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Alternatives / SoundGym

SoundGym alternatives for mix engineers.

SoundGym is the largest gamified ear-training platform. It's not the right tool for every mix engineer. Five honest options - including ours - with pricing, free-tier reality, and who each one actually fits.

Sign up freeCompare all five tools →See Reverie Mix pricing

Why people look for a SoundGym alternative.

  • $24.95 a month is a lot.

    It's the most expensive critical-listening subscription on the market. Yearly and lifetime tiers help, but monthly billing is steep if you're treating ear training as a habit, not a hobby.

  • The gamification can become its own thing.

    Streaks, duels, leaderboards, and badges work for a lot of people. They actively get in the way for engineers who want quiet practice, not a competitive layer to manage.

  • Breadth means less depth on mix-specific exercises.

    SoundGym covers pitch, melody, rhythm, beat training, and mix decisions. If you only want EQ / comp / stereo / phase / loudness / mix-move / reverb practice, half the catalogue isn't doing work for you.

  • Free tier is restrictive.

    Five games per day with most of the catalogue and the focused training mode locked behind Pro.

  • No multitrack stem isolation.

    You can pick a different source instrument for some games, but you can't, for example, practice EQ on an isolated kick from a real mix.

What to compare on.

Most ear-training comparisons stop at price and game count. Those aren't the dimensions that actually matter to a mix engineer's daily practice. Look at these instead.

  1. Material - synthesized tones or real mixes.

    Pink noise and isolated tones are easier to grade. Real mixes are what you actually work on. Some platforms train almost exclusively on the former.

  2. Difficulty granularity.

    How small can the difference between processed and unprocessed get? A 6 dB EQ boost is a different exercise from a 1 dB one. Coarse-only training plateaus fast.

  3. Stems vs. master only.

    Practicing EQ on a full mix is different from practicing EQ on an isolated kick. Multitrack stem isolation is rare and disproportionately useful.

  4. Mix-engineering scope.

    Critical listening for mix decisions is a narrower domain than general ear training (pitch, rhythm, melody). Decide what you actually want to train, then pick a tool that's deep there.

  5. Cost over time.

    A one-time EQ tool, a free browser tier, a $19.99/yr mobile subscription, and a $495 lifetime plan behave very differently over time. Math the actual horizon.

  6. Where it runs.

    Browser, DAW plugin, mobile, or pre-recorded course. The right form factor is the one that fits the time you actually have, not the one with the most features.

Quick comparison.

Skim this. The detailed sections below explain what each row actually means.

CompareReverie MixSoundGymTrain Your Ears EQ Edition 2QuiztonesGolden Ears (Dave Moulton)
PriceFree, or Pro at $12/mo or $120/yr$24.95/mo, $142/yr, or $495 lifetimeAround €49 / $50, one-time purchaseFree start; iOS Pro $4.99/mo or $19.99/yr; Mac $19.99 one-time$149.95 first year, then $19.95/yr renewal; student pricing available
Free tierPermanent. All available exercises (EQ, compressor attack, compressor release, stereo image, phase, low-end cleanup, loudness, mix-move diagnosis). Reverb decay is coming soon. 20 rounds per day.Limited. The daily workout (five quick games) plus access to a small subset of features. Most of the catalogue and the focused training mode require Pro.Demo download, not a permanent free tier.iOS is free to get started. Audio importing plus Hard and Expert quizzes require Quiztones Pro. Mac is paid one-time.No interactive free tier - this is course material, not an app.
Runs onAny modern browser. Desktop is more comfortable for canvas-precise games; everything works on a phone.Browser, with a desktop companion app.Standalone or as a plugin (VST / AU) inside any DAW.iOS and Mac. No Android or Windows version at this time.Streaming - listen on any device with a browser or audio player.
MaterialReal, finished mixes - drums, vocals, full bands. Not synthesized tones.Mix of synthesized loops and tracks; you can train with guitar, piano, drums, or full songs.Whatever audio you load - your own mixes, reference tracks, project material from sessions you're working on.Loops, single instruments, and tones. You can also import music from your device library to train against.Real musical examples, pink noise, and solo instruments, paired with hundreds of A/B comparisons and drills.
FocusMix decisions only. Every exercise maps to one thing an engineer reaches for in a session.Broad ear training - mix-engineering exercises sit alongside pitch, melody, and rhythm games.EQ ear training only - boost and cut detection at configurable Q.EQ-centered practice - tone, EQ, gain, boost, and cut quizzes across the spectrum.Frequencies, effects and processing, delays and decays, and master-frequency drills.
Multitrack stemsYesNoNoNoNo
Community / leaderboardsNoYesNoNoNo

The five options in detail.

