Smart or FAST? - Sonible vs Focusrite Intelligent VST Plugins

[@jdigital1]

Great comparison between the two, I agree Fast for beginners, Smart for the more seasoned professionals, yet both can still be used in any situation especially Reveal.

[@StevoLloyds]

Smart EQ3 also has a 'Dynamic' EQ functionality that you missed , see the mix knob at the bottom of the GUI, to dynamically move the 'smart' EQ curve during the track playback. The new Sonible Comp2 also covers off the FAST Reveal unmasking functionality too, using spectral compression. Both are excellent sets of tools, I have both and find that you get different results between the two, so I then choose the closest to what I'm looking for and tweak accordingly. Smart Limit is on the end of every masterbus of every track I produce now and is an essential plugin. definitively

[@palebluedotstudios]

You are correct! I've been kicking myself for missing that; it makes smart EQ even more powerful, pushing it into the Gullfoss territory. And I think you're right: even though there is much similarity between smart:comp and FAST Reveal, they can each work better at different times. Pays to experiment! And smart limit rules!! Cheer!

[@erkamau9629]

Ciao, I bought smart Bundle and Limiters by Masteringthemix and other ones. In all ones but smartLimit I work for a value of intLuf wich corresponds to a GainReduction value of 2 or more but in smartLimit I got the same Lufs and quality with greater GR values, but no distorsione, Is It a bug ? Fast Reveal by Focusrite is a Cheap Soothe, how to use Sonible to solve the same masking problems ? Thanks

[@MusicianParadise]

Great video, using Sonible plugins for ages but was not aware of Focusrite Smart bundle!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Oh great, thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Focusrite just put out the new FAST Limiter, which is really amazing. I'm going to post a review of sonible smart:comp 2 and FAST Limiter in the next couple days! Stay tuned, and thanks for watching!

[@MusicianParadise]

@@palebluedotstudios FAST Limiter? I have to check it out and compare to the SMART:Limiter. Also, the new SMART:Compressor 2 is quite an interesting development from Sonible.

[@palebluedotstudios]

It’s a very exciting update. The spectral compression became more tweakable

[@MusicianParadise]

@@palebluedotstudios yes, and this make a lot of sense!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Definitely check out the FAST Limiter, if you’re curious. I think it might be better than smart limiter..? (Just saying) 😆

[@palebluedotstudios]

[ALERT: the video goes black around 2:00 for approx. 60 seconds! My apologies! Damn you, Final Cut Pro!] There was a lot to unpack here, so this video is a big boy! What do you think? smart or FAST?

[@michaelknight141]

I downloaded the demos and tried them out. Don't care about the price difference, since Fast goes for 99,- and smart for 199,- on sale - both affordable and absolutely ok for what you get. I decided to go with the FAST ones, because I got very good results very quickly. The smart plugins are obviously the more advanced ones, but as a hobby user I get distracted easily by too many possibilities and always feel like I adjusted some of the many settings wrong or not ideally. So the simplicity of the FAST plugins helped me stay focused on the task and get fast and good results. When I become better and feel the need of more detailed adjustments, I will buy the smart plugins, because they are just awesome. Another reason was the CPU load.The FAST plugins seemed lighter on my slow CPU, esp. when they are on many channels, it adds up.

[@palebluedotstudios]

That is a great appraisal! And that's exactly my feelings about FAST vs Smart. I was blown away by not only the ease-of-use of the FAST Bundle, it's also light on processing. Sonible stuff is amazing, but the reverb and comp take a lot of getting used to. Smart:limit is my favourite. Thanks for watching! And let me know how you make out with these!

[@michaelknight141]

@@palebluedotstudios will do :) yes, esp the reverb seems to need a lot of power for all the different sizes and shades of the bubbles. Not sure if that’s even necessary in such detail and quantity. I like the limiter too. Almost blew my speakers when it kicked in after learning 😅

[@j.ciloafasho]

Great video! A lot to cover in a short time, but you covered it well!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Thank you, my friend! That means a lot!

