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Here at 344 Audio, we are always on the lookout for new tools that can help us operate more effectively. Today we are delighted to share with you our review for SoundQ, the new sound library workflow software from respected sound effects developer Pro Sound Effects.
In this review we will take you through some of the key features and benefits of this software, and give you our verdict on whether you should make SoundQ a part of your workflow.
Company: Pro Sound Effects
Product: SoundQ
Price: $9.99 per month
Our Rating: 4/5
Overview
In the world of audio post-production, having a smooth and efficient workflow is something that is hugely important, and when working on commercial projects there simply isn't enough time to be combing through vast sound libraries to find that one sound effect that you are looking for.
This is where an integrated sound library workflow software such as SoundQ comes in, as it organises and catalogues all of your sound effects for you in both local and cloud storage, and makes searching and navigating incredibly easy through metadata categories, and search terms.
Pro Sound Effects have previously ventured into the area with their sound library management software Search, which while well-received, was limited to the management of your local files only and lacked any cloud-based functionality. With SoundQ, Pro Sound Effects have built upon the lessons learned from Search, and brought across all of the positive features of this software whilst emboldening it with an expanded selection of features.
The pricing of SoundQ falls in to a 3-tiered subscription system, with greater functionality and less limitations for the user the higher you move up the tiers.
SoundQ's pricing structure as explained on the Pro Sound Effects website.
Key Features & Benefits
SoundQ comes with a range of really great features, not least of which being giving users cloud access to the entire Pro Sound Effects library of over 800k+ sound effects, which includes some premium products from industry legends such as Mark Mangini Richard King, Ann Kroeber and more.. There are some slight limitations however as you only get a certain amount of download credits depending on what level of subscription you have. (Only the highest tier subscription SoundQ teams give users unlimited download credits.)
From a technical standpoint the program is well designed and has a very solid infrastructure with minimal load times to obstruct your creativity. Its essential that a workflow software such as this actually enhances your efficiency, and doesn't simply just add further steps in your creative process for the sake of being organised. Whilst the OCD amongst us may disagree, we believe that organisation for the pure sake of it is of little benefit unless it has a directly positive effect on the end product.
We really like the visual layout of SoundQ as all the information you need to see is clear and easily readable. The development team have been smart and have not tried to re-invent the wheel. Everything is basically where you would expect to find it which makes diving into this software for the first time an intuitive experience for users who have worked with any kind of sound library workflow software before.
SoundQ has a brilliant user interface that makes navigating and finding the sounds you want a breeze!
In their own words, here are some of the great features that users can expect from a SoundQ subscription.
The pricing of SoundQ is however slightly lower than a lot of the competition when compared the standard subscription to the equivalent package. You will just have to weigh up which best fits your personal needs and finances, as some users may prefer to pay a larger cost up front for a program such as Sound Miner as opposed to an ongoing monthly subscription.
One cool feature that we really enjoy is the ability to send clips directly into your DAW as seen in the image below. This is a really nice touch and helps to create an even more seamless process when auditioning and bringing sound effects into your DAW timeline, as is something that we are yet to see replicated anywhere else.
Transferring sound effects directly into your DAW. Here we have selected Pro Tools and the chosen sound will be imported as a clip directly into our session.
Considerations
In our honest opinion, the main draw here are the Pro Sound Effects libraries that you get access to rather than the software itself. Whilst the UI is very nice to work with and the underlying infrastructure of the program is solid, when deciding whether or not to use this program over another in its class such as Soundly feels a little bit like apples and oranges, and there isn't enough about SoundQ as a software that makes it stand out from the pack. Perhaps future additions and refinements such as including a tier for single users with unlimited downloads will change this but for now we cant really say otherwise.
Check out this trailer video from Pro Sound Effects for an overview of what to expect from SoundQ.
The Bottom Line
Overall this is a very well designed piece of software that gives users some great functionality and access to a vast collection of top-notch sound effects libraries. We would have like to see a few more innovative features, but for the budding audio professional who is looking for a sound library management software, a standard subscription to SoundQ would be a very fine choice indeed!
For a more detailed look at this SoundQ and all that comes with it, you check out its dedicated page on the Pro Sound Effects website: https://www.prosoundeffects.com/soundq/
We hope you enjoyed checking out this review!
If you enjoyed this post please check out our ultimate guide to audio post-production: https://www.344audio.com/post/the-ultimate-guide-to-audio-post-production-sound-design
344 Audio is an Audio Post Production studio in Manchester.
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