Reverie Mix is ours, so we list it first. The others are real alternatives you should consider - we'd rather you pick the right tool than the wrong subscription.

Us
reveriemix.com

Reverie Mix

Browser-based critical-listening practice for mix engineers and producers. Eight exercises are available on the free tier; reverb decay is coming soon. Pro adds unlimited daily rounds, Style filters, and deeper practice controls.

Price
Free, or Pro at $12/mo or $120/yr
Free tier
Permanent. All available exercises (EQ, compressor attack, compressor release, stereo image, phase, low-end cleanup, loudness, mix-move diagnosis). Reverb decay is coming soon. 20 rounds per day.
Runs on
Any modern browser. Desktop is more comfortable for canvas-precise games; everything works on a phone.
Best for
Mix engineers and producers who want short, deliberate critical-listening practice without a subscription tax or a leaderboard to chase.

Strengths

  • - Free tier covers every exercise - no upgrade required to access content.
  • - Pro adds unlimited daily rounds and Style filters for targeted practice.
  • - Multitrack stem isolation in Pro: practice on isolated kick, snare, bass, vocals, or any stem from a real mix.
  • - Subtler difficulty steps in Pro - train below the audible thresholds the default tier uses.
  • - Browser-only. No install, no plugin host, no DAW required.

Limitations

  • - Newer product - eight exercises today; reverb decay and more are in development.
  • - No community, leaderboards, or competitive features.
  • - No pitch or interval training - this is a critical-listening tool, not a generalist ear-training app.

Not ideal for - Pitch / interval / chord-recognition training, music theory, or rhythm games. Wrong tool - try a music-theory app instead.

Alternative
www.soundgym.co

SoundGym

The largest gamified ear-training platform. Twenty-one sound games covering EQ, compression, panning, reverb, plus pitch, beat, and rhythm work.

Price
$24.95/mo, $142/yr, or $495 lifetime
Free tier
Limited. The daily workout (five quick games) plus access to a small subset of features. Most of the catalogue and the focused training mode require Pro.
Runs on
Browser, with a desktop companion app.
Best for
Producers and engineers who want one platform for everything ear-related - including pitch and rhythm - and who get a real lift from leaderboards, duels, and badges.

Strengths

  • - Largest catalogue of any platform listed here - twenty-one sound games across many subdomains.
  • - Active community: SoundGym Spaces, Duels, BeatRaces, Olympics, friend leaderboards.
  • - Lifetime tier exists, which a few alternatives don't offer.

Limitations

  • - $24.95/mo is the most expensive subscription in this list.
  • - Free tier is restrictive - five games per day and the bulk of the catalogue locked.
  • - Breadth comes at the cost of depth in mix-specific exercises.
  • - No multitrack stem isolation.

Not ideal for - Engineers who only want mix-decision practice and find gamified daily streaks distracting rather than motivating.

Alternative
www.trainyourears.com

Train Your Ears EQ Edition 2

A native VST / AU plugin host. You drop in your own audio and the trainer applies hidden EQ moves you have to identify.

Price
Around €49 / $50, one-time purchase
Free tier
Demo download, not a permanent free tier.
Runs on
Standalone or as a plugin (VST / AU) inside any DAW.
Best for
Engineers who already live inside a DAW, want training audio to match the work they actually do, and prefer a one-time purchase.

Strengths

  • - One-time purchase, no subscription.
  • - Train on any audio you can load into a plugin host.
  • - Configurable filter Q, multiple bands, custom frequency ranges.

Limitations

  • - EQ only - nothing for compression, stereo, phase, loudness, or reverb.
  • - Requires a DAW or plugin host. Not a casual practice tool.
  • - No structured curriculum or progress tracking.

Not ideal for - Anyone wanting compressor, stereo, phase, or loudness practice - this is EQ-only.

Alternative
theproaudiofiles.com/quiztones/

Quiztones

Apple-native EQ ear training. Hundreds of quizzes built from frequency-altered loops, single instruments, and tones.

Price
Free start; iOS Pro $4.99/mo or $19.99/yr; Mac $19.99 one-time
Free tier
iOS is free to get started. Audio importing plus Hard and Expert quizzes require Quiztones Pro. Mac is paid one-time.
Runs on
iOS and Mac. No Android or Windows version at this time.
Best for
Apple-device practice. Engineers who want to drill EQ frequencies on an iPhone or Mac between sessions.

