Baby Audio Smooth Operator Vs Soothe

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

One is currently $329AUD, the other I can get for $36AUD, $42.90 AUD at Plugin Boutique. Is Soothe2 really worth almost 10x the price of Smooth Operator?

[@Snugglebeee]

Smooth operator does have side chain. It’s the little chain symbol to the right of the baby audio logo in the top right corner

[@lucianappleton1212]

The sidechain activates but does not work correctly!

[@Snugglebeee]

@@lucianappleton1212 it works fine for me. Make sure the click the chain icon and side chain the track then use the threshold to control the depth. It shows smooth operator reacting to the sidechained track instead of the tracks it’s in

[@imcymk]

@@lucianappleton1212 if using studio one the studio one sidechain has to be on too.

[@ra-kr7xz]

@@lucianappleton1212 you must not know how to side chain. it works perfectly fine.

[@lucianappleton1212]

@@ra-kr7xz i got it going, lol.

[@AlexTritok]

you used soothe 2 on mid/side mode on the vocals ... You can't really compare this way ...and i think it was side only :(

[@mixedbymatty]

god, your right. While shooting the video I was wondering why I didn't really hear a difference. My bad! I saved that preset before making the video. Must have clicked sides only by mistake. All my presets for soothe are in Pro tools. Honest mistake I suppose.

[@derekmidgley]

Baby Audio's does have side-chain and I've used that to duck a pad vs my vocal. It is awesome!

[@felipousismix]

Thanks Matty, well explained, I was looking for Soothe2 but now thinking on Smooth Operator, mostly for heavy guitar riffs and the cabs resonances.

[@Beethovan]

Bro.Matty, thanks for this video. Even in vocals demo in this video, I feel Soothe2 was better. After applying Soothe2, Vocals was still thick and had lows & mids. But after applying Smooth Operator, Vocals became thin, lacking lows & mids. It has a shrill sound.

[@lucianappleton1212]

One is broad strokes and the other is precision. I have them both! Sidechain doesn't work correctly with Smooth, hopefully it gets fixed. Smooth is not as CPU heavy as Soothe.

[@blaablaa22]

Yeah, same, bought the Smooth Operator from the intro sale, even though I already had Soothe2 and I think they can co-exist in my toolbox nicely and this video demonstrates the reason(s) very well (what you also mentioned: broad vs. precision).

[@mattblaque100]

You’re a giant for this already brother!!!!

[@EdwinDekker71]

I use Smooth Op and it's great. The sidechaining works great too

[@Amberccookie]

The sidechain on/off button is on the top right corner for baby audio's smooth operator.

[@wesleyleigh4063]

Thing is though, is that when you set the EQ yourself, you're basically just combining your choices with what the algorithm wants to do. whet's more, the ratio between the two isn't obvious (as it's dependent upon both the threshold and the amount of cut/boost you set) so you're better off just EQing with a regular EQ, then just using the threshold only in Smooth operator. Combining the two makes no sense is what I'm saying sorry if my explanation is too elaborate. like all other Auto EQ/comps (soothe, Smart EQ, Gulfoss, Neutron) the tone shaping or Area of effect (bar high pass and low pass cut offs) is essentially pointless.

[@ricardoguarilha8192]

What?!??!!???

[@michaelnorth3785]

So ... How does the "smoothers" differ from Dynamic EQ?

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Sidechain is top right... beside the "undo" button

[@mixedbymatty]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@matt_nyc_audioengineer]

@@mixedbymatty I left a comment above but incase you don't see it you can also adjust the Q with the mouse wheel! :D

[@matt_nyc_audioengineer]

Got Smooth Operator the day it came out! Just for reference you can sidechain and you can use the mouse wheel to adjust the Q!

[@mikehunt576]

Which cracked version you find?

great video Matty, thanks for your time to make this comparison

[@Jovian_Nights]

Thanks for the comparison. People seeing smooth operator is more for broad strokes but didn’t it have a focus knob for tightening the processed frequencies?

