Effect / Soundtheory
Gullfoss
8.7Great
Gullfoss is an intelligent equalizer that uses a computational auditory perception model to improve a mix's clarity, detail, spatiality, and balance.
Plugin comparison
Gullfoss vs soothe2
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
Effect / oeksound
soothe2
8.8Great
soothe2 is oeksound's dynamic resonance suppressor that automatically detects and reduces problematic resonances and harshness in audio.
Editorial analysis
The key difference
Gullfoss and soothe2 are both intelligent processors that fix tonal problems automatically, which is why producers pit them against each other. But they solve different halves of the same problem: Gullfoss rebalances a signal's overall tone, while soothe2 hunts down and ducks individual harsh resonances.
Decisive signal
The decisive split is broadband balance versus surgical suppression. Gullfoss runs a computational auditory-perception model and applies hundreds of continuous, program-dependent EQ moves to push masked detail forward and pull dominant frequencies back, reshaping the entire tonal picture. soothe2 does something narrower and more targeted: it scans for spiky resonances, sibilance, and ringing, then dynamically ducks only those frequencies at the moment they misbehave, leaving the rest of the tone untouched. In practice Gullfoss changes how a mix feels overall, while soothe2 removes specific offending peaks without altering the underlying balance. That is why many engineers run both, but reach for them at different moments.
Choose Gullfoss if
Choose Gullfoss if you want a two-slider tool that intelligently rebalances tone and clears mud across a whole mix or master in seconds.
Open plugin file →Choose soothe2 if
Choose soothe2 if you need surgical, transparent removal of specific resonances and harshness on individual sources, with soft/hard modes and mid/side control.
Open plugin file →Buying verdict
Which should you buy?
For overall clarity, separation, and glue on a busy mix or master, Gullfoss is the stronger pick; for eliminating a specific harshness on a vocal, guitar, or cymbal without touching everything else, soothe2 wins on precision. Value now tilts things: Gullfoss is a clear premium buy at around EUR 178, whereas soothe2 has been superseded by soothe3 and its official page redirects, so a new purchase is no longer straightforward and soothe3 is usually the smarter money today.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Gullfoss | soothe2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — |
| Dubspot Score | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Formats | AU, VST, VST3, AAX Native | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Official price | EUR 178.00 (no USD price listed on the official store) | — |
| Editions | Gullfoss, Gullfoss Live, Gullfoss Master (share one installer) | — |
| Processing latency | ~20ms (Gullfoss & Gullfoss Master); ~2ms (Gullfoss Live) | — |
| Sample rates | 16 kHz to 384 kHz | — |
| Channels | Mono-to-mono or stereo-to-stereo (stereo compatible with M/S) | — |
| EQ update rate | ~300 equalizer updates per second; ~1000 auditory model updates per second | — |
| System requirements | macOS 10.9+ / Windows 7+, 64-bit host, OpenGL 3.2+; iLok License Manager for activation (no dongle required) | — |
| Plugin type | — | Dynamic resonance suppressor |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | — | Windows 10-11 (64-bit); macOS 10.14 Mojave and up (Apple Silicon supported) |
| Processing modes | — | Soft mode (transparent) and Hard mode (dynamics-reactive) |
| Channel support | — | Stereo and mid/side processing |
| Product status | — | Superseded by soothe3; the official soothe2 URL now redirects to soothe3 |
Quick reference
Gullfoss vs soothe2: FAQ
Is Gullfoss or soothe2 better for taming harsh vocals?
soothe2 is the more targeted choice for harsh vocals because it ducks specific resonances and sibilance only when they spike, leaving the rest of the tone intact. Gullfoss can smooth a vocal too, but it rebalances the whole signal rather than surgically removing one offending peak.
Do I need both Gullfoss and soothe2, or does one replace the other?
They are complementary, not interchangeable. Gullfoss handles broadband tonal balance and clarity while soothe2 handles targeted resonance suppression, so many engineers run both at different stages. If you can only own one, pick based on whether your recurring problem is overall balance or specific harshness.
Which is the better value in 2026?
Gullfoss is a straightforward premium purchase at around EUR 178 with three editions covering live, mixing, and mastering. soothe2 has been superseded by soothe3 and its official page redirects, so buying soothe2 new is no longer clean and soothe3 is generally the smarter buy if you want that resonance-taming workflow.
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.