,
which includes an individually-calibrated measurement
microphone and the software needed to measure a studio’s inherent
frequency response. The goal with Reference 4 is to provide engineers
and producers with a true “flat” frequency response from their speakers
(at the desired listening position) and within headphones.
EQing speaker outputs to correct for standing waves and comb
filtering from early reflections has long been a standard in acoustic
design; with Reference 4, Sonarworks has brought what can often
be complicated technology to the masses with a very simple, user-
friendly experience.
Measuring the Space
For configuring studio monitors, we start by measuring the playback
system’s frequency response from the listening position. The devel-
opers at Sonarworks have put a tremendous amount of effort into
making this process super easy and very thorough.
Plug in the measurement microphone, hold it in your hand, and
the software guides you through a 15-minute process by which the
microphone is moved around the listening position while broad
frequency sweeps and short clicks play through the speakers. The
frequency sweeps will measure frequency response while the clicking
sounds triangulate the microphone’s position between the speakers.
The software was able to calculate exactly how far our monitors are
from each other as well as the distance from the speakers to the
listening position. Impressive.
In our studios, both rooms have sit/stand desks that often get
adjusted depending on the type of work we’re into. I took the time to
calibrate a frequency curve for both the sitting and standing positions
and was able to save the presets in the software to swap between
them easily.
If you’re working in headphones, the measurement microphone is
not needed. Sonarworks has created a database of frequency response
curves for over 100 industry-standard headphones. Simply install the
Reference 4 software, find your headphones on the list, and toggle
the correction software on.
This is a great way to turn any headphones into a trusted mixing
tool. We have a handful of low-cost headphones at our studio, and
Reference 4 has made them way more usable.
On a Mix
Once the measurement is complete, the software issues a frequency
response curve that represents the speakers’ output at the listening
position. With that curve saved, you can run the Reference 4 software
from within your DAW on the master bus and it will apply a correc-
tive EQ to offset your speakers’ and room’s acoustical characteristics.
In my tests, the corrected curve sounded bolder and fuller across
the full frequency spectrum. Our current speakers are Yamaha HS5s
and our rooms are acoustically treated to handle early reflections
but still contain standing waves that make information below 300
Hz untrustworthy. Being able to reference a flat curve was seriously
helpful during mix time. If I caught myself questioning the volume
of a kick drum, I would simply engage the correction on the master
buss and make adjustments while A/Bing the uncorrected sound.
The experience, for me, was like having a second pair of speakers I
knew I could trust.
It is also worth noting that the DAW plug-in lacks latency. Often,
24 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
if a plug-in is CPU-intensive, I find the bypassing of it can take a mo-
ment to engage which, for me, affects my ability to remain objective
while trying to A/B. Reference 4 does not have this issue; the lack
of latency means the plug-in’s effect can be enabled and disabled
instantaneously, allowing me to be completely objective.
Systemwide
New to Reference 4 is an additional feature called Systemwide.
Systemwide will place the Reference 4 software on your operating
system’s output while providing a slick interface for toggling on/off,
as well as toggling between speakers and headphones. This became
hugely beneficial when referencing tracks on Spotify. I found listen-
ing through the Reference 4 software to be flattering to most music.
I could see this product being equally as useable for the casual hi-fi
enthusiast as it is to pro audio end users.
Summary
A lot of us working in pro audio have home-based businesses with
less-than-ideal rooms. Put simply, Reference 4 from Sonarworks takes
the guesswork out of our spaces and speakers. A huge thanks to the
folks at Sonarworks for their dedicated work.
Adam Gallant has worked in all facets of digital audio production, from
music composition to location and post audio for television and film. He
currently owns and operates The Hill Sound Studio in Charlottetown, PE.