Sonnox

Monitor controllers that mimic the capabilities of a console’s master section are increasingly popular. But in software? Listen up…

We all strive to achieve perfect mixes, but with so many considerations and judgements that are unique to the music you are creating, achieving this perfection can be an uphill battle. Many tools and techniques have been developed over the years aimed at making life easier at mixdown time, but these often assume you’re working with a full-featured studio console and don’t translate so well to mixing in the box.

With this in mind, Sonnox have developed ListenHub, a blend of input switcher, monitor controller and audio toolbox. This is all geared towards helping you compare and contrast your mix with other recordings, and identify problem areas within your mixes. It also encourages a “best practice” approach to monitoring levels and loudness, and protects your speakers from inadvertently high signal levels.

Virtual I/O

ListenHub is a CoreAudio device – in essence a software-based virtual audio interface. The device provides three (and sometimes four) stereo inputs, only one of which can be active at a time. The active input is fed through ListenHub’s tools (more on which in a moment) and on to one of two possible stereo outputs that are routed to your audio hardware’s physical outputs. Unfortunately for Windows users, being a CoreAudio device means that ListenHub is Mac only.