Being neither mens sana nor in corpore sano, I decided to try Audiomovers' Listento plugin for sessions I scheduled in LA with a vocal producer I'm pals with and a fantastic singer. There is also a standalone app, but I don't need or use that.
The Listento plugin was highly recommended by my son, who is a far more successful musician than I will ever be. So I figured it would be worth a shot.
It was!
Listento allows a person to hear - live - a session that takes place in a different studio, no matter where it's located; you can even record the session into your DAW with the plugin. You hear the audio in full-resolution (or a lower-res version if you have slow internet); there's no dicking around having to compromise and guess what you're hearing.
Listento also allows you to connect to the other person's computer and collaborate with your audio. The deluxe version even allows the combatants/collaborators to send midi files to one another along with the audio!
Unlike Evercast, an app that allows me to generate HD video with HD udio for synchronized visuals, and costs $700 a month when you need it (worth it for audio postproduction when budgets allow), Listento is audio-only -- for about $13 a month (!).
The deluxe version adds surround and Spatial Audio, along with a few other desirable bells and whistles. People who aren't directly collaborating, such as clients, can listen on a regular browser; there's nothing to install.
You install the plugin like any other plugin. It immediately works (I tried it in Logic Pro). I had not one single issue, nor did my collaborator.
Loopback isn't required (with Evercast a tech remotely installs a bunch of complicated software on your computer).
Did I mention $13 a month? OMG.
Instead of having to send files back and forth, a time consuming prospect I'm quite used to, everyone on the session hears HD audio, right away, boom, zoom, done! (there's a little latency and that's fine).
The deluxe version lets you do MIDI synchronization. Another OMG.
How useful is it? For starters, it's great for the remote sessions I do all the time. Other software makes it a struggle. Then there's active collaboration. There's also 'clients participate in mix'. Sure they can do it with Evercast, for $700 a month. So, your call.
I won't go deeper. Hell, I can't go deeper - yet. I've only used it a couple of times at this point.
If you're serious about making or mixing music for projects, this is a great tool. Did I mention, $13 a month? Or the upgrade to the deluxe version for another 12 bucks?
I subscribed to Evercast for everything during Covid. It's great, because I was mixing audio post for Ford ads as well as doing the music. I highly recommend it, it's the best game in town for that. Worth the dough.
But for audio-only projects Listento is where it's at.
Did I mention $13 a month? Hell, clients can participate in audio mixes by phone while you're doing this. I can communicate with collaborators with a talkback mic. It's terrific.
The Listento plugin was highly recommended by my son, who is a far more successful musician than I will ever be. So I figured it would be worth a shot.
It was!
Listento allows a person to hear - live - a session that takes place in a different studio, no matter where it's located; you can even record the session into your DAW with the plugin. You hear the audio in full-resolution (or a lower-res version if you have slow internet); there's no dicking around having to compromise and guess what you're hearing.
Listento also allows you to connect to the other person's computer and collaborate with your audio. The deluxe version even allows the combatants/collaborators to send midi files to one another along with the audio!
Unlike Evercast, an app that allows me to generate HD video with HD udio for synchronized visuals, and costs $700 a month when you need it (worth it for audio postproduction when budgets allow), Listento is audio-only -- for about $13 a month (!).
The deluxe version adds surround and Spatial Audio, along with a few other desirable bells and whistles. People who aren't directly collaborating, such as clients, can listen on a regular browser; there's nothing to install.
You install the plugin like any other plugin. It immediately works (I tried it in Logic Pro). I had not one single issue, nor did my collaborator.
Loopback isn't required (with Evercast a tech remotely installs a bunch of complicated software on your computer).
Did I mention $13 a month? OMG.
Instead of having to send files back and forth, a time consuming prospect I'm quite used to, everyone on the session hears HD audio, right away, boom, zoom, done! (there's a little latency and that's fine).
The deluxe version lets you do MIDI synchronization. Another OMG.
How useful is it? For starters, it's great for the remote sessions I do all the time. Other software makes it a struggle. Then there's active collaboration. There's also 'clients participate in mix'. Sure they can do it with Evercast, for $700 a month. So, your call.
I won't go deeper. Hell, I can't go deeper - yet. I've only used it a couple of times at this point.
If you're serious about making or mixing music for projects, this is a great tool. Did I mention, $13 a month? Or the upgrade to the deluxe version for another 12 bucks?
I subscribed to Evercast for everything during Covid. It's great, because I was mixing audio post for Ford ads as well as doing the music. I highly recommend it, it's the best game in town for that. Worth the dough.
But for audio-only projects Listento is where it's at.
Did I mention $13 a month? Hell, clients can participate in audio mixes by phone while you're doing this. I can communicate with collaborators with a talkback mic. It's terrific.
Last edited:
