Sonible has announced that the Balancer spectral balancing plugin is available as a free download for a limited time.
Balancer was developed by Sonible, in collaboration with Focusrite. It is based on Sonible’s unique smart:engine algorithms that were also used as the backbone for the smart:comp, smart:EQ 2, and smart:EQ live plugins.
Balancer uses a set of smart algorithms and A.I. learning to level out the spectral balance of a mix in a matter of seconds. It is available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstations on PC and Mac. Both 32-bit and 64-bit plugin hosts are supported.
The plugin features a streamlined user interface with a few editable parameters. The user can select the desired audio analysis algorithm based on the characteristics of the input signal.
Once selected, the user should also choose one of the three available sound character options (Warm, Neutral, or Bright). Clicking the Learn button will let the Balancer collect detailed information about the audio material on the input. After that, the user can use the Intensity slider to apply the right amount of the tonal balancing curve suggested by Balancer’s A.I. technology.
Although I don’t believe that an A.I. solution applied to the master bus can substitute a proper mix performed by a skilled mixing engineer, plugins like Balancer are undeniably helpful.
Such effects can be used as a quick spectral balancing tool for projects that need to be done quickly, or even as a learning aid for music producers who want to compare their mixes to professionally mixed and mastered tracks. Also, the Balancer plugin can work well as a subtle tonal balancing effect for an already well-mixed project.
Sonible Balancer can be downloaded completely free of charge from the developer’s website until April 13th, 2020. Simply complete the free checkout process to claim your copy of the plugin. A valid email address is required to sign up and activate your Sonible account.
Once you’ve completed the checkout process, the Balancer license key will be stored in your Sonible user account permanently. Just make sure to claim your free copy before April 13th.
UPDATE (December 12th, 2020): Sonible Balancer is still free to download. The initial end date for the free download offer was April 13th, 2020. However, you can still download Balancer completely free of charge from the product page linked below.
More info: Sonible Balancer (57.2 MB download size, ZIP archive containing EXE installer, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugin format for Windows & macOS)
More articles:
16 Comments
Msf Sadib
onTo be honest I think these limited time freebies are more valuable than those ” free trial for 60/90 days” things.
Tomislav Zlatic
onYou get to keep them forever so, yes. That said, getting free access to expensive tools like Ableton Live Suite, Soundtoys Effects Rack, and everything else we’ve seen lately is amazing if you ask me. You get to use a bunch of cool music production stuff for 90 days while you’re forced to stay at home – what’s not to like?
Msf Sadib
onWell to me it actually seems like a solace with a business scheme .They could’ve given at least one plug-in for free for a limited time.I know that might hamper their financial conditions but if that’s the case they shouldn’t give these “free trials” in these dire corona situation.We need inspiration to set us free.Not some limitation at the end
Wing Yee
onAgreed!
CndMn
onInstaller does not work with a 32-bit system.
Tomislav Zlatic
onIsn’t there an installer for 32-bit systems? Their website says so.
Me
onI was looking forward to trying this out, unfortunately they require an internet connection for authorisation, so it cannot be activated on an offline machine. Shame.
Tomislav Zlatic
onAh, shame.
Kirill R.
onI guess i’ll never understand some people.
ME
onWhat is it you’re struggling to understand?
Kirill R.
onIt’s not like this plugin requires an internet connection, only once for authorization. There are ways to activate it on one machine and transfer to another, it’s not NI, Waves or IK Multimedia. Devs share really cool plugins for free and every time in comments there’re someone complaining that you should go through checkout process, or downloading is more complex than pushing one button, or (omg, unbelieveable in 2020!) requires internet-connection once for activation.
Like someone said, people nowadays don’t appreciate what they haven’t paid for. And that’s what really is a shame.
ME
onI think perhaps you’re reading a little bit too much into what I wrote.
Many people prefer to keep their systems offline for various reasons, it’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. My intentions were certainly not to complain, but to let other offline uses know in order to save them time.
This plugin seems like a really useful and innovative tool, which is why I was looking forward to trying it out, and why I thought it was a shame that I wasn’t going to be able to use it. However, it is very generous of Sonible to offer a such a great product for free, and I’m happy for anyone who gets to use it.
Thanks for letting me know that you can activate it on one machine and transfer it to another. Perhaps you can provide a link to that information so that it may be included in the article, as it would be a helpful thing for people to know.
For what it’s worth I agree with you about some people complaining about some things, but I think you’ve interpreted a comment intended to inform as a complaint.
To keep this on a positive note I want to take this opportunity to thank Tomislav for his wonderful website. It was one of the first ones I found when I started trying to make music on my computer 6 years ago or so, and it’s been an invaluable resource since. I always recommend it to people. To find so much useful stuff in one place can save hours of searching on forums in other places to get the same information, and provides a great service to the community. You should be very proud of what you created here, Tomislav …many thanks!
Finally, in these difficult times I just want to wish everybody well. The audio community I’ve experienced since starting has, by and large, been one of positivity and helpfulness to others. We all share a love of music that unites us. Let’s not be too quick to judge each other. I wish you and yours well, Kirill R. All the best.
H.T
on“We all share a love of music that unites us. Let’s not be too quick to judge each other”
Beautiful words, well said. I didn’t see anything wrong with your original comment, and I’m not sure why he went after you like that. You responded to negativity with positivity and kindness. Well done.
Kirill R.
onAnd yet you’ve judged me right now =) He just asked and I just answered, no negativity at all. I really still don’t understand why some people insist on using fully offline machine for their home studios.
Kirill R.
onMy bad, sorry for quick judgment. It’s just there’re lots of complaining here lately, so it’s easy to misunderstand your comment.
As for the activation, I may be wrong but my other plugin from Sonible was installed on external hard drive and activated through my laptop but still works on my pc now. But they both use the same internet connection and it’s always on, so I may be wrong. But it didn’t require reactivation like Brainworx bx_opto did. So still worth a try if you have external drive.
Kirill R.
onBtw I read on another site that after purchasing you can download this plugin only before 4th of May. Not sure if it’s true but keep in mind.