Mixing tools
Free soothe alternatives in 2026
soothe tames harsh vocals, ringing drums and fizzy mixes by turning down just the frequencies that stick out, as they happen. It's brilliant, and it costs a few hundred dollars. Here are the free and cheaper ways to get the same result, and when each one makes sense.
ANINA
CRQL (Ewan Bristow)- Price
- Free (donations welcome)
- Formats
- VST3, AU, CLAP · Mac, Windows and Linux
Good for: The closest free thing to soothe: automatic resonance suppression with up to 1024 bands, a sidechain input and a delta switch to hear what's removed.
Hush
RODA Audio (us)- Price
- $89.99, one-time
- Formats
- VST3, AU · Mac and Windows
Good for: An affordable resonance suppressor made to be easy: 39 presets for vocals, drums, instruments, mix and master, a live picture of what it takes away, Soft and Hard modes, Delta, Mid/Side, and exact latency reported to your DAW.
See HushTDR Nova
Tokyo Dawn Records- Price
- Free
- Formats
- Mac and Windows
Good for: A clean dynamic EQ. Great when you know where the harshness is: put a band there and let it dip only when that frequency gets loud.
Your DAW's dynamic EQ or multiband compressor
Already in your DAW- Price
- Free
- Formats
- Built in
Good for: Many DAWs ship a dynamic EQ or multiband compressor. For one harsh spot or de-essing a vocal, it can be enough.
RESO
Mastering The Mix- Price
- Paid (around $80 when we checked)
- Formats
- Mac and Windows
Good for: A dynamic resonance suppressor that helps you find the problem frequencies and fix them.
soothe
oeksound- Price
- Paid (a few hundred dollars)
- Formats
- Mac and Windows
Good for: The plugin everyone compares to. soothe3 came out in May 2026. If budget isn't a worry, it's the reference.
How to choose
- You want automatic suppression and pay nothing: ANINA.
- You know the one frequency that's harsh: TDR Nova or your DAW's dynamic EQ.
- You want it quick, with presets for each job and a clear picture: Hush.
- Money is no object: soothe.
Not sure the problem is resonances? Read how to find and fix harsh resonances and how to de-ess vocals, each with a before and after.
Questions
What does soothe do?
soothe (by oeksound) is a resonance suppressor. It listens for frequencies that suddenly stick out, like harsh S's, a ringing snare or a whistling synth, and turns down just those, moment by moment, across hundreds of bands. It's like a huge number of tiny dynamic EQs that move by themselves.
Is there a free plugin that does the same?
Yes. ANINA is free and does automatic, full-spectrum resonance suppression with up to 1024 bands, a sidechain and a delta switch. TDR Nova is also free, but it's a manual dynamic EQ: you find the harsh spots and set the bands yourself.
Can I just use a dynamic EQ?
For one or two problem frequencies, yes, and it's often the cleanest fix. A resonance suppressor is better when the harshness moves around, like on a vocal that changes notes or a whole mix.
Why do these plugins add latency?
To look at the sound in detail, they analyse a short slice of audio first. Good plugins report that delay to your DAW, which keeps everything in time. Hush reports its exact delay and bypasses without a jump.
How much should I turn it up?
Less than you think. Turn the depth until it's clearly too much, then back off by half. Use the delta switch (hear only what's removed): if you hear the body of the sound in there, it's too much.
Free starter pack
2 plugins, free. Forever.
Toaster adds warm saturation and Overdo squashes and lifts every band, over the top. Make a free account and they're yours.
Get them free