Best Resonance Suppression Plugins 2026: Soothe 2 vs Smooth Operator Pro vs Silk Vocal vs RysUpSmooth
Every vocal recording, every guitar take, every drum bus has them: resonances. Those narrow, harsh frequency buildups that make a mix feel fatiguing, brittle, or just wrong. You might not always be able to pinpoint them by ear, but you can feel them. They're the reason a vocal sounds piercing on one note but fine on the next. They're why your acoustic guitar suddenly honks at a particular chord voicing. They're the invisible problem that static EQ can never fully solve.
Resonance suppression plugins — sometimes called spectral smoothing or dynamic resonance processors — have become essential tools in modern mixing and mastering. Unlike traditional dynamic EQs, these plugins analyze the entire frequency spectrum in real time and surgically reduce only the frequencies that are building up problematically, leaving everything else untouched. The result is a smoother, more balanced signal without the phase artifacts and tonal damage that come from heavy-handed static EQ cuts.
The category has exploded over the last few years. What was once dominated by a single plugin now includes serious contenders at every price point. In this guide, we're comparing the four most relevant resonance suppression plugins in 2026 — from the industry standard to a newcomer that delivers professional-grade results at a fraction of the cost.
What to Look for in a Resonance Suppression Plugin
Before diving into individual reviews, it helps to understand what separates a great resonance suppressor from a mediocre one. These are the criteria we used to evaluate each plugin:
- Spectral control and precision — Can you target specific frequency ranges? Does the plugin offer per-band sensitivity adjustments, or is it a one-knob solution? More control means better results on difficult material.
- Transparency — The best resonance suppression should be invisible. You notice the problem is gone, but you can't tell processing is happening. Artifacts, pumping, and tonal coloration are red flags.
- Delta monitoring — This is the ability to listen to only what the plugin is removing. It's critical for dialing in the right amount of processing and ensuring you're not cutting into the good parts of your signal.
- Latency — FFT-based processing inherently introduces some delay. Lower latency means you can use the plugin during tracking and on real-time monitoring chains, not just during mixing.
- CPU efficiency — Spectral processing is computationally expensive. A plugin that eats 15% of your CPU on a single instance is impractical for sessions with dozens of tracks.
- Price and licensing — Does the plugin require iLok? Are updates free or paid? Is the price justified by the features? These practical considerations matter just as much as sound quality for working producers.
1. oeksound Soothe 2 — $219
Soothe 2 is the plugin that defined this category. Originally released in 2017, it was the first widely adopted real-time resonance suppressor, and it quickly became a staple in professional mixing and mastering studios worldwide. The version 2 update refined the algorithm significantly and added features that competitors are still trying to match.
How It Works
Soothe 2 uses a proprietary algorithm that continuously analyzes the frequency spectrum and applies dynamic cuts to resonant peaks. You control the overall depth and sharpness of the suppression, and the plugin handles the rest in real time. It also provides a node-based EQ overlay where you can boost or cut the sensitivity of specific frequency ranges, telling the plugin to be more or less aggressive in certain areas.
Key Features
- Real-time dynamic resonance suppression with continuous spectral analysis
- Soft and Hard processing modes for gentle or aggressive suppression
- Full Mid/Side processing capability
- Delta monitoring to hear exactly what's being removed
- Adjustable attack and release for controlling response time
- Depth, sharpness, and selectivity controls
- Quality (oversampling) options
Pros
- The most established and thoroughly tested resonance suppressor on the market
- Extremely transparent processing when used at moderate settings
- Excellent documentation, tutorials, and community support
- Trusted by top-tier mixing engineers for critical work
- Versatile enough for vocals, instruments, buses, and mastering
Cons
- $219 is a significant investment, especially for home studio producers
- Requires iLok for authorization — adds friction and a potential point of failure
- Approximately 45ms of latency, which rules out real-time monitoring use cases
- Major version upgrades are paid, not free
- CPU usage is moderate to high, particularly at higher quality settings
Rating: 9/10
Best for: Professional mixing and mastering engineers who need the most established, thoroughly proven option and have the budget to match. If you're working on major-label projects and need the plugin that every other engineer in the room will recognize, Soothe 2 is the safe choice.
2. Baby Audio Smooth Operator Pro — $129
Smooth Operator Pro has emerged as the most popular alternative to Soothe 2 since its release. Baby Audio positioned it as a more approachable, visually intuitive take on spectral processing, and it's found a strong audience among producers who want quick results without a steep learning curve.
How It Works
Rather than framing itself purely as a resonance suppressor, Smooth Operator Pro describes its approach as "spectral signal balancing." The plugin analyzes the frequency spectrum and applies dynamic processing to create a more even tonal balance across the entire range. You interact with a node-based curve that controls how aggressively the plugin processes different frequency areas.
Key Features
- Spectral signal balancing with visual node-based control curve
- Mid/Side processing support
- External sidechain input for frequency-dependent processing
- Auto-gain compensation to maintain perceived loudness
- Clean, modern interface with real-time spectral display
Pros
- Approachable interface that's easy to learn for producers of all experience levels
- Effective at taming overall spectral imbalances quickly
- Auto-gain feature makes A/B comparison more reliable
- Sidechain input opens up creative possibilities
- No iLok required — simple serial key activation
Cons
- No dedicated attack or release controls — the plugin makes these decisions for you, which limits fine-tuning
- No delta monitoring — you can't audition what's being removed, making it harder to avoid over-processing
- The processing has a noticeable sonic character rather than being fully transparent — this works in some contexts but fights against you in others
- $129 is still a meaningful expense for producers on a budget
- Less surgical than dedicated resonance suppressors for targeting specific problem areas
Rating: 7.5/10
Best for: Producers who want quick spectral balancing results without needing to understand the technical details of resonance suppression. If you value speed and simplicity over deep control, Smooth Operator Pro delivers a pleasing result with minimal effort.
3. Waves Silk Vocal — $149 MSRP (~$35-50 Street Price)
Waves Silk Vocal takes a fundamentally different approach to the resonance problem. Rather than offering a full-featured spectral processor, it packages simplified resonance control into a streamlined vocal processing tool alongside compression and gating. It's worth including in this comparison because many producers encounter it when searching for resonance suppression solutions, but it's important to understand what it actually is — and isn't.
How It Works
Silk Vocal provides three broad frequency range controls — Lows, Mids, and Highs — that apply varying degrees of spectral smoothing to each region. It's designed as a one-stop vocal processing plugin rather than a dedicated resonance suppressor, so it also includes a built-in compressor and noise gate.
Key Features
- Three-knob spectral smoothing (Lows, Mids, Highs)
- Built-in compressor for dynamic control
- Built-in noise gate
- Simplified interface designed for fast results
Pros
- Extremely simple to use — three knobs for the spectral section means virtually no learning curve
- Street price of $35-50 during frequent Waves sales makes it an affordable entry point
- All-in-one approach (smoothing + compression + gate) can streamline simple vocal chains
- Low CPU usage compared to full spectral processors
Cons
- Not a true resonance suppressor — the three-band approach is far too broad to target individual resonances
- No visual spectral feedback — you're working entirely by ear with no analyzer to guide you
- No delta monitoring whatsoever
- No per-band control, no adjustable Q or bandwidth, no frequency selection
- Waves Update Plan controversy — ongoing costs to maintain access to updates and support
- Vocal-only design means it can't be used on instruments, buses, or masters
- The $149 MSRP is misleading since Waves runs perpetual sales, creating pricing confusion
Rating: 5.5/10
Best for: Absolute beginners who want the simplest possible vocal processing and don't need surgical resonance control. If you just need to take the edge off a vocal quickly and you're not concerned with precision, Silk Vocal does the basics. But if you're specifically looking for resonance suppression, this isn't the right tool.
4. RysUpSmooth — $19.99 (Best Value)
Here's where the conversation gets interesting. RysUpSmooth is a dedicated spectral resonance suppression plugin built from the ground up with a single goal: deliver professional-grade resonance suppression at a price that doesn't punish your wallet. At $19.99, it costs less than a tenth of Soothe 2 — but the feature set tells a very different story than the price tag might suggest.
How It Works
RysUpSmooth uses real-time FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) spectral analysis to continuously monitor the incoming signal for resonant buildups. When it detects a problematic resonance, it applies dynamic gain reduction to that specific frequency region, leaving everything else untouched. The processing runs across the full audible spectrum with configurable resolution and oversampling for maximum accuracy.
What sets RysUpSmooth apart from other budget options is the depth of control it offers. Six interactive sensitivity bands let you define exactly how aggressively the plugin responds in different frequency regions. Each band supports bidirectional control — you can increase sensitivity to target problem areas or decrease it to protect frequencies you want left alone. This is the same fundamental approach used by Soothe 2, not the simplified broad-stroke processing you'd find in budget alternatives.
Key Features
- True spectral resonance suppression via real-time FFT analysis
- 6 interactive sensitivity bands with bidirectional control (boost or cut sensitivity per region)
- Delta monitoring — audition exactly what's being removed to avoid over-processing
- Soft and Hard processing modes
- Full Mid/Side processing capability
- Independent Attack, Release, Depth, Sharpness, and Selectivity controls
- Up to 4x oversampling for pristine high-frequency processing
- Three resolution modes (Eco, Normal, High) for balancing quality vs CPU
- Near-zero latency — usable during tracking and real-time monitoring
- Wet/Dry mix control and output trim
- A/B comparison for instant before-and-after switching
- Full undo/redo history
- User preset system for saving and recalling custom settings
- Simple serial key activation — no iLok, no dongle, no subscription
- Free lifetime updates
- Apple Silicon native (VST3 + AU)
Pros
- $19.99 — a fraction of any competitor's price, with no hidden costs or upgrade fees
- Feature set that directly competes with plugins 5-10x the price
- Delta monitoring and Mid/Side processing — features missing from some plugins that cost six times more
- Near-zero latency makes it usable during tracking, not just mixing
- 6 interactive sensitivity bands with bidirectional control provide surgical precision
- Three resolution modes let you balance quality against CPU on a per-instance basis
- No iLok, no subscription, no update plan — buy it once, own it forever
- Apple Silicon native for optimized performance on modern Macs
- Clean, informative visual interface with real-time spectral display
Cons
- Newer to the market — doesn't have the years of widespread professional validation that Soothe 2 has built
- Smaller user community means fewer third-party tutorials and preset libraries (for now)
- Currently macOS only (VST3 + AU) — Windows support is planned but not yet available
Rating: 9.5/10
Best for: Anyone who wants professional-grade resonance suppression without the professional-grade price tag. Whether you're a bedroom producer, a freelance mixing engineer, or a professional looking to add a second resonance suppressor to your toolkit, RysUpSmooth delivers the features that matter at a price that makes the decision effortless.
Comparison Table: Resonance Suppression Plugins 2026
| Feature | Soothe 2 | Smooth Operator Pro | Silk Vocal | RysUpSmooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 | $129 | $149 MSRP / ~$35-50 street | $19.99 |
| Processing Type | True spectral resonance suppression | Spectral signal balancing | Broadband smoothing (3-band) | True spectral resonance suppression (FFT) |
| Sensitivity Bands | Node-based EQ overlay | Node-based curve | 3 fixed bands (Lows/Mids/Highs) | 6 interactive bands (bidirectional) |
| Delta Monitoring | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Mid/Side Processing | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Soft/Hard Modes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Attack/Release Controls | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Oversampling | Yes (quality modes) | Not specified | No | Up to 4x (1x, 2x, 4x) |
| Resolution Modes | Quality settings | No | No | 3 modes (Eco, Normal, High) |
| Latency | ~45ms | Moderate | Low | Near-zero |
| Spectral Analyzer | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| A/B Comparison | No (manual bypass) | No | No | Yes (built-in) |
| Undo/Redo | No | No | No | Yes |
| User Presets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wet/Dry Mix | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Use Cases | Vocals, instruments, buses, mastering | Vocals, instruments, buses | Vocals only | Vocals, instruments, buses, mastering |
| Authorization | iLok required | Serial key | Waves account | Simple serial key (no iLok) |
| Free Lifetime Updates | No (paid upgrades) | Yes | No (Update Plan) | Yes |
| Apple Silicon Native | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU |
| Our Rating | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | 5.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
The Verdict: Which Resonance Suppression Plugin Should You Buy?
Let's cut straight to it.
If money is no object and you want the most established name in the category, Soothe 2 is still excellent. It's been refined over nearly a decade, it's trusted across the industry, and its track record is undeniable. You're paying a premium for that reputation and maturity, and for many professionals working on high-profile projects, that premium is justified.
If you want a quick, opinionated spectral balancer and don't need deep control, Smooth Operator Pro is a solid middle-ground option. The lack of delta monitoring and attack/release controls limits its usefulness for surgical work, but for broad tonal shaping, it gets the job done with a clean interface.
Silk Vocal is hard to recommend in this category. It's not really a resonance suppressor — it's a simplified vocal processor that happens to include some spectral smoothing. At its $35-50 street price, it's an acceptable beginner tool, but anyone serious about resonance suppression will outgrow it quickly.
And then there's RysUpSmooth. At $19.99, it delivers true spectral resonance suppression with the same fundamental approach as Soothe 2 — real-time FFT analysis, per-band sensitivity control, delta monitoring, Mid/Side processing, Soft/Hard modes, and adjustable attack and release. It adds features that even Soothe 2 doesn't offer, including built-in A/B comparison, full undo/redo history, and three separate resolution modes for fine-tuning the quality-to-CPU tradeoff. And it does all of this at near-zero latency, meaning you can use it during tracking — something Soothe 2's 45ms latency simply doesn't allow.
The value proposition is almost absurd. For less than the cost of a month of a streaming subscription, you get a resonance suppressor that competes feature-for-feature with the $219 industry standard. No iLok. No subscription. No paid upgrades. Buy it once, use it forever.
For the vast majority of producers, mixing engineers, and mastering engineers reading this, RysUpSmooth is the right answer. It's the plugin that proves professional-grade spectral processing doesn't have to come with a professional-grade price tag.
Ready to Clean Up Your Mixes?
Stop fighting resonances with static EQ cuts that damage your tone. RysUpSmooth gives you real-time spectral resonance suppression with professional features at a price that makes the decision easy.
Looking for more mixing tools? Browse the full vocal mixing plugins collection from Rys Up Audio.
Questions about RysUpSmooth or need help choosing the right plugin for your workflow? Get in touch with us here.