oeksound soothe3 Dynamic Resonance Suppressor

oeksound releases soothe3

oeksound released soothe3 on 19 May 2026 as the successor to soothe2. Soothe3 is a dynamic resonance suppressor: a plugin that identifies problematic resonances (unwanted frequency peaks caused by the recording environment, microphone, or instrument) in real time and reduces them automatically, only where and when they occur. The plugin is available for Windows and macOS in VST3, AU (Mac only), and AAX formats. It follows previous oeksound releases covered here: oeksound bloom and oeksound Soothe Live.

Unlike a static EQ (equaliser, a tool that applies fixed cuts or boosts to specific frequencies), soothe3 tracks resonances continuously and applies reduction only when those frequencies become problematic. This lets you address harshness in vocals, instruments, and mix buses without dulling the source material in quieter or cleaner moments.

Official soothe3 overview from oeksound (10 minutes).

New algorithm: Soft and Hard modes

The core change in soothe3 is a completely rewritten DSP (digital signal processing) algorithm, built from scratch rather than incrementally updated from soothe2. oeksound's stated aim was to make the processing less noticeable at extreme settings.

Two processing modes now give you clear control over behaviour. Soft mode uses an adaptive threshold, meaning the amount of reduction adjusts relative to the incoming signal level. oeksound describes it as their most transparent resonance suppression setting, particularly effective on dynamic instruments such as vocals and acoustic guitar where the level shifts constantly. Hard mode uses a fixed threshold, closer in character to how soothe2 worked. It reacts more assertively to input dynamics, producing a compressor-like (signal-level-reactive) grab on resonances, suited to more aggressive resonance control or deliberate creative effects.

Low latency mode: use soothe3 while tracking

Soothe2 added latency that made it unsuitable for recording sessions; it was a mix-time tool only. Soothe3 adds a dedicated low latency mode that removes this restriction. At base sample rates (44.1 kHz and 48 kHz), soothe3 adds zero samples of latency. At higher sample rates such as 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz, the latency is approximately 1 ms.

This makes soothe3 viable as a tracking insert, letting performers hear a treated signal in their headphone mix while recording without the DAW (digital audio workstation) reporting problematic delay compensation. It also opens the plugin to live mixing applications.

Workflow improvements

soothe3 consolidates two controls from soothe2 into a single Detail parameter, combining Sharpness (how precisely the plugin targets individual resonances rather than broader frequency areas) and Selectivity (how narrowly it focuses on distinct frequency spikes). The result requires fewer adjustments to reach a useful starting point.

Nodes, the frequency-specific control points on the processing display, now support eight different band shapes including bandpass and tilt bands. Nodes can be created and deleted freely. A collapsible side panel keeps advanced settings out of the way during faster sessions and shows them when you need to go deeper.

Advanced controls for immersive and complex sessions

Multichannel support up to 9.1.6: soothe2 was stereo only. Soothe3 supports channel configurations up to 9.1.6, with full control over how channel sets link within a single instance. This brings the plugin into immersive audio workflows such as Dolby Atmos mixes, where per-channel resonance treatment would otherwise require multiple instances.

Tilt controls let you scale the Detail, Attack, and Release parameters frequency-dependently, applying different aggressiveness to the low end versus the high end within a single instance. Max Cut lets you drive soothe3 harder while capping the maximum reduction applied to any single frequency, preventing over-processing. Linear phase mode is available for situations where phase coherence matters, such as parallel processing or unlinked mid-side operation, at the cost of additional latency.

Technical specifications

Windows 10 and 11 (no ARM support): VST3 and AAX, 64-bit. macOS 10.14 Mojave to macOS 26 Tahoe: VST3, AU, and AAX, 64-bit. Apple Silicon is natively supported; Intel Macs are supported up to macOS 15 Sequoia. There is no CLAP format and no VST2 version.

Licensing uses iLok (an iLok account and the iLok License Manager application are required; a physical iLok dongle is not needed). One license activates on three machines. Initial activation requires an internet connection.

Upgrade paths and grace period

Existing soothe2 owners can upgrade to soothe3 for $55 / €50. This applies to both perpetual license holders and customers on a rent-to-own plan. oeksound now lists soothe2 as a legacy product; soothe3 is the current version.

A grace period covers customers who purchased soothe2 on or after 18 February 2026. oeksound has not published the specific grace period terms; contact oeksound support directly if this applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does soothe3 cost?
soothe3 costs $259 / €229 direct from oeksound.com. Rent-to-own is available; the monthly payment is shown on the product page. Upgrading from soothe2 costs $55 / €50. oeksound does not offer educational or student pricing.

What plugin formats does soothe3 support?
On Windows: VST3 and AAX, 64-bit, Windows 10 or 11 only (no ARM). On macOS: VST3, AU, and AAX, 64-bit, macOS 10.14 Mojave to macOS 26 Tahoe. Apple Silicon is natively supported. There is no CLAP format and no VST2 version. An iLok account is required for licensing.

Is there a free trial?
Yes. soothe3 offers a fully featured 20-day trial with no limitations. Download for macOS or Windows.

How does soothe3 compare to Soundtheory Gullfoss?
Gullfoss ($199) uses a computational auditory perception model to make broad spectral adjustments automatically. Soothe3 focuses specifically on identifying and suppressing localised resonances. Gullfoss is closer to an intelligent broadband EQ; soothe3 is a resonance-specific suppressor. Many engineers use both on the same chain.

How does soothe3 compare to FabFilter Pro-MB?
FabFilter Pro-MB ($199) is a multiband compressor and expander requiring manual setup and active decisions about which bands to treat. Soothe3 handles the analysis automatically. Pro-MB is the choice for precise manual control; soothe3 is faster when you want the plugin to identify the problem without manual EQ work first.

Is there a cheaper alternative to soothe3?
TBProAudio DSEQ3 ($95 / €79) is a dynamic spectral equaliser (a processor that applies frequency-specific gain reduction dynamically, similar to soothe's approach) covering much of the same ground: taming resonances, de-essing, and removing harshness on the fly. More configurable at a lower price, but the interface is more technical and it lacks the new low latency tracking mode. A demo version is available from TBProAudio's site.

What changed from soothe2 to soothe3?
The algorithm is completely rebuilt. The most practical additions are the low latency tracking mode, the unified Detail control, eight band shapes on nodes, and multichannel support up to 9.1.6. oeksound now lists soothe2 as a legacy product; soothe3 is the current version, with upgrade pricing at $55 for existing soothe2 owners.

Does soothe3 work in Dolby Atmos sessions?
Yes, via multichannel support up to 9.1.6. Support depends on your DAW exposing multichannel plugin routing; Pro Tools and Nuendo handle this well. Check your DAW's documentation for multichannel plugin routing if unsure.