SoundID Virtual Monitoring

Simulated Spaces for Confident Headphone Mixing

It delivers the most accurate spatial simulation of stereo studio monitors on your headphones.

MusicTech Silver Award Highly Commanded Best Of CES 2019 Award Headphone Review Gold Medal CanJam Europe 2017 Best Accessories SOS Awards Winner CES 2021 Innovation Award TEC Awards 2021 Nominee Twice Picks Awards Winner iF Design Award 2023 NAMM TEC MusicTech Choice Award CES 2022 Innovation Award Sos Awards 2019 Winner Gamma 2025 Wipo Global Awards

Simulate different spaces on supported headphones

SoundID logo icon featuring a stylized black geometric symbol with diagonal shapes and a horizontal line, on white background with rounded square border.

Step 1

Open SoundID Reference

To enable the Virtual Monitoring, in addition to its license, a user must have an active license for the base software.

White over-ear studio headphones with padded leather headband and closed-back ear cups, isolated on a black background in a detailed 3D render.

Step 2

Choose headphones

Virtual Monitoring works exclusively for headphone profiles and cannot be activated with speaker profiles.

See all supported headphones
Soundid Reference Virtual Monitoring Plugin

Step 3

Enable product

Get started by enabling the product in your software.

User interface buttons labeled Near field, Mid field, and Far field representing different studio monitoring distance options on a black background.

Step 4

Switch simulations

Get high-end studio monitoring in your headphones. Try translation check feature for consumer devices simulation.

Create realistic simulations of high quality near, mid and far field

Studio setup with a white monitor showing SoundID Reference software and a DAW session, alongside white studio speakers, headphones, and a measurement microphone.

Work in a reliable flat-reference studio environment that reveals every detail of your mix.

Music producer wearing open-back studio headphones working on a MIDI controller and laptop in a home studio setup with audio gear and mixing equipment.

Mix confidently knowing your sound remains consistent across any playback system

SoundID Reference plugin interface showing Sennheiser HD 650 preset and Translation Check mode simulating car audio environment with a car interior preview.

Quickly test how your mix holds up on real-world setups like cars, laptops, and TVs

Modern studio control room with white wall-mounted monitors, a black center speaker, and a large white mixing console beneath.

Hear through realistic near-, mid-, and far-field monitor environments with precision

Works everywhere you need it to

Authentic studio monitor simulation

Hear realistic simulations of high quality near, mid and far field speakers calibrated to the reliable flat reference sound.

Monitor your mix reliably on virtually simulated speakers inside your headphones. Works with over 500 supported headphones from our best-in-class database.

Supported headphones

Translation Check device simulation

With Virtual Monitoring, Translation Check includes 10 revamped spatial simulations of various consumer devices - cars, laptops, phones and TVs.

Works in plugin and systemwide

It allows you to apply it to all content played on your machine. The virtual studio captures the essence of a treated control room, using a stylized aesthetic that's both engaging and easy to interpret. Vibrant, dynamic visuals for device-specific audio simulations.

★★★★★

"Love the concept of the virtual monitoring. Switching between different speakers and headphone help me immensely to fine-tune my mix."

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"I’m absolutely thrilled with the Virtual Monitoring add-on. Sometimes I catch myself needing a brief moment to tell whether the music is coming from my speakers or from the headphones. There can hardly be a better compliment for the product. Thank you, Sonarworks and please keep up the great work!"

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"Virtual monitoring really helps to keep working outside of regular hours and maintain consistent mix balances. It truly surprised me, highly recommended!!"

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"The virtual monitoring is extremely helpful, and I find it much easier to find a good balance between instruments, especially with low-end heavy instruments. In cases when you’re forced to work entirely on headphones, virtual monitoring is every bit as helpful as the Sonarworks correction software itself."

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"Just makes life easier and saves you time!"

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"I would like it to include more presets."

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"After some time spent getting used to it, I've found the virtual monitoring add-on to be super revealing of discrepancies in my mixes. It's very straightforward to use and a worthy add-on"

‒ reviews.io

★★★★★

"Seems pretty good so far I like having the ability to check your mix on 3 different speakers especially for low end."

‒ reviews.io

Pricing

Virtual Monitoring

Generic simulation profiles

€129.00
Free Trial

 Includes SoundID Reference for Headphones

 Works in DAW as a plugin + systemwide

 Includes custom target curves

*Virtual Monitoring doesn’t include a binaural in-ear mic

SoundID Virtual Monitoring PRO with Binaural Microphone

PRO version for Ultra-realistic room cloning technology on headphones. Includes SoundID Reference for Headphones.