[@Kris_jellybeard]

Not sure in the compressor I see the autogain.... but does the EQ also have an autogain? (focusrite)

[@palebluedotstudios]

As far as I can tell no, FAST EQ does not have it. Too bad, that would be nice to have!

[@Kris_jellybeard]

@@palebluedotstudios always on the lookout for such an EQ... very few have this

[@palebluedotstudios]

Agreed! It should be mandatory by legislation! Hahaha. Even FabFilter tucks it away in the hidden menu.

[@jamelabanderson4474]

I'm a die-hard Sonible fan and use the Sonible line. Though, the only reason I never tried FAST bundle is because I had already purchased most of Sonible's products prior to FAST release. Thanks for the video - confirms that I don't need FAST too.

[@palebluedotstudios]

Glad to be of help! Yes, I would say that owners of either bundle really shouldn't bother with the other. Cheers!

[@kshep39]

Hey man, watching the video replay, video went black for about a minute at the 2 minute mark. Great video though, and I agree with your conclusions. I own Smart Eq3 and I use the eq portion occasionally to get a “second opinion” on eq of a specific instrument. I haven’t really used the eq across groups much but maybe I should check that out more. Comp and verb I use other tools, just never found the need for their smart tools there and agree that the UI distracted me more than helped me. Smart limit (not part of fast bundle) seems interesting but I have a ton of other limiters I like and use regularly, so I’m on fence of even demoing that one. Thanks again for making the video, I’m sure it will help folks out there

[@palebluedotstudios]

Shoot, I thought that was a glitch during the premiere! Hmm. This looks permanent. Stupid Final Cut Pro...😡😡😡Thanks for pointing it out!

[@DirkParker]

Happy to be apart of the 8% now.

[@palebluedotstudios]

very glad to have you aboard! Thanks so much for subscribing!

[@TannerDavies]

I agree with your conclusion, in that I like specific plugins out of the bundles but wouldn't buy 1 bundle outright. Smart EQ and Limit are awesome! FAST Compressor is easy to use. Great review! Looking forward to what other comparisons you have coming up.

[@palebluedotstudios]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, that's how I felt too. If someone was on the fence, I'd say, "a single plugin from FAST = $89; the whole FAST bundle is $99, so you might as well get them all."

[@ConsciousRobot]

I really wanted the sonible plugins but as a poor I had to go with the FAST bundle since they have a payment plan option. Will be trying them out today

[@palebluedotstudios]

My friend, it's a great choice. It's actually kind of hard to pick which one is better, sometimes. They all share about 90% of the same DNA, so you made the right choice. Cheers!

[@nikirose7673]

I have Smart EQ3 but generally prefer the smart function in TDR's Nova EQ. Quite a fan of Wavefactory's Track Spacer too. Neither of these have any grouping options, but I find them very usable and effective.

[@palebluedotstudios]

Agreed. Nova GE's Smart Ops is very cool, and it can do powerful ducking as well. And Trackspacer is excellent too. I need to do a video on those features sometime. Thanks for watching!

[@nikirose7673]

@@palebluedotstudios Thanks for the vids : ) I'm new to your channel but looking forward to watching more. I've had Nova for ages now. I experiment with others but it's the one I always go to if I just want to get something done easily and quickly. Although I did get MSpectralDynamics as well recently. Haven't done much with it yet but it seems very powerful and flexible.

[@palebluedotstudios]

​@@nikirose7673 Excellent! New one out today, more to come!

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@nikirose7673 MSpectralDynamics is on my list to really try out. But TDR Nova will always have a place in my mixes!

[@Samuel_Jamieson]

I use the fast bundle but I am tempted to try the smart bundle while it's on sale. Is there any point having both?

[@palebluedotstudios]

I would definitely try it out, just to see if you prefer it. You get a little more control in Smart bundle, but the features are very similar.