[@MrClarkio]

Yeah it does, which splits the processing into narrower frequency bands. You're still applying the same settings across those frequency bands it's just that the result is more precise. I've got smooth operator and have been trialing soothe 2. Imho soothe2 is a much subtler effect, half the time my Guitarist bit deaf @ 4k and above ears can't really tell the difference. Smooth operator on the other hand can have a more pronounced effect. It's like the line between subtle and effected is quite small on smooth operator whereas it's quite broad on soothe2 but consequently the range of effect is less. Visually I love soothe2 but find smooth operator more ergonomic to use as everything is there on the graph, no separate depth control. For the intro price they charged though smooth operator deff wins on value for me.

[@Jovian_Nights]

@@MrClarkioso do you think it’s worth forking out for soothe 2 if you already own smooth operator? Been thinking of doing this but it’s a fair outlay for a plug-in we already own a similar version of.

[@MrClarkio]

For me, no unless it comes on sale at some point. But I would encourage you to try the trial version of soothe2 for yourself and see if it has an appreciable difference to your ears or suits your workflow better. Soothe2 does def have more flexibility in terms of mid/side options etc, but it bends quite subtlety. Personally I'm more tempted to splash out for gulfoss, although that is more for group buses or mastering.

[@Jovian_Nights]

@@MrClarkio yeah makes sense, I’ll give the trial version a go on the next mix. Cheers 👍

[@sixstring3639]

Great video! Are those plugins much more effective then the fab filter pro q 3?

[@jameshasseriousedoubtsabou560]

Different kind of plugins to q3. Q3 is a very optimised traditional parametric EQ Both sooth and soothe are algorithmic or AI based, using an algorithm to pick out specific frequencies and bring them down. They Q3 and the soothes have different uses.

[@svarogstudio]

I've ben looking into Soothe 2 and now Smooth operator... but I feel that most of the examples you showed us can also be achieved with a dynamic EQ like ProQ3? I guess I'll have to download a trial and test these against ProQ3.

[@Allan-et5ig]

Yeah, I bought SO and I'm with you - other tools can PROBABLY do the same. Take Camel Phat 3 (discontinued for Windows). It doesn't clam to "adapt 44000 times a second" but it does have resonance filters (low hi) that really work. Maybe though, Smooth Operator will do it instantly or almost, so that is worth it alone. When so much is claimed for a forty dollar plug in, we have to do A-B testing to see if it's true, right?

[@researchinstituteerudita3999]

@@Allan-et5ig Thanks for mentioning Camel Phat 3. Nice and cool plugin. I compared it to Smooth Operator (I don't have Soothe), and both complement eachother nicely IMO. To my ear, Smooth Operator is way better for filtering specific frequencies, but Camel Phat 3 is very nice for filtering wider frequency ranges or the whole track.

[@Allan-et5ig]

@@researchinstituteerudita3999 Thanks for your reply! Respectfully, your ear is playing tricks on you. I probably don't have time until July to send you files (if either of us can be bothered) where I ask you to identify differences in MOST audio manipulated by both and reliably tell a difference beyond 'chance.' And I'm speaking of MOST 'specific' frequencies not the whole track or huge ranges of frequencies.

[@Ascended23]

You can do dynamic EQ in Pro Q 3, but you have to set each individual band you want to make dynamic. Whereas I. This the whole line is dynamic EQ'd, and the resolution of each band is set by the focus knob.

[@Ascended23]

Also, while you can set dynamic EQ bands in Pro Q 3 they're horizontally static- so if the resonance changes pitch due to the instrument itself changing pitch it's tougher to chase those down.

[@giodalmas]

I see you did not use this, so here goes a little tip: using mouse scrool, you can change the "Q" aperture on each Smooth Operator dots! (Thanks for doing this video)

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

The focus slider, which he did not use, affects it too.

