Setting up with the SoundID Reference standalone app

Get started with the SoundID Reference standalone app to calibrate your system-wide audio. 

In this article:

• Installing the SoundID Reference app
• Getting started with the SoundID Reference app
• Setting up your output devices
• Loading a headphone calibration profile
• Creating and loading a speaker calibration profile
• Safe Headroom
• Adjusting the DSP and calibration target settings
• Frequently asked questions
  • How to fully quit the standalone app?
  • Can I use the standalone app with my DAW?
  • Is multichannel calibration supported in the SoundID Reference standalone app?

Installing the SoundID Reference app

The main module of SoundID Reference products is the SoundID Reference app. It is used for logging into your user account, downloading new headphone profiles, and, most importantly, calibrating the sound of all local and online music playback - be it streamed music, local files, games, or browser media.

SoundID Reference installer (download here) will install the SoundID Reference app in the default location:

• macOS: Macintosh HD/Applications
• Windows: C:\Program Files\Sonarworks

Getting started with the SoundID Reference app

1. Launch the SoundID Reference app, then: Log in - use your existing Google, Apple, or Facebook account, input your Sonarworks Account credentials, or sign up to create a new Sonarworks Account
2. Start a free trial option will automatically register and start your 21-day trial access
3. Activate license will redirect you to your Sonarworks Account for the SoundID Reference manual license registration process
4. Input your SoundID Reference activation key to register your license, click on the 'Register a new license' button
5. Under the SoundID Reference activation key, click on the 'Activate on this device' button to activate the license with the SoundID Reference app

Setting up your output devices

To calibrate your system, you'll first have to set up an output Preset for your output device, channels, and driver type using the Output Panel. You can set up any output combination you prefer, using your audio interface, DAC device, or the built-in headphone port:

1. Navigate to the Output Panel and click on Add new output
2. [WIN] Select the device type (WASAPI/ASIO)
3. Select the audio device to be used for this Preset
4. Select the output channels and verify the signal using Play a test tone
5. [WIN] Select the driver type
6. Click Add output to complete the process

NOTE! [WIN] There are 4 different driver types available for the standalone app on Windows. Each has its own advantage, and you can use a different driver type for each Preset you create. Learn more here: Audio driver types in SoundID Reference app [WIN]

Loading a headphone calibration profile

Headphone calibration profiles are pre-made and ready to use in SoundID Reference (all editions), with 400+ models supported. See the full list of supported headphones here or simply start a free trial to view what's available.

1. Create an output Preset as shown above, or select one you've already created
2. Click on What do you want to do? > Headphone calibration > Add new profile
3. Locate your headphone model, and check the Select current mode options (some models support multiple calibration modes such as ANC, Ambient, and others)
4. For individually calibrated headphones (IHC profile), select Individual calibration and enter your calibration ID. See detailed instructions for adding your individual headphone calibration profile here
5. Click on Yes, continue to load the profile

After the profile has been loaded, it also becomes a part of your Preset. Any time you switch to this Preset, the headphone profile you previously selected will be loaded automatically.

Create and load a speaker calibration profile

For speaker calibration, you will first need to measure your speakers using the SoundID Reference Measure app and a measurement microphone (available in Sonarworks Store). If you have already measured your speakers, proceed to Step 3 below.

1. Create an output Preset as shown above, or select one you've already created
2. Click on What do you want to do? > Speaker calibration > Create a stereo profile, and the Measure app will guide you through the process
3. Click on What do you want to do? > Speaker calibration > Load existing profile to open the Sonarworks Projects directory
4. Select a speaker calibration profile (.swproj file) and click Open to load it

Safe Headroom

The Safe Headroom feature in SoundID Reference ensures there is no clipping (gain-staging-related distortion) as a result of applying calibration. Safe Headroom is enabled by default, and the Output Gain is lowered by the amount of the highest peak in the correction curve. While Safe Headroom can be disabled in the app/plugin settings to max out the Output Gain slider, it is recommended to have it enabled at all times. 