[@stevenkaiser3837]

Great Review. You are an exceptional teacher!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Wow! Thank you so much, Steven! That means a lot. And thanks for watching! :)

[@mattelder4269]

Is fast reveal basically the same as trackspacer?

[@palebluedotstudios]

Yes, they are essentially similar. I think the biggest difference is that FAST Reveal is working in the spectral domain, i.e., splitting up the signal into discreet FFT bands, whereas Trackspacer is a little more like traditional sidechaining, but with more of a multiband component under the hood. But it's hard to say for sure; this is all proprietary. Cheers!

[@michaelknight141]

It would be very interesting to see a comparison with the pure bundle, because they are very cheap (69,- Intro bundle and 49 if you own a senile plugin already) and they seem very small and light on the processor.

[@palebluedotstudios]

I'm on it! I got my review copies and I'll post something soon! Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for watching!

[@michaelknight141]

@@palebluedotstudios appreciate it, thank you for the effort. Btw, I meant „sonible plugin“ of course, but the auto-correction made a „senile plugin“ of it 😂

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@michaelknight141 Hahaha. I figured that. Unless you're going senile, of course...😉

[@Felix00007]

Can You make Video on pi sound radix For kick and bass Phase fix (808,Rees bass etc)

[@palebluedotstudios]

Good idea! I'll see if I can get a copy!

[@Felix00007]

@@palebluedotstudios 🙏 thx

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@Felix00007 Cheers!

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

Hello palebluedot studio, where can I get this song?

[@palebluedotstudios]

That was from my band Arkana, and I'm working on remastering and redistributing the album, it's called Automat6n, and the song was "Struggle and Torn". Glad you liked it, sorry it's not available at the moment!

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

@@palebluedotstudios ok , thanks, great track.

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@barringtonjohnson6569 Glad you liked it! Cheers!

[@murraywebster1228]

I’ve been using the Sonible plugins for years, way back to when they were launched, took a bit of time to learn the GUI‘s back then but the new interfaces are way more intuitive….

[@palebluedotstudios]

Agreed. I find the new interfaces more intuitive, as you say, and the design language is shared between plugins. So you use these regularly?

[@murraywebster1228]

@@palebluedotstudios every mix, it’s the basis and cornerstone to getting my mixes to a position that I can then be creative, they give me the space and the freedom to MIX, all the pieces are clearly laid out and the interaction and space for atmosphere building is there, never forget the dynamic part of the smart eq, it’s like having an assistant that’s taking care of the wayward parts while you can concentrate on the overall feel, I also do many live concerts, and guess what I nearly exclusively use as external plugins on my digital desk, the power of these plugins when used correctly is immense…-

[@djsilent01]

I appreciate your input. But let me give you a different perspective based on my experience. I personally love the Fast bundle over the Smart. Not because it’s a beginner level. I am an over thinker and an over analyzer. I do it on everything..!! So to find something that takes me to do what I need with simple controls. And give me the option to be detailed if I want to and not have to is a good thing for me creatively. Of course this does not apply to everyone. And I understand that. But for people like me, these are great things. And I’ve been mixing for 15 years. Imagine a brain like mine running constantly with all these plugins and there intricacies! 😂

[@palebluedotstudios]

pardon the late reply! I agree: I tend to use the FAST bundle more! Even smart:limit, which is my favourite of the smart bunch, is matched by FAST limit. They're virtually identical! It's an interesting move, to say the least. Why not just use the simpler effect? Cheers!

[@dougb3854]

what song is that ?

[@palebluedotstudios]

That song is "Struggle and Torn", by my band Arkana. I pulled our LP off streaming to change services, I need to fix that! Thanks for reminding me! :)

[@patricioo1419]

Excellent, thanks

[@palebluedotstudios]

You are most welcome! Thanks for watching! Cheers.