[@shanonkiyoshi4784]

You can ABSOLUTELY use the SIDE-CHAIN in Smooth Operator to TARGET your Bass, so smoothing out that Bass would be Child's Play 😎

[@juantaberner1734]

Does anyone use smooth operator on drum busses? If so, do you like it?

[@midnightmix2692]

uuuhm, pro-q 4 accidentally leaked? Look at the inserts 4:34

[@joezazasin7]

Doesn't a Multi-Band Compressor do the same thing

[@MarkHadleyUK]

I bought Smooth Operator and that's what I thought. I already have MB Compr, so seems like duplication to me. I contacted them but they say I have misunderstood and they have "checked with mathematicians" ...

[@RJ1J]

Is this worth getting if I have FF Pro-Q 3? It also pretty fast plus has dynamic eq. It might be a big slower, but Pro-Q has x4 over-sampling so might sound better? Test needed I guess.

[@ColonelMuppet]

Thank you for this review Matty, it s was super helpful. I subbed because of your helpful video!

[@BelAnuRa]

you can do the same with Pro Q3 like Smooth Operator but soothe2 isn't comparable caus it do a bit different thing in my opinion...

[@akagerhard]

I don't think you actually can. Saw a video of guy trying and he failed. I think that's because one is a spectral analyser and the other one is an eq that can also use dynamic eq.

[@leaningtower73]

Smooth Operator is a nice little gem, but no game changer. On the other hand Soothe, Gullfoss, Oxford Inflator and Trackspacer are a small revolution in the mixing and mastering process

[@oinkooink]

Yes. The Beatkles, Led Zeppelin, the Stones...they all used Soothe and Gullfoss. Imagine how terrible they would have been if they hadn't used them.

[@Bronwyn031]

​@@oinkooinkThey also tracked onto magnetic tape too. If those bands were around today, I can assure you their mix engineer would be using all of these tools during production.

[@oinkooink]

@@Bronwyn031 Thanks for your assurance. I feel better now. How's Commiefornia by the way?

[@Bronwyn031]

@@oinkooink Much better than Flori-Duh or Tex-Ass LOL.

[@oinkooink]

@@Bronwyn031 I doubt it

[@unknownfilmmaker777]

"Nodes" is fine I reckon. Otherwise points on bezier curves or non-uniform rational b-splines are just called vertices. Thanks for the video.

[@guitar8617]

What's the difference in CPU usage between the two? Use Soothe 2 quite a bit already and was curious about trying Smooth Operator too.

[@mixedbymatty]

Kinda tough to say, because you can change how the oversampling in Soothe 2

[@nine27]

@@mixedbymatty speaking of cpu usage. what computer are you using? obviously your on a mac but curious??

[@sssyntax]

Man how good is that audio clip!

[@tritonedelta3464]

These aren't quite the same thing as Soothe actually finds the resonances for you, whereas Smooth Operator acts like any other dynamic eq where you are dialing in the frequencies yourself.

[@EdwinDekker71]

No it doesn't. Do a null test and listen to what it does

[@tritonedelta3464]

@@EdwinDekker71 Do you even know what a null test is for? Those two plugins can't possibly null because they don't have the same engine, let alone the same parameters.

[@morsymusic]

Damn this was great to watch! Anyone else using Izotope to remove harsh frequencies? Its been working well for me but that smooth operator looks sweet!

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

My mind is spinning... the Oeksound plug sounds great, but smooth operator is "soothing too". 🤯 Great demo, Matty! 🙌🏻

[@kapitbanda]

very good comparison ang workflow tips ! thanks.

[@Allan-et5ig]

Matty Harris, good video - I bought it today, just started using it. It would be interesting to do some blind testing with a MUCH older plug-in no longer available at least in Windows, Camel Phat 3. Using very different methods and older 'technology,' you can accomplish much of the same things with Camel Phat 3. I've not done any A/B testing. Like I say some blind testing, might be in order. My hunch is for forty bucks it probably works well and I'll use it. Can it do something the ancient Camel Phat 3 can't do? I'm not positive this is so. Probably more quickly. I'll use both on the same 'mud' in a mix and let you know. A LOT has been claimed for this plug-in and yeah, I bought it. We shall see!