If you notice a drop in the output volume, it is caused by the Safe Headroom taking place. To compensate for it, simply increase the output gain on your audio interface. Learn more about this feature here: Safe Headroom.

Adjusting the DSP and calibration target settings 

Once you have the basics configured (output device/channels and calibration profile), you can proceed to explore the DSP settings, Target Modes, and other features in the app. All changes you make from here will be saved as a part of your Preset configuration in the Output Panel.

• Frequency response curves - select which curves are being displayed.
• Filter Type - Zero Latency, Mixed, and Linear Phase options.
• Listening Spot - calibrates the stereo image for speakers.
• Limit Controls - apply calibration range and ceiling.
• Custom Target - make target adjustments with a parametric EQ.
• Translation Check - simulate your mix translation on different devices.

Note: If unsure which settings to use, leave the default settings as they are, or learn more about DSP features here: DSP features in SoundID Reference. The default settings can always be reverted by clearing the app configuration: Clearing the standalone app configuration.

Presets sidebar

The presets in the SoundID Reference standalone app make switching between various calibration profiles with customized DSP settings assigned and ready to go (Limit Controls, Filter Mode, Target Mode, etc.). Presets are especially useful if you are using multiple calibration profiles for headphones and speakers and various output devices & channels effortlessly - you can create as many presets as needed, assign different calibration profiles and output channel combinations to each one, and rename the presets to your preference.

From there, the DSP settings adjustments for each preset are saved automatically (including the right-side output panel controls - Output Gain, Mono Mode, etc.), as well as the freq. response curves you've selected to be displayed:

1. In the left sidebar, navigate to Presets > Add new preset > Select your output device & channels.
2. Select the calibration profile to be used for the preset - select a headphone profile, open an existing speaker profile, or create new.
3. Adjust the DSP settings to your needs.

Note: The Custom Target feature employs a separate level of its own 'Custom Target presets', learn more here: Custom Target.

Additionally, MIDI control can be employed to switch between presets quickly; learn more here: MIDI mapping in SoundID Reference standalone app.

Frequently asked questions

How to fully quit the standalone app?

You can fully quit the SoundID Reference standalone app from the icon tray/menu bar. Additionally, if you wish to prevent the app from launching automatically on computer startup, disable it from the app settings: SoundID Reference app Settings menu > Preferences > Launch on startup.

macOS

1. Hover your mouse pointer to the menu bar.
2. Click on the SoundID Reference icon.
3. Select the Quit option to fully close the app.

Windows

1. Click the icon tray "⌃" menu.
2. Right-click on the SoundID Reference tray icon.
3. Select the Quit option to fully close the app.

Can I use the standalone app with my DAW?

Yes, the SoundID Reference standalone app can be used as your DAW’s output device instead of the plugin, but it’s generally not recommended for critical production work. While it offers benefits like eliminating the need to bypass calibration when exporting and avoiding Safe Headroom volume jumps, it also introduces added latency (up to 50 ms) and potential stability issues due to driver complexity. The only recommended workflow is using the ASIO-to-ASIO driver mode on Windows, which offers near-zero latency and better reliability with ASIO-only DAWs like Cubase.

To use the standalone app as your DAW output, its active output preset must match your DAW’s driver mode (ASIO or WASAPI), or the device won't appear in the DAW settings. On macOS, setup is simpler but still comes with typical latency and compatibility trade-offs. For most workflows, the DAW plugin remains the best choice. 

Learn more here: Can I use the SoundID Reference standalone app with my DAW?

Is multichannel calibration supported in the SoundID Reference standalone app?

No, system-wide calibration is not supported for multichannel profiles (the standalone app is limited to stereo). While you can load them in the SoundID Reference standalone app, only stereo calibration is applied to the front L and R speakers. This allows you to preview and adjust Target Mode, fine-tune DSP settings, and export the profile for supported devices.