[@Fox_is_Fox]

I love your Cubase custom colors! Would you share the theme/template? please 👃

[@palebluedotstudios]

Thank you! I'd love to! I've never tried sharing custom colours before...I think they're stored in .xml files...?

[@teddym2808]

Well I don't have any Sonible plugins (actually I do now I suppose) so I bought the fast bundle cause it was only 90 AUD for the lot including the discontinued balancer which I was able to add to cart and checkout for zero dollars after buying the bundle. So the equivalent of 55 USD for 6 plugins made sense to me to at least get some idea of the quality of their plugins and their smart algorithms. Nothing stopping me or anyone else from getting the full versions down the road, although I think it would be nice if Sonible did offer an upgrade path from fast to full with a saving. So far they sound pretty good and worth the money but I've only had a few hours with them.

[@teddym2808]

PS the focusrite February coupons for the massive discount on fast are still working even though they were supposedly expired 2 weeks back. That was as of a few hours back. Hopefully someone else can take advantage of it before they pull the deal.

[@palebluedotstudios]

I hear you! Personally, I would say, unless you need the (very cool) cross-channel features of smart:EQ, the FAST bundle is much better value. And FAST limit is literally better than smart:limit, IMHO. Cheers!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Really! Thanks for the tip @teddym2808 !

[@earizon_official]

Thanks for the detailed comparison. What is the track ID of the first track in the video? Sounds like really nice progressive breaks...

[@palebluedotstudios]

You are most welcome, and thank you very much! You can find the original mix here, but it's kind of shit. I'm working on remixing this album: open.spotify.com/track/6SLLf81lfmeUXBQyidv9Ur?si=e079efbffe8148e0

[@FC-xc3zy]

I got the fast bundle for free and brought the Sonible smart eq for half price. I will place the fast eq on individual channels. I will place the sonible eqs on busses to mix.

[@palebluedotstudios]

Sounds like a great plan! How did you get Fast bundle for free??

[@FC-xc3zy]

​@@palebluedotstudiosThey were offering the bundle for free if you sign up for a webinar. I did and got it.

[@FC-xc3zy]

​@@palebluedotstudiosFocusrite initially offered the bundle for free if you watch their webinar. I lucked out ....

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@FC-xc3zy No way! I did not know that. Luckily, they routinely lower the price of the entire bundle by 85%! Cheers!

[@Mia1Goth]

both, i want both bundles

[@palebluedotstudios]

Agreed! That's why I have both! I tend to use FAST more for mixing, and Sonible more for post. Cheers!

[@Kris_jellybeard]

Interesting because they do share the same algorithms and have the same developers and investors behind them...

[@palebluedotstudios]

It is very interesting. And I tended to enjoy the Focusrite ones more than the Sonible ones, except for smart:limit. Since AI tends to be about making things easier-why not go for the cheaper, easier plugin with the same guts?

[@Kris_jellybeard]

@@palebluedotstudios Been playing with FAST plugins today and I do have the sonibles since a while. I get it, similar feeling. The reveal is nice, the compressor works better ... but smart limit is my go to since it's out. I've been mastering lately way more with a compressor, a multi band, and smart limit, skipping often the ozone 9... seems like the masters breathe a bit more.

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@Kris_jellybeard Sounds like a good master plan. I've never been crazy about Ozone; I find I get harsh-sounding masters from it. I'm more of an RX guy...

[@murraywebster1228]

You completely overlooked the dynamic function on smart eq3, when you have a very uneven and over resonant instrument it can quite literally save the mix, let the AI , do it’s job, add your own eq flavour then use the unmasking group function, you can literally do your eq moves for a mix in minutes instead of hours AND it virtually opens the mix and makes it more transparent, an even more effective „separation tool“ is to use the ducking function in smart compressor, it is nearly completely transparent in its function and when used correctly gives each instrument its own space without compromising the other instruments .