[@DarkTrapStudio]

Smooth operator has sidechain, Its the chain I just checked in the manual as Im interested in the 35$ promo cause Soothe is way too expensive

[@ReeseWitherknife]

Thanks. I know I need a mix knob so I won't be getting smooth operator. DSEQ is probably the best bet.

[@retsmej]

i use dseq for instruments and soothe2 for vocals. these 2 are powerhouse. but to really get surgical i use mspectraldynamics.

[@erikfox8471]

..isnt the same thing you can do with ff pro eq3? dynamic?

[@ettiennelane9173]

Why is Smooth Operator referencing white noise??? Gullfoss and Soothe reference the pink noise slope with good reason. Does Baby Audio know that the human ear prefers pink noise over white noise? Compare the spectral slope of any commercial mix with that of the pink noise slope. If you pull Smooth Operator down in its default setting, all sources sound thin. The reference is supposed to be the pink noise slope. Please fix this Baby Audio.

[@darrenhill123]

I totally agree. My default settings for Smooth Operator have a tilt like pink noise. I love this plugin on backing vocals, but set flat, it kills low end first where most of the energy is. A tilt EQ would be really handy on this.

[@ettiennelane9173]

@@darrenhill123 Thanks for your reply. Finally, someone who understands what I am talking about. I really wanna buy the plugin and I have contacted support/pre-sales about this issue. They are extremely friendly but seem totally ignorant of this issue. If one in 10 000 have this problem it's probably a none issue to them. Anyway...

[@davelordy]

Biggest different is £169 (Sooth2) vs £39 (SO).

[@Beethovan]

You need to pay more for good quality things.

[@enzidj]

Great video. Smooth Operator seems a bit too much like Alloy 2..?

[@carlosjazzpick]

Great comparison over sight! while Soothe is little more surgical I am more to Smooth Operator because the fast way to make its thing over my problematic audios, really easy and above all, effective. Following you, great channel!!

[@stevecarrAB]

Your vocal sound source for the test is so pre-manipulated or artifact laden that it's difficult to determine if the plug-ins are causing additional artifacts. I.e., it would have been more educational to include a natural sounding vocal track when conducting such tests. Thank you anyway

[@ClicheMoniker82]

That would be like comparing lawnmowers on already cut grass. Stupid.

[@LittleStudiosOnline]

TB ProAudio DSEQ

[@RipleySterling]

Yeah DSEQ really just covers all this ground and more.

[@YiggaP]

YAS!

[@erestube]

During the video I was thinking Smooth Op sounded harsher, and on the last vocal comparison Soothe was definitely richer in the low mids. I've used both and eventually discarded Smooth Operator. All my other Baby Audio products lost in purge shootouts as well. It was a phase.

[@Beethovan]

Definitely, I also thought the same. Even in vocals demo in this video, I feel Soothe2 was better. After applying Soothe2, Vocals was still thick and had lows & mids. But after applying Smooth Operator, Vocals became thin, lacking lows & mids. It has a shrill sound.

[@Gedagnors]

Thank you for this video! So glad I bought it!

[@danabarnes4751]

Which one?

[@dalekotler7538]

Great video-Thanks

[@jaspurjuice9489]

2:32„Part of the reason I like smooth operator is the solo button… even though you can solo in soothe2…“ man your just trying to sell this plugin, 3 minutes and not one point you made speaks for smooth instead of soothe

[@kevvvvv01]

good review

[@reziahamed6654]

Thanks for the efforts.. I guess the only standout point is the price factor.... Apart from that Soothe 2 is a Game Change along with Gullfoss. Having said that..., Baby Audio Smoothe Operator is a Gem of a entry level Resonance Suppressor for this Price... Love em all... Cheers !!!!

