By now I'm sure you all know that I'm a big fan of Sonarworks Reference 3 Speaker Calibration software. I use it on every mix, however I do have one problem with it. The problem that catches me out time and again is forgetting to "Make Inactive" the Reference 3 plug-in before bouncing a mix down. Not doing so prints the room correction, which is not ideal. Community member Andy Soemo recently posted a great Reference 3 workaround on the Trinnov vs Sonarworks article that addresses this problem.
Andy's Reference 3 Workaround In Pro Tools
- Route all tracks in the session to a "MAIN BUS" Aux track. I create a Master fader for that bus so I have pre-plugin gain control. You can insert any bus processing here or on the master fader for this bus if you prefer.
- On the "MAIN BUS", create a new send called "PRINT BUS" and set it to pre-fader. (You don't even need this returning anywhere within the session.)
- Create another "Master Fader" that is set to your monitor outputs. Instantiate the room correction plugin on this master fader.
- When you go to bounce your session, set the source of the bounce to the "PRINT BUS". Since it is a pre fader send, BEFORE the monitor path (where the room correction plugin is) you will have a full volume bounce WITHOUT the room correction applied. I found this great because I never had to remember to turn it off but I always hear it.
Andy has also provided a very useful Pro Tools template that community members are welcome to download. Thank you Andy for taking the time to explain you very useful workaround.