[@palebluedotstudios]

Good call! I did indeed mention the dynamic mode in my other video (specifically about making a mistake with smart:EQ). kzbin.info/www/bejne/in7XapqLppiYpc0

[@DavidKfilmmaker]

All the hype and prices jumped

[@palebluedotstudios]

Shoot. Yes, the prices jump a lot these days with audio plugins. Hard to figure out when to buy in! Thanks for watching!

[@nboisen]

Great comparison! Just wondering if you've ever considered how either of these two bundles come stack up against iZotope's Ozone 9 and/or Nectar 4?

[@palebluedotstudios]

That's a great question, and a great idea for a video! I'll say right now, the full Ozone gives you the most control over the mastering outcome, and the AI in Ozone 10 is really good. If you're looking for an auto-mastering solution, Ozone 10 is the one to beat. Cheers!

[@carlosp.1846]

And I’m smart Eq, if you want to move voice between groups or some other move you have to push on learn again , you were saying ah much better when nothing was applied

[@palebluedotstudios]

You do not have to re-learn groups every time after you move them, only when they're initially added. You can move them up and down as you like after that. Make sense?

[@carlosp.1846]

@@palebluedotstudios This part of the manual is confusing:" Using the small recorder button starts a new learning process for the respective instance" I double checked on their online tutorial and you are right. no need to relearn

[@palebluedotstudios]

​@@carlosp.1846 thanks for verifying that! And that highlights an issue with this plugin: it's not exactly clear when you need to learn and re-learn the configuration. I think smart:EQ could send some more GUI clues as to when we need to re-analyze. I had to post a correction video all about this, and even then, I think I said "you need to re-learn every time"-which is wrong!

[@mintyswirljoy]

The more I use Sonible, the more it's a yawn and I end up doing other things and turning it off. So the real question is about the effectiveness of a particular plugin over time!

[@palebluedotstudios]

That's a very fair point. I find there are plugins that I was excited about when they came out (some Sonible does apply) that I don't use very much anymore. I do stand by smart:limit especially, but I do find myself reaching for FAST a bit more often, because these are ultimately supposed to be faster, computer-aided effects, and FAST really lives up to that. Oh right: and smart:EQ is in a league of its own with the cross-dynamic-EQ-processing, which can really save complex mixes. But the reverbs and compressors I largely ignore. Cheers!

[@DavidKfilmmaker]

Sounds like neutron 4 unmasking

[@palebluedotstudios]

Definitely some similarities there. I haven't had a chance to use Neutron 4 Unmasking yet! I'm going to test that out.

[@carlosp.1846]

Sorry but if you want to compare fast reveal it’s vs the smart comp spectral ducking… not the eq-..

[@palebluedotstudios]

Correct, good sir! I believe I mentioned the spectral ducking. Smart comp's ducking is probably the closest comparison. But you don't have as much control over the range...

[@stevenbrown5695]

Fast for live shows, smart recording etc

[@palebluedotstudios]

Sounds like a plan! Thanks for watching!

[@revivomusic2617]

Sonible plugins are great tools for any producer, but the focusrite plugins, that have the sonible technologies - not every one can't purchase there plugins because you need to be in specific area to purchase ! Unbelievable!

[@palebluedotstudios]

Oh? Like, you can't purchase them in some countries? I didn't know that!

[@svencarlsson343]

@@palebluedotstudios Yes, told I cannot buy them here in New Zealand...

[@palebluedotstudios]

@@svencarlsson343 That is so bizarre...!

[@electroBRATstudios]

I have both suites- both work really well -but- FAST seems to be very gentle (if) your tracks are tracked well and clip gained and Sonible seems way too heavy handed (a la iZotope) and Sonible seems to work “better” on standard instrumentation than it does on more mechanical I.e. synth stuff where as FAST seems to work really well on everything. Definitely not as much flexibility as Sonible, but does a GREAT job on most everything.

[@palebluedotstudios]

Thanks for sharing that! I tend to agree. I find FAST works well in most scenarios, but I want to reach for Sonible-proper for tweaking. Good call. Cheers!