Sonnox Soften is a simple, one‑knob plug‑in designed to tame harshness in vocals, guitars and entire mixes. It’s available free to registered Focusrite and Novation hardware owners. This article explains what Soften does, how to download it, and where to find the official user guide.
Prerequisites
- You own eligible Focusrite or Novation hardware, purchased before July 2023.
- You have access to Focusrite's Hitmaker Expansion software bundle
- Your computer meets the system requirements listed in the Soften installer.
About Soften
Soften gently smooths brittle consonants, shrill highs and aggressive upper mids without dulling your sound. With its intuitive one‑knob interface and three tailored modes, it lets you polish vocals, guitars or full mixes in seconds. For a deeper overview of the controls and suggested settings, see the official Introduction to Sonnox Soften.
How to Get Soften
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Sign in to your Focusrite or Novation account
- Visit focusrite.com or novationmusic.com and log in using the account linked to your hardware.
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Navigate to Included Software
- Under your account dashboard, look under My Software.
- Locate the Soften offer
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Claim and download
- Click Show me my code to add Soften to your account.
- Follow the on‑screen instructions to download the installer.
- Install the plug‑in by running the installer and following the prompts.
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Read the user guide
- For a comprehensive walkthrough of Soften’s modes and controls, read the Introduction to Sonnox Soften.
- This guide covers the three operating modes, best practices for vocals, guitars and mix buses, and tips for getting polished results quickly.
FAQs
Can I purchase Soften directly from Sonnox?
No. Soften is currently available exclusively through Focusrite and Novation accounts. It cannot be purchased or downloaded from the Sonnox store.
Do I need an iLok licence for Soften?
Yes, all Sonnox plugins require a free iLok account and iLok Licence Manager installed to authorise the plugins and manage the licences.
Is Soften supported on my operating system?
Check the system requirements provided in the download area. Soften supports macOS and Windows in VST3, AU and AAX formats.