Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
Effect / Soundtoys
A granular echo plugin that combines pitch shifting and reversed echo processing, based on the Eventide H3000's reverse shift algorithm.
Effect / Baby Audio
A spectral balancing plugin that dynamically removes harshness, mud, and masking from a track only when and where those frequencies occur.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, Baby Audio Smooth Operator comes out ahead (8.4). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Soundtoys Crystallizer | Baby Audio Smooth Operator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Dubspot Score | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Formats | AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST 2, VST 3, Audio Units (AU) | VST, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Presets | Over 200 included | 184 presets |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz minimum, 192 kHz maximum | — |
| Architecture | 64-bit only; Apple Silicon compatible | — |
| Key features | MIDI sync and automation, built-in gate and duck, low- and high-cut filters | — |
| Current version | 5.5 | — |
| System requirements | macOS 10.15 or later; Windows 10 or later (not ARM-based Windows); internet connection required for activation | — |
| Plugin formats | — | VST, VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) |
| macOS | — | 10.11 and up, native Apple Silicon (M-chip) compatibility |
| Windows | — | Windows 10 and newer |
| Processing type | — | Dynamic spectral balancing with user-set target curve via EQ nodes and a threshold control |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.