Have you decided to not do Multichannel System-wide (Mac)

Hi Joe Shepard, thanks for your question!

We are still looking to offer multichannel calibration support in the SoundID Reference standalone app, however, at the moment, we don't have any immediate development plans for it, sorry about that. We are taking note of user requests and feedback for multichannel support in the standalone app :) 

This is just appalling of SonarWorks.  Almost as bad as your failed new Mac HAL driver.  I contacted your support before purchasing multichannel some 14 months ago when it was still advertised as coming system wide in 2022.  Support replied and said it would be a free update early 2023 yet now as we get to the end of the year you have no time frame for it?

You now send out emails recommending GingerAudio GCS for Atmos setups yet I specifically asked you guys if I would be able to use SonarWorks Multichannel as a volume controller before a costly purchase and was told "yes".  In fact I think I remember seeing it in one of the FAQs previously.

Up to now I have managed using the attenuation volume control in the external renderer, but with Avid now launching an integrated renderer and this failure by you to deliver what was promised over a year ago how about compensating those of us totally misled your products and development timeline?  Maybe you should deliver GCS licences to all the multichannel users you have let down.

I would also like to contribute to that. A system-wide standalone app with multichannel capability would be much more convenient to use and could add a lot to smooth workflow. With all due respect, please!

Please bring the multichannel support for the standalone version! It was promised years ago and isn't there yet. Very disappointing and not building trust in your company.

I bought the Multichannel Version of Sound ID because of the multichannel capabilities for my macbook, as promised. And it doesn't work till now. It is very disappointing. Every mail from Sonarworks introducing new software is a slap in the face for us users who wait for Sound ID Reference Multichannel to do its job.

Please…

As someone who was looking at buying Sound ID for multi-channel, I will not be buying Sound ID anymore. Without multi-channel functionality in the standalone app it makes it impossible to listen to references in a professional context without having to do some weird routing with Apple music into Pro Tools. If I or a client wants to pull up references I don't want to have to take time and boot up Pro Tools, and frankly no one should have to. I want to be able to pull up a song on the fly, or pull up references in a mixing session without having to create an overly complicated template to allow it. It's ridiculous to not allow it. As more studios integrate Atmos, such a basic functionality is a necessity. I'm sure there's a hundred other people who scrolled past this page and decided not to buy Sound ID for this very reason. 

Also very disappointed to hear that sonarworks is officially letting support for this promised feature fall by the wayside. I bought SoundID Multichannel years ago when your website said systemwide support was on the way soon. I've been patiently waiting as I see your page updated with expected dates pushed back every 6 months, then to see you nonchalantly say you no longer have “immediate plans”  - it makes a lot of us feel misled. At least offer some sort of loyalty discount code for GingerAudio Sphere if you're directing your current customers there instead of leaving us high and dry.

I only went through with a purchase of SonarWorks MultiChannel in November 2022 after FIRST reaching out to support to ask for more clarity on when the system wide would be released which at the time stated “coming later this year”.  The reply I got was -

Hi Matthew,
 
Thank you for taking an interest and for reaching out! 
 
The standalone support of Multichannel has been delayed and will only happen in the new year. A more exact timeline I don't have at the moment, but we're actively working on it. You can take advantage of the Black Friday sale, as the Multichannel version of the standalone app will not be a paid upgrade. If you own a Multichannel license, the standalone edition will be included in a (free) update. 
 
For your first question I'd say that if you have ProTools Ultimate, then Send/Return workflow is something I'd suggest (https://www.sonarworks.com/support/soundid-reference/360003040080-Using%20SoundID%20Reference/360005433680-Using%20SoundID%20Reference/5881381389586)
 
For your second question - if you will apply a plugin via Send/Return, other functionality of the audio interface will stay intact, including the ADAT connectivity. 
 
The standalone app would be able to work as a master volume. 
 
Let me know if any questions remain! 
 

Kind regards,

Marco from Sonarworks

Having made my purchase based on the information I was given here I am nearly 2 years later still waiting for my free update advertised as “coming later this year” in 2022

I also only purchased the multichannel feature as a systemwide support was promised to come up early 2023. This is more than 12 month ago and more than disappointing to be left like this. Please Sonarworks stand true to your marketing claims and deliver what was promised years ago.

Thank you!

Falk Andreas