oeksound Soothe 2

Soothe 2 from oeksound occupies a unique position in audio processing — it isn't a conventional EQ or multiband compressor, but a dynamic resonance suppressor that listens to your signal in real time and clamps down on problematic frequencies only when they become an issue. Where a static EQ notch would permanently thin out a vocal or dull a guitar, Soothe 2 reacts moment-to-moment, applying reduction precisely where the harshness or muddiness is actually occurring.

The core concept is straightforward: you define bands across the spectrum, set a depth and sharpness, and Soothe 2 handles the rest. When a frequency spikes beyond its surroundings, the plug-in attenuates it. When it settles back down, the processing lifts. The result is transparency that's almost impossible to achieve with manual notching — particularly on sources like close-mic'd acoustic guitars, bright condenser vocals, or overheads with unpredictable cymbal wash.

Two processing modes give you control over how aggressively the plug-in acts. Hard mode applies faster, more decisive reduction — useful for taming screaming resonances or controlling harsh sibilance on a lead vocal. Soft mode takes a gentler approach, smoothing tonal roughness without drawing attention to itself. Both modes support mid/side and left/right processing, letting you address problems in the stereo field independently rather than treating the full mix bus as a single entity.

The external sidechain input is one of Soothe 2's more creative tools. By feeding a different signal as the sidechain source, you can duck one element's spectral footprint to create space for another — a technique that goes well beyond standard frequency management. The quality selector adds further flexibility: real-time mode keeps CPU usage low during tracking sessions, while the offline quality setting applies higher-resolution processing for final renders or mastering work.

Award wins from Sound on Sound (Best Plug-in 2021) and MusicTech (Gear of the Year 2020) reflect just how widely Soothe 2 was adopted since its release. Engineers across genres — from Skrillex's electronic productions to Adam Nolly Getgood's metal mixing work — have made it a permanent fixture in their chains.

Who Is This For?

Soothe 2 suits mix engineers who spend time hunting down rogue resonances with surgical EQ notches. If you regularly deal with boxy room tone, nasal mid-range on brass, sibilance that evades standard de-essers, or harsh synth patches that jump out of the mix unpredictably, Soothe 2 will replace hours of manual work. Mastering engineers use it to gently even out tonal imbalances without touching dynamics. It's less suited to beginners who aren't yet hearing resonance issues as a distinct problem — but for anyone who is, it solves them faster than anything else available.