Soothe 2: The Plugin That Finally Made Sense to Me
(After Trial and Error)
When I started my home recording journey three years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. It took time to figure out the “rules” (or lack thereof) in music production, realize just how subjective this whole process can be, and, eventually, discover my own sound. Along the way, I became one of those people who wanted to try every audio plugin under the sun. Enter Oeksound’s Soothe 2: the plugin that both baffled and eventually won me over.
When I first tried Soothe 2, I didn’t quite get the hype. It was like trying to read a book in a language I didn’t understand yet. Fast forward to today, and I can confidently say this plugin has earned a permanent spot in my mixing workflow—but only after I put in the time to really learn how to use it.
What Exactly Is Soothe 2?
At its core, Soothe 2 is a dynamic resonance suppressor. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s designed to target and smooth out harsh, ringing frequencies in your tracks. Those unpleasant frequencies, especially in the upper mids (think 350 Hz to 4 kHz), can make vocals, guitars, or even synths sound harsh or irritating. The goal? To make your tracks feel like “ear candy.”
But here’s the thing: Soothe 2 is not a dynamic EQ. It’s not a compressor, either. It’s its own unique animal, and to use it effectively, I had to first get comfortable with traditional tools like dynamic EQs and multiband compressors. Only then did Soothe 2 start to click for me.
The Tools That Helped Me Appreciate Soothe 2
Early in my mixing days, I relied on stock plugins. They were great starting points, but I often felt like something was missing—like I didn’t quite have the clarity I needed to manipulate my tracks effectively. My breakthrough came when I tried SSL’s X-EQ2, which I accessed through SSL’s subscription plan.
Unlike some EQs that “color” your sound, the X-EQ2 is incredibly transparent. For the first time, I could really hear the changes I was making to the signal. Once I started using SSL’s EQ to clean up tracks, I began to see where Soothe 2 fit into the puzzle. It wasn’t a tool for sweeping fixes—it was a precision instrument for fine-tuning and enhancing what I’d already done.
How I Use Soothe 2
The key to using Soothe 2 effectively, at least for me, was understanding that it’s not a magic “fix-it” plugin. Instead, I use it as a post-production tool to handle the fine details that traditional EQs can’t quite nail. For example, if I’ve used an EQ to gently tame harsh frequencies, Soothe 2 takes it a step further, dynamically suppressing those lingering resonances without dulling the overall mix.
The plugin really shines on vocals and electric guitars, where harshness in the upper-mids is most common. By suppressing these frequencies, Soothe 2 creates a more polished, listenable sound while keeping the energy of the track intact.
A Quick Tour of Soothe 2’s Features
Soothe 2’s interface can seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s surprisingly intuitive. Here’s a breakdown of some of its key features:
Band Nodes: These are your main tools for targeting problem frequencies. Interestingly, the controls work in reverse compared to an EQ: moving the node up increases suppression, while moving it down decreases it.
Soft vs. Hard Mode: Think of these like compression ratios—soft mode is more transparent, while hard mode is more aggressive and corrective.
Filters (High/Low Pass or Cut): Use these to control which parts of the frequency spectrum Soothe 2 affects.
Depth Control: Determines how much suppression is applied overall.
Sharpness and Selectivity: These two work together to fine-tune the plugin’s behavior. Sharpness controls how narrowly Soothe 2 focuses on problem frequencies, while Selectivity adjusts how much surrounding frequencies are included. Finding the right balance between the two is critical for achieving a natural, transparent sound.
Stereo Section: Great for creative balancing or fixing stereo imbalances.
Attack and Release: These settings let you control how quickly the plugin reacts to and recovers from resonances.
Sidechain Option: A powerful feature for those who want to get creative with Soothe 2’s functionality.
Why Soothe 2 Is a Game-Changer for Home Studios
If you’re recording in a professional studio with pristine gear and expert engineers, you might not need Soothe 2 all that often. But for the rest of us working out of less-than-perfect home setups, it’s a lifesaver. It’s especially useful for dealing with the less-than-ideal acoustics and mic placement that can lead to harsh, unpleasant frequencies sneaking into your recordings.
One thing to keep in mind is that Soothe 2 can be CPU-intensive, especially on older machines. However, I’ve found that pairing it with efficient plugins like SSL’s X-EQ2 has kept my sessions running smoothly. And remember, you can always bounce the track once you’re happy with your tweaks to save CPU power.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t give up on Soothe 2 when I first tried it and didn’t understand it. It’s not a beginner-friendly plugin, but once you’ve built a solid foundation with EQs and compressors, it’s an incredible tool for fine-tuning your mixes.
For anyone working in a home studio—or dealing with harsh frequencies that just won’t go away—I highly recommend checking it out. And if you need a simpler, faster option for less detailed work, Baby Audio’s Smooth Operator is a solid alternative, though it doesn’t offer the same level of control.
At the end of the day, Soothe 2 has become one of my go-to tools for creating smooth, polished mixes that sound great on any system. It took time and patience to learn, but it was absolutely worth it.