€299
Virtual Monitoring PRO with Binaural Microphone

| Upgrade from SoundID Reference with Virtual Monitoring Add-on

Includes Virtual Monitoring PRO features and USB binaural in-ear measurement microphone (hardware component)

€199
Virtual Monitoring PRO with Binaural Microphone

| Upgrade from SoundID Reference


Includes Virtual Monitoring PRO features and USB binaural in-ear measurement microphone (hardware component)

€229

Compare functionality

Both versions include a permanent SoundID Reference for Headphones license

White studio monitor speakers and mixing console arranged in a professional control room setup, minimalistic design on black background.
Black binaural in-ear measurement microphone positioned in front of professional studio monitors and mixing console, representing SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring PRO concept.

New

Virtual Monitoring

Virtual Monitoring PRO

Spatial Room Simulation on Your Headphones

3 speaker simulations: near, mid, and far-field

7 consumer device simulations: Phone, Laptop, TV, and more.

3 car simulation presets

Ultra-realistic, personalized simulation of your room

Ultra-realistic, personalized simulation of other acoustic environments you visit

Required gear

Any over-ear headphones
(headphone calibration not needed)

Sonarworks binaural in-ear measurement microphone (included)

Access to the room for measurement

Supported environments

Stereo

Stereo

Application of the simulation

Plugin & system-wide

Plugin & system-wide

Trial version

Not available (hardware required)

!!! Virtual Monitoring PRO version requires access to the room you want to copy, over-ear headphones, and the Sonarworks binaural mic (included with the product).

Sonarworks SoundID Reference products used and loved by Grammy-Awarded Engineers worldwide

Rik Simpson

★★★★★

Total game changer!

anonymous, reviews.io

Marc Urselli
Dana Nielsen

★★★★★

"Amazing product!"

Alexander Petty, reviews.io

Jeff Ellis
Matt Wallace
Josh Newell
Imogen Heap
Koen Heldens
Jason Soudah

★★★★★

"Selecting and ordering what I needed for my home studio was so easy. The software is awesome and easy to use. Thanks!"

Daniel Kiuru-Ribar, reviews.io

Mark Needham
Ariel Borujow

“Sonarworks is a world leader in digital speaker and headphone calibration.”

FORBES

Justin Grey
Rafa Sardina Large

“A much needed new standard on headphone calibration and compatibility”

— Rafa Sardina

18-Time Grammy® & Latin Grammy® Winner Producer/Mixer/Engineer. Celine Dion, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre, David Foster, Alejandro Sanz, Luis Miguel, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and many more

Maria Elisa Ayerbe Large

“Speaker calibration made easy for anyone”

— Maria Elisa Ayerbe

Grammy Award-Winning Audio engineer and producer. Mary J Blige, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, JLo, and CEO of South Mountain Music

Steve Genewick Large

“You guys came down to Capitol and we tuned one of our rooms and ran the software. All of us were really impressed.”

— Steve Genewick

3 Time Grammy Nominated Recording & Mixing Engineer worked with numerous A-list stars like Bob Dylan, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Sting, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Queen, Norah Jones, and more

See all reviews

Frequently asked questions

Can I try before I buy?

Yes, a fully functional 21-day free trial is available in your Sonarworks Account. No credit card required, no hidden conditions. Experience full confidence in sound today!

Some competing products deliver simulated sound of famous studios as mixing targets. Do you plan to add famous studio targets to SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring?

In experience of over 160k of professional users of Sonarworks Reference across the globe, the most efficient and productive way to mix a track is by monitoring it over a reliably flat reference sound. SoundID Reference products aim to deliver such sound over headphones and speakers, thus it is also our objective for the Virtual Monitoring Add-on.

How I can trial the Virtual Monitoring if I used my trial before?

A free trial of the Virtual Monitoring feature is available for new and existing users of SoundID Reference. For more details on how to activate the Virtual Monitoring trial, see this article: How to trial and activate Virtual Monitoring.

Can I use the Virtual Monitoring with speaker profiles?

No, Virtual Monitoring ia a headphone feature, and it works with headphone profiles only.

Is the Virtual Monitoring available in the SoundID Reference DAW plugin and standalone app?

Yes, the Virtual Monitoring feature can be enabled in the SoundID Reference DAW plugin as well as the standalone app for system-wide calibration.

Can I use the Target Modes with Virtual Monitoring enabled?

Yes, you can use all of the Target Modes available in SoundID Reference with Virtual Monitoring. The Translation Check target mode provides 10 new spatial simulation targets designed specifically for Virtual Monitoring. Learn more here: Translation Check targets for Virtual Monitoring.

What's included?

→ Activation key for the product license: the Virtual Monitorns Add-on can be activated and used on up to 3 machines.

→ 10 new spatial simulation targets designed specifically for Virtual Monitoring. Learn more here: Translation Check targets for Virtual Monitoring.

What are the requirements?

→ Valid permanent SoundID Reference license
→ A compatible operating system: Windows 10, 11; macOS 11 Big Sur; 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia
→ Stable internet connection (offline use not supported)
→ Sonarworks supported or Sonarworks individually calibrated headphones. See the list of supported headphones here