Effect / Mastering The Mix
Mastering The Mix REFERENCE
8.3Great
REFERENCE 3 is a plugin that lets you A/B your mix against professional reference tracks and shows what adjustments are needed to match them.
Plugin comparison
Mastering The Mix REFERENCE vs Steven Slate Audio VSX
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.4Great
Steven Slate Audio VSX by Steven Slate Audio. Headphone monitoring with room and speaker simulations, a mix translation tool for headphone-first workflows.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Steven Slate Audio VSX comes out ahead (8.4). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Mastering The Mix REFERENCE | Steven Slate Audio VSX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | $299 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Formats | AU (Mac), VST3, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone |
| Price (official) | £59.00 GBP (no fixed USD price shown; site offers a currency selector) | — |
| Formats (Mac) | 64-bit AU, VST3, or AAX host; Apple Silicon native | — |
| Formats (Windows) | 64-bit VST3 or 64-bit AAX host | — |
| Key tools | Mix Descriptors, Masterscope, Mix Balance, Mix Instructor, and Match % | — |
| Mac requirements | OS X 10.15 or higher | — |
| Windows requirements | Windows 10 or higher | — |
| Type | — | Headphone monitoring / room simulation system |
| Developer | — | Steven Slate Audio |
| VSX 8.0 | — | Free update adds a defeatable Room control for added depth and externalization |
| Hardware | — | Requires VSX modeling headphones (Closed Back, Immersion One, Horizon One) |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.