One of the leading manufacturers of AI-assisted mixing plugins is Sonible, an Austrian company. What I appreciate about them is how they fully embrace the possibilities of digital audio. While analog emulations have their charm, it’s refreshing to see developers push past that and explore what’s achievable in the digital domain.

Why Sonible Smart Comp 2 is a game-changer for me

Over the past weeks, I’ve been diving deep into Sonible’s Smart:Comp 2. I have to say, this plugin is a serious step up from the original version and from many traditional compressors I’ve used before. As a sound designer, I’m always on the lookout for tools that speed up my workflow while giving me precise control and transparent results. Smart:Comp 2 ticks all those boxes and then some.

Smarter AI That Understands Your Audio

I was familiar with Smart:Comp 1, but not always fully trusted its AI suggestions as they often sounded too polite and soft, lacking the punch and character I wanted. Sonible Smart Comp 2 has changed that completely. The AI now analyzes longer passages of audio, making its recommendations feel musical and relevant instead of generic. It’s like the plugin “gets” what I’m trying to achieve, giving me a strong starting point that saves a lot of time in the mixing process.

Instead of using traditional presets, you select from a list of 31 intelligent profiles based on thousands of analyzed tracks – each tailored to specific source material like bass, synth lead, pads, or drum bus. After a brief signal analysis, the plugin delivers a striking result that includes automatic volume compensation, making it easy to compare the processed and original sound accurately.

But even if you choose to bypass the AI entirely, this compressor stands on its own with powerful manual controls and a modern, intuitive interface.

Real-Time Visual Feedback – The Clear View into Your Dynamics

What truly sets Sonible Smart Comp 2 apart is its exceptional visual feedback. You can literally see the compression happening live – the attack, release, threshold, and ratio changes are all displayed right on the waveform with pinpoint accuracy. For me, this is a revelation.

No more guesswork trying to figure out what’s happening under the hood. Whether you’re a beginner learning compression or a seasoned engineer needing quick decisions, this kind of real-time insight makes the entire process faster and more transparent.

Versatile Compression Styles and more

The plugin offers multiple compression modes, ranging from transparent and clean to gritty and characterful. This variety lets me tailor the sound perfectly to the source, whether I want subtle glue or aggressive shaping.

The plugin also includes a “Signal Riding” feature, which balances the level of the input signal even before compression takes place – essentially simulating intelligent volume automation. This ensures that very dynamic material is handled with greater precision and consistency.

Adding to the toolbox is a built-in expander/gate, which is a lifesaver when shaping transient-heavy material like drums or cleaning up noisy room ambience.

Here’s the real magic: spectral compression.

Unlike traditional compressors that treat the whole signal, Sonible Smart Comp 2 lets you surgically control compression across different frequency bands. This means I can target harsh highs, boxy mids, or muddy lows without crushing the rest of the sound.

The compressor analyzes the audio in over 2,000 frequency bands. It automatically corrects resonances it identifies – essentially functioning as a high-resolution, smart multi-band processor with precise control options.

For example, I’ve run this on everything from aggressive synth leads to boomy bass and boxy snares, and the results are clean, natural, and musical – no harsh artifacts or overprocessing.

Moreover, the spectral sidechain functionality is particularly sophisticated. It enables precise frequency-by-frequency carving within the mix, resulting in a cleaner, more defined sound without the need for multiple EQs and ducking plugins.

Most importantly, with the “Color” setting, you can further focus the spectral compression on specific tonal areas, adding another layer of targeted control.

The Spectral Masking Analyzer

Another standout feature is the spectral masking analyzer. It visually maps frequency clashes between two tracks, showing exactly where masking happens. This has been a game changer in managing mix clarity, especially in dense arrangements where instruments fight for space.

How It Compares to Other Compressors

To begin with, I did some direct comparisons with FabFilter Pro-C2, a plugin I’ve relied on for years. Without a doubt, Pro-C2 delivers a solid, tight sound with great glue. However, I genuinely believe Sonible Smart Comp 2 adds more depth and air to my samples. It keeps the low end punchy and the stereo image wide and lively, which really helps my mixes breathe. That being said, both tools work at the highest level – therefore, the words “better” or “worse” are somewhat out of place here.

In addition, Smart:Comp 2 includes up to 8 snapshots, going beyond the usual A/B comparison and letting you explore multiple mix strategies quickly and easily. Despite all these advanced features, it remains extremely CPU-efficient.

Unlike many plugins on the market, this isn’t the hundredth analog emulation – it’s a forward-thinking, digitally-native approach. As a result, I use Smart:Comp 2 not only for standard compression tasks but also as a creative sound design tool because of its smart, flexible feature set.

Verdict & Summary

For quick fixes and deep mix sculpting alike, Sonible Smart Comp2 impresses on all fronts. The AI suggestions don’t get in the way but provide a useful launchpad. The manual controls combined with the intuitive and informative visual interface empower me to shape dynamics with precision and creativity. As a sound designer, I appreciate how Smart:Comp 2 blends cutting-edge technology with hands-on control. It’s technical without being sterile – it preserves vibe and musicality.

In summary, Smart Comp 2 goes beyond a typical update by redefining modern compression. It has become a reliable tool in my main plugin collection, and I recommend it to producers and engineers seeking precise and advanced dynamic control.

I like using this tool in combination with smart:limit. You get great results with just a few clicks.

Visit my BLOG for other vst recommendations, production tips and more!

Cheers,
Oliver Schmitt aka Sounds of Revolution (SOR)