Sonnox has released Soften, a plugin that tames harshness and enhances clarity, whether you’re trying to clean up vocals, guitars, or any other element in your mix.
Soften derives from a popular feature in a previous Sonnox plugin, Voca.
Before getting into the origins of Soften, here’s how you can get it for free:
The offer is open to all current Focusrite hardware owners (make sure you’ve properly registered your device). To claim your free plugin, simply log in to your Focusrite account and head to the Included Software section, where you’ll find Soften.
The offer expires on September 16, 2025.
Soften comes from a feature of the vocal enhancement plugin Voca, which is currently available for £9.99 at Sonnox.
After many Voca users expressed their approval of the Soften feature and shared their success when using it beyond the realm of polishing vocals, Sonnox decided to create a dedicated plugin.
The new Soften plugin expands on the original feature with three optimised modes: Vocals, Guitar, and Mix Bus.
Besides selecting the appropriate mode, Soften is a one knob plugin, which means it aims to deliver results with minimal fuss or effort.
For example, as highlighted in the Sonnox/Focusrite intro video, if you’re using a de-esser on a vocal track, it may require some tweaking to achieve the best results.
In some cases, Soften could be a quick and easy alternative to something like a de-esser because it does the heavy lifting under the hood, while you dial in a single knob.
It won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution, but it definitely gets excellent results in many cases. It also saves valuable time!
If you’re a Focusrite owner, it seems a no-brainer to me; try it out for free.
If you’re not a Focusrite owner and don’t want to miss out on the chance of a free one-knob plugin, check out TILTONE by quietformat, a tone shaper plugin for macOS and Windows.
What are your thoughts on the omnipresent Focusrite Scarlett range of audio interfaces?
I’ve used various models, but I’ve never owned any personally. I know some bedroom producers swear by them and never switch, so I’m interested in hearing from current owners who can share their thoughts.
Download: Soften (FREE until September 16 – Focusrite account required)
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Last Updated on July 25, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