Strengths

  • - Massive quiz library - 450+ EQ quizzes.
  • - Train against music from your own device library.
  • - Native iOS and Mac apps - fits into time browser and DAW tools don't always reach.

Limitations

  • - EQ-centered - no compression, stereo, phase, or loudness practice.
  • - Apple-only - no Android or Windows version at this time.
  • - No multitrack stem isolation.

Not ideal for - Android / Windows users, browser-first workflows, or any non-EQ-centered exercise (compression, stereo, phase, loudness, reverb).

Alternative
goldenearsaudio.com

Golden Ears (Dave Moulton)

The audio-school staple - Dave Moulton's frequency and effects training course, now streamable by membership.

Price
$149.95 first year, then $19.95/yr renewal; student pricing available
Free tier
No interactive free tier - this is course material, not an app.
Runs on
Streaming - listen on any device with a browser or audio player.
Best for
Foundational, lecture-paced training. Audio engineering students, or anyone who wants Moulton's pedagogy and a structured course rather than gamified drills.

Strengths

  • - Long-running audio-school course with Dave Moulton's pedagogy.
  • - Comprehensive frequency curriculum - every octave, boost and cut.
  • - Covers frequencies, compression, distortion, stereophony, delay, and reverb as course material.

Limitations

  • - Not interactive. No scoring, adaptive difficulty, or progression beyond what's on the audio.
  • - Pre-recorded - you can't choose new material or generate fresh rounds.
  • - No mix-specific exercises like multitrack stem isolation.

Not ideal for - Anyone looking for interactive, scored, or competitive practice. This is a curriculum, not an app.

Pick by use case.

  • Mix engineer who wants cheap, focused critical-listening practice with stems.

    All available exercises with 20 free rounds per day; $12/mo for unlimited daily rounds, Style filters, stems, and finer steps.

    → Reverie Mix

  • Producer who wants gamification, leaderboards, and broad ear training including pitch and rhythm.

    Largest catalogue, active community, lifetime tier available.

    → SoundGym

  • Engineer who lives in the DAW and wants EQ training on their own audio, no subscription.

    $50 one-time, runs as a plugin, train on the project you're actually working on.

    → Train Your Ears EQ Edition

  • Mobile-first practice between sessions or on the train.

    iOS and Mac apps, 450+ EQ quizzes, free iOS start, and iOS Pro at $4.99/mo or $19.99/yr.

    → Quiztones

  • Audio-school context, foundational frequency curriculum, lecture-paced.

    Dave Moulton course material, streamed by membership, with student pricing available.

    → Golden Ears (Dave Moulton)

Questions.

What is the best SoundGym alternative for mix engineers?
If you only want mix-decision practice - EQ, compression, stereo, phase, low-end, loudness, and mix-move diagnosis, with reverb decay coming soon - Reverie Mix is the most direct alternative. SoundGym's catalogue is broader but covers pitch and rhythm material that mix engineers already train on the bandstand or in arrangement work. For DAW-native EQ practice, Train Your Ears is the alternative; for mobile, Quiztones.
Is there a free SoundGym alternative?
Reverie Mix has a permanent free tier with all available exercises and 20 rounds per day - no card required. SoundGym has a daily-workout free tier capped at five games. Quiztones has a free starting tier. Train Your Ears offers a demo only.
Why is SoundGym so expensive?
SoundGym charges $24.95 a month - the highest monthly price in this comparison - because it's positioning as a full ear-training platform with twenty-one sound games, community features, leaderboards, and competitive tournaments. If you don't use the community side, the price is mostly paying for catalogue breadth you may not need. Annual ($142) and lifetime ($495) tiers bring the effective rate down.
Can I switch from SoundGym to Reverie Mix?
There's nothing to migrate - these are independent tools with separate progress. Cancel SoundGym from their account page, then sign up for the Reverie Mix free tier. If you want unlimited daily rounds, Style filters, per-instrument multitrack practice, and finer difficulty steps, upgrade to Pro at $12/mo or $120/yr.
Does Reverie Mix have leaderboards or community features like SoundGym?
No. Reverie Mix is solo practice - no friends list, no leaderboards, no daily streak counter. The reasoning is in our brand book: reward through clarity, not celebration. If competitive features are what gets you to practice, SoundGym is the better fit.

Try Reverie Mix.

Permanent free tier - all available exercises, 20 rounds per day, no card. Pro at $12/mo or $120/yr adds unlimited daily rounds, Style filters, multitrack stem isolation, and finer difficulty steps.

Sign up freeSee pricing