Sample Magic A/B Reference plugin

Just read about this in Sound on Sound Magazine and it looks like it could be a time saver at mixing time when comparing reference tracks:
 
http://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab
 
 

I bought it a few weeks ago when it was first released and I think it's a really great and unique plugin at a great price.  I've tried to spread the word, but have mostly gotten negative reactions (waste of money, don't need it, etc.).  Meh, whatever, I think it's great.

I'm not sure I understand what this is all about.  If it's just for "referencing" an already mixed track to one you are currently working on can't you just import the reference track into the Sonar project your working on and simply solo it whenever necessary?  At least that's what I do.  Or am I missing something here?  I don't know when I'd have a need to reference multiple tracks in one project either.  Hip me, will ya?

I'm new to the whole "using a reference track" thing anyway--but when I was simply importing a reference track before, onto it's own track, I always had it running through the Master bus--on which I would have a plugin (Ozone 5) which would then be altering it.  So I'd have to turn that off--and then back on when I went back to my own mix.  Extra mouse clicks.  Also, I'd have to fiddle around with adjusting volumes back and forth constantly.  (Maybe I'm not doing it right?)  

The being able to load multiple reference tracks might be overkill--but some folks might like having it.
 
Anyway, for an under-$50 plugin, to me it seemed to make the process easier.

As many may know I have always been in favour of using reference tracks they are very useful in my opinion. But there a few things that need to be observed in order for referencing to be really effective.
 
The reference source (eg a outboard CD player) should have nothing to do with any masterbuss or even the main outs either. The best place for reference sources is another input altogether on your mixer for example. If you don't have it, a better option might be to get into a monitor controller or something that will allow the selection of input sources feeding your monitor speakers. Your interface outs being one input and the CD player being the other.
 
It is vital that switching between your mix and the reference source be instant. No mouse clicking nothing like that. Also and this is very important, the level of reference must precisely match your mix as well. This may mean inserting some sort of variable attenuator between the reference output and the input it is connected to. (or a CD player with a variable out is also OK, even headphone out with volume control is OK) The reference will be mastered and way louder than your mix so it needs to be pulled down. You can match by ear but some sort of metering is better if possible and VU metering is the best for this.
 
You do not need multiple references either just a track that is right in the ballpark of the mix you are doing. When I do work for clients they will always have music that is right in the genre you are doing. It is a great thing to do because it eliminates the speaker and acoustic variables in your setup in one hit.
 
Your mixes will get better fast if you use references because every time you switch to the reference you will hear a well mixed track and then when you switch back you can make the necessary changes to get closer to it. Also software that analyses the sound of a reference eg EQ and then applies it to your mix is not the way to go either. It is best to learn to listen to references and then apply what you are hearing to your own mix. Much better way to go. It will improve your engineering skills as well.
 
This software may be OK and I am sure it is but an outboard input switcher to your speakers would be a better investment IMO. They don't cost much either or they would be easy and cheap to build too. If you do build one you could include an input volume control on the CD source to enable the level matching.

It was not condescending. To me it does seem like a joke. It would be much easier, and cheaper, to import a reference track and route it to your AI and not your master bus.
 
If you take it the wrong way then so be it. I can always count on someone being offended but I don't count the offended as counting them is not much fun as say, counting one, two three kanishes!
 
I hope I can count on you having a nice day!

I bought this yesterday. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and it does it well.
 
If you don't see why you would need such a tool, then you probably either developed your own workflow that works for you, or you're not doing the kind of work that this would apply to.
 
Thanks for the recommendation.
 
This was the demo that convinced me to put down the cash.