[@SupernovaSun77]

Bought smooth operator just now for $39.99 and that’s better price than soothe. My pockets and ears are very happy.

[@danabarnes4751]

How do you feel about it after one year?

[@SupernovaSun77]

@@danabarnes4751 I don’t feel anything

[@danabarnes4751]

@@SupernovaSun77 ummm....ok? No resonating opinion about the plugin?

[@wileycoyote9688]

@@SupernovaSun77 do you feel anything now?

[@pushqrdx]

It has sidechain you can literally see the button up there in studio one's window xD

[@contefedri]

Soothe has also solo listen in the settings

[@mixedbymatty]

Yah. I think I I mentioned that. :).

[@BrofUJu]

In terms of what it's removing, right? There's a solo option in smooth operator too

[@glennskinner9564]

Smooth had Solo. Same thing

[@Skyromanager]

TBP Pro DSEQ created artifacts, I like smooth operator🔥

[@discomyass]

what kind of artifacts???

[@Skyromanager]

@@discomyass I wouldn't explain if you don't use smooth operator to find out what i'm saying

[@dobbatron]

Great video, more comparison than just choice, thanks so much. Great hearing your thoughts and process in real time too. Have to say I did like Soothe on the vocal too, seemed to keep a touch more detail but of course you were working quick/dirty.

[@kostyakonstantinoff]

I don't understand the benefits of using this plugin. You can do the same with any dynamic equalizer. For example, Pro-Q. Better invest in the more versatile Pro-Q

[@gapaification]

i guess that smooth operator more compaired to Gulfoss, not soothe

[@VEsound]

You can enjoy Soothe2 more just using less "points" like Smooth Operator.

[@rickmayer4002]

Soothe is out of my budget and there is a side chain and focus is your mix. I'm still learning it. Soothe cost six times as smooth.

[@VEsound]

@@rickmayer4002 I'm not talking about budget, just about 2 of the 3 examples of the video.

[@rickmayer4002]

@@VEsound Ya I know, Sorry! I was just stating my situation I can't justify over 300 bones for a plugin.

[@VEsound]

@@rickmayer4002 Yes, but you can do like me and wait until a sale (easter and black friday): Soothe2 costs 139€ at this time of the year. :)

[@abolit]

and paying seven times as much for soothe2 ))

[@Hitplacemusic]

2 click and ready lol its another tool for low Bug pandemic mics great video

[@mixedbymatty]

Pandemic mic 😂😂😂😂

[@Allan-et5ig]

It has a sidechain.

[@Jisooee]

these two has different jobs okay

[@diegoalejo15]

I also like a lot voxengo Teote

[@КлараРысь]

Cool !

[@TroubadourMusic]

No comparison to soothe 2. You get what you pay for.

[@Kelvinapplegate]

Sounds like it would be great for someone like me who has no clue what I'm doing. Get right to the point.

[@harryolive1853]

Soothe is the over all better choice.. it eliminates you huhs on the fly my measuring what going on.. Smooth operator is a simple serial multi band compressor as you can see in frequency range on top. Soothe separates the man from the boys and babies.

[@bluematrix5001]

Smooth Operator GUI is horrible, they need more contrast with the colors..

[@ra-kr7xz]

I'm hoping tires going to be an update tome those frequency markers look more appealing. Maybe adding some contrast in color for each of the 4 so you can see where each cut is clearer? Its a great plugin; but out of all their plugins its the most unpleasant to look at haha. I used my plugin boutique credits to pretty much get it free so I'm not too upset. If only Soothe2 was priced better as well.

[@rosegold-beats]

Make a new video

[@Limit5482]

It can do almost $100 cheaper…that’s what it can do

[@marmotman]

Maybe learn all the functions of a plugin before reviewing it? Smooth Operator has a side chain and Q control, too.

[@Maxc_]

Soothe 2.. All the way.. Everyday

[@exortor]

Soothe is overpriced as fuck Imo.