Mastering The Mix has released REFERENCE 3, a major update to its popular mix referencing plugin. We are taking a closer look at the latest update and giving away one license to one lucky BPB reader.
REFERENCE 3 is priced at $79 with a 15-day free trial available (no credit card required). Owners of REFERENCE 1 or 2 get 50% off by logging in on the Mastering The Mix website.
The Giveaway
To join the giveaway, simply enter your name and email address in the form linked below. This will subscribe you to the BPB Newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time).
We will randomly select and announce the Winner on this page on April 12th.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
And now, let’s check out the plugin.
REFERENCE 3
If you’re referencing your mix to other tracks (as you should), you’re already aware of how beneficial that is for making clear mix decisions, but also how the comparison itself isn’t a very smooth process.
REFERENCE 3 makes that whole workflow super easy.
You load it as the last plugin on your master bus, import professional tracks you want your mix to sound like, and the plugin shows you exactly how your mix compares and what to adjust. It handles loudness matching automatically, so you’re making real decisions, not just reacting to volume differences.
Version 3 adds many new features. Smart Reference Tracks analyzes your mix and automatically suggests the four best-matching references from your personal library, with the loudest section already looped.
Each reference gets Mix Descriptor tags that show its tonal balance, stereo width, dynamics, and loudness relative to most professional releases. I love how this helps avoid bad comparisons, since you can immediately see when a reference track’s profile doesn’t match the direction you’re aiming for.
The new Master Scope brings all visual analysis into a single view.
The Level Line shows the exact EQ boosts and cuts needed to match your reference, based on perceptual frequency weighting rather than raw amplitude.
The Stereo Width Display does the same for your stereo image across the spectrum. There’s also Overcompression Detection, which highlights frequencies where your mix is significantly less punchy than the reference, and Phase Analysis that flags frequency-specific phase issues affecting mono compatibility.
Match % gives you a real-time score showing how closely your tonal balance, stereo width, dynamics, and loudness match the reference.
Mix Instructor simplifies all of this into plain text instructions across three frequency bands (low, mid, high), telling you things like “boost by 4 dB” or “narrow width.” Mix Balance goes further by suggesting gain adjustments for your vocals, drums, music, and bass to match the relative balance of your reference.
The plugin also includes REFSEND, a companion plugin that lets you A/B entire FX chains or mastering chains with true loudness matching. You can compare up to 12 reference tracks and switch between them instantly.
REFERENCE 3 is available in VST3, AU, and AAX formats for macOS (10.15 and newer, Apple Silicon native) and Windows (10 and newer).
More info: Mastering The Mix REFERENCE 3 ($79)
Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Tomislav Zlatic.
