The Truth Behind Sonible smart EQ 4: Is it Really the Smartest?

[@cleverdood]

*** Thanks everyone who pointed out you can use this a normal EQ by double-clicking the 'eq line' anywhere in the plugin. This will let you set shelfs/bells and adjust any parameters. I added a subtitle at the beginning but couldn't see how to add an overlay so it's more obvious!

[@GTSongwriter]

I couldn't even get past the "get results" stage. It crashes my Reaper before I could even use it. I had to go back and use Smart EQ 3 instead of 4.

[@The_Doc_Rocks]

I love this plugin, as well as all the other Sonible plugins. I have the full suite of Smart: plugins and the True:Balance and True:Loudness meters, which are also excellent. Those last two don't affect the sound in any way, but they DO give you loads of info about how good or bad your mix is, overall balance for numerous different genres, and loudness for different release platforms. I think Sonible are well ahead of the AI curve with these, and while no doubt others are playing catch-up, the ease of use of these plugins, and the instant gratification if that's what you want (Click "Learn" and play the track) makes these my go-to plugins both for mixing and mastering. Good video - first one I've seen that gets into the whole Groups thing. Thank you :) Subscribed.

[@DelmarJones]

Yes; you can create an eq shelf by double clicking on the line segment to create a new band, then that should give you a pop up that allows you to select the eq filter type. Thanks for the video.

[@BathtubStillBill]

Fact. 👆👍

[@JordanDinstrumentals]

Best breakdown I've seen on this, appreciated.

[@kapitbanda]

superb plugin ! great review .

[@CoopMusic247]

You should check the manual out a little. There is some incorrect information here about what can and can't be done. It's a great update and is going to be my new go to for a lot of EQing. No more Pro-Q for sure.

[@Xylume]

I'm looking forward to trying this for myself. I'm interested in using many groups because I want to use this plugin in a 10 min mix with a large number of tracks. Having all of the tracks in one view for fine tuning is so handy too. Cheers!

[@waltertill1388]

You can set individual Filters and bells by double clicking and they can bes switvched to dynamic as well!!!

[@cleverdood]

yes, I missed that, thanks!

[@setumifilms]

The best video about this plugin

[@cleverdood]

Thanks!

[@maus3454]

Just a fantastic piece of software

[@NikolausBrocke]

Great video tutorial for Smart EQ4. It makes my sonnox Claro EQ obsolete.

[@thanoseolios8281]

Great video, many thanks!

[@musician1971a]

Well, I am not the first to tell you this, but yes, you can use this as a regular EQ, and even a dynamic one! The rest of the video was good, but this part... Before stating something like that, you should really investigate first. I heard someone actually say they may use this over Fabfilter ProQ3 in many cases because of this feature. Honsetly, you should edit this video because of a faulty statement because it's actually misleading. Jus an overlaying text while you mention the regular EQ mode would do though, s not a big one.

[@cleverdood]

I added a subtitle and updated the description, couldn't see any other way to add an overlay or something else.

[@mickaellacoste3686]

Thanks for this review, it helps. I had a look to manual and it looks like standard filters (not AI) could be added, such as low cut. It's not the main feature of this plugin that push AI in front but it seems to be possible to have "classic EQ".

[@yadude101]

you don't discuss how the smart eq handles phase misalignment between different tracks..Does Smart eq correct phase misalignment between tracks which occur when there clashing frequencies which mask each other and a hard eq is applied?

[@cleverdood]

correct, I didn't test that. I assume in 'smart mode', the AI algorithm is dealing with that. When using it as a manual EQ I assume you'd deal with that the same way you do with any other EQ.

[@BrentLeVasseur]

Are the priorities stack static for the entire mix or can you dynamically shift the priority throughout the song to emphasize different instruments at different times?

[@adithyasatheesh127]

Just a quick question. Rarely would a song have the same Front, middle, back mix going on throughout the song. At some point the bass might have to step in front or go back. Maybe the Drums would take the back seat at some point. how would you deal with that when using this plugin through out the session.

[@cleverdood]

true. I would use automation to deal with that. I would assume you can change the priority via automation but I haven't tried. Maybe I'll do that with a second look video.

[@the_handsome_bear]

Matthew Perry on the mix

[@newguy6935]

Great "reference" video but... Yes, you can set individual filters.

[@Rasenschneider]

I can not see what it has to do with top down mixing

[@cleverdood]

@@Rasenschneider top down mixing = start with mixing the busses (starting with the master typically.), not individual tracks.

[@Rasenschneider]

@@cleverdood Yes, I tried top down for a few months. I usually use smart EQ 4 on channels and it does not seem top down. Anyway ... smart EQ became one of my main plugins

[@monkmusic5994]

Smart eq can do anything, of course infividual eqing is possible, with simple double clickin you do that

[@jno8039]

Only one feature is missing . Side chain

[@tobbebergman7583]

Smart is the overstatement of the century ! Sonible Smart EQ doesn't even work on Studio One and hasn't work since it arrived ! No Sonible for me !

[@GTSongwriter]

No. This is the second plugin that I got from Sonible that crashes! It took them 6 months to fix the other plugin. Smart EQ 4 is not ready for production! It crashes Reaper on the "get results" stage. I had all ten instances of it running, for which it says it can handle. It crashed Reaper, then when I opened that project, it auto crashed Reaper. I had to use a backup file to get my project back up and working, but I lost a lot of work! IT'S NOT READY FOR PRODUCTION! Give it a few months, so they can fix the bugs it has!

[@jno8039]

I own Sonible Smart Bundle over more than a year, I never had any issue. Same for EQ4, pretty stable And I'm using Reaper as well

[@GTSongwriter]

@@jno8039 I'm currently using Smart EQ 3 as it is stable. I'm now afraid to run Smart EQ 4 because of that crash and it corrupted my project. I had to revert to a backup project! I'll be sending the crash reports to Sonible and post a video proof on KZbin.

[@GTSongwriter]

@@jno8039 Mastering the Mix was the other plugin developer that has had crashed plugins with my system, but he was able to fix it.

[@GTSongwriter]

@@jno8039 Funny thing is, I NEVER HAVE had a Waves Audio, iZotope, Native Instruments plugins, and many other plugin developers crash on my system. Even iZotope's CPU intensive Ozone 10 Standard didn't crash my DAW.

[@GTSongwriter]

@@jno8039 The video will of course be unlisted and for Sonible eyes only, unless they don't fix it. (Stupid swipe errors thinking if = of)

[@goldfingers8763]

its not a replacement for pro q and the over complexity can cause you to produce music slower

[@blazeluminati]

i use both and i can tell you it's only sped it up. I use smartEQ4 solely for unmasking and pro q3 for ....just all MY decisions and sculpting. In "group mode" smart eq is incredibly gentle and just breathes really nice seperation.

[@goldfingers8763]

@@blazeluminati i will give it a try !

[@Reggi_Sample]

People who had Sonible EQ 3 know there isn’t much difference

[@qualaup]

Fabfilter

[@leopoldbluesky]

Care to elaborate?