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The Virtual Monitoring Add-On Black Friday deal takes 40% off the SoundID Reference add-on that simulates studio monitors in your headphones, priced at $29 until Nov 8, 2026.
It comes from Sonarworks and extends SoundID Reference with speaker emulation. It is an add-on only: it needs the SoundID Reference software and will not run on its own.
Headphone mixing lets you work anywhere, but the stereo field is narrower than what a pair of monitors throws into a room. Sonarworks points out that this complicates mix decisions, because you have to leave room for extra stereo space before the final bounce.
The Virtual Monitoring plugin (VM for short) aims to fix that. The maker says it brings the stereo space of studio monitors into your headphones, so you can make the same mix calls you would make sitting in front of speakers.
Turn it on and the add-on recreates the effect of listening to regular monitors. Sonarworks says the goal is mixes that translate from one session to the next.
The add-on sits on top of SoundID Reference's flat reference curve. You pick a speaker emulation, keep your headphones calibrated, and mix from there.
The add-on runs in AAX, VST and AU formats, so it loads in the usual DAW plugin slots. A Virtual Monitoring VST3 build is not mentioned by the maker, so stick to the formats above.
On Mac, you need macOS 11.5 or higher. On Windows, you need Windows 10 or higher. Both platforms get AAX, VST and AU.
The trial matters if you are on the fence. The 3-week SoundID Reference trial includes VM access, so you can run the add-on in your own signal chain before the Virtual Monitoring discount matters to you.
If you already own SoundID Reference and mix on headphones, this is the piece that adds speaker simulation to it. Without SoundID Reference installed, the add-on has nothing to attach to.
Yes. The Virtual Monitoring Add-On Black Friday deal takes 40% off, bringing the price to $29. The offer ends Nov 8, 2026. It is an add-on for SoundID Reference, so the main SoundID Reference software is required to use it.
It simulates studio speakers through your headphones. Sonarworks says it brings the wider stereo space of monitors into headphone mixing, so you can judge your mix as if sitting in front of near-field or mid-field speakers.
No. Sonarworks states it is an add-on for SoundID Reference products and will not function on its own. It needs the SoundID Reference software installed, and it works with 500+ supported headphones calibrated to the flat SoundID SR reference sound.
It comes in AAX, VST and AU on both platforms. Mac needs macOS 11.5 or higher, and Windows needs Windows 10 or higher. The 3-week SoundID Reference trial includes VM access if you want to try it first.
Prices and end dates are checked at publishing time and can change, so confirm them at the store before you buy.