Loudmeter vs other loudness meters: what's different.
Every meter that follows ITU-R BS.1770 reads the same file the same way. What differs is where the meter runs, what it can hear, what it costs and what happens to your file. Here is how Loudmeter compares with plug-ins, online meters and desktop analyzers, and when another meter is the better choice.
BY OKAN ÇAM · UPDATED
THE SHORT VERSION
- Meters that follow ITU-R BS.1770 agree on integrated LUFS for the same file, so the choice is about workflow, not accuracy.
- Plug-ins and DAW meters only hear the session they sit in. LOUDMETER: Menu Bar meters everything your Mac plays, with no plug-in to insert.
- Many online meters upload your file to a server. Loudmeter's online analyzer measures it in your browser, and every reading is free.
- Loudmeter can play your master at the level Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others will play it, and marks every true peak over on the waveform.
- Pick another meter for a meter inside your session, Windows apps, surround, broadcast compliance reports or large batches of files.
Loudmeter vs other meters at a glance
| Other meters | Loudmeter | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs as | A plug-in in your DAW, a website or desktop software | Online analyzer, Mac menu bar app, iPhone and iPad app |
| Hears | Plug-ins: the DAW session. Online and desktop: files | Files, and everything your Mac plays |
| Your file | Many online meters upload it | Measured in your browser or on your device |
| Readings | Varies; some online meters keep true peak or LRA for paid plans | LUFS, true peak, LRA, PSR, PLR, correlation, all free online |
| True peak | Some online meters skip oversampling | 4× oversampled, every over marked on the waveform |
| Streaming level preview | Depends on the meter | Hear your file at each service's level |
| Price | Free to pricey; plug-ins are often paid or subscriptions | Online free, Mac $9.99 once, iPhone and iPad free |
"Other meters" means the usual kinds: DAW meters and loudness plug-ins, online meters and desktop analysis software. Products differ, so check the details of the one you use. For what each kind does well, see choosing a loudness meter.
Will they show the same LUFS?
They should. Meters that follow ITU-R BS.1770 use the same K-weighting, gating and integration, so the same file gives the same integrated LUFS to rounding. True peak can differ by a few hundredths of a dB, because oversampling filters differ, and that's normal.
If two meters don't match, check the setup: the whole file or a selection, integrated or short-term, and whether one meter heard only one channel. Why two loudness meters show different LUFS covers the usual causes.
Loudmeter vs other online meters
Online meters are the quickest way to check a file, and they differ most in what happens to it. Many upload your file to their server, a real concern for an unreleased master, and large WAVs take a while to send. Some show only integrated loudness for free, and some measure true peak without oversampling, which misses real peaks.
Loudmeter's online analyzer measures the file in your browser, so it is never uploaded. Every reading is free: integrated, short-term and momentary LUFS, true peak with each over marked on the waveform, LRA, PSR, PLR and stereo correlation. It can also play the file at the level Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other services will play it.
Loudmeter vs plug-ins and DAW meters
A loudness plug-in on the master bus is the studio standard while you mix, and most DAWs now have a basic LUFS meter built in. Both only hear the session they sit in: a reference on Spotify, a client's mix in the browser or a YouTube video is out of reach.
LOUDMETER: Menu Bar meters whatever your Mac plays, from any app, with no plug-in to insert and nothing to add to each session. The free iPhone and iPad app can mirror its meters over your local Wi-Fi.
When another meter is the better fit
- You want the meter inside your session, on the master bus or any track, as a plug-in.
- You work on Windows. Loudmeter's apps are for Mac, iPhone and iPad; on Windows you only get the online analyzer.
- You deliver in 5.1 or need broadcast compliance reports.
- You analyze large batches of files at once.
When Loudmeter is the better fit
- You want to check a finished file with nothing to install. Drop it into the online analyzer: every reading is free and nothing is uploaded.
- You want to hear your master the way Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others will play it, switching between them while it plays.
- You want to see exactly where true peak goes over: the waveform marks each over with its time.
- You want to meter everything your Mac plays, not only the DAW. LOUDMETER: Menu Bar sits in the menu bar with no plug-in to insert.
- You want a second screen: the free iPhone and iPad app mirrors the Mac's live meters over your local Wi-Fi.
Using Loudmeter with another meter
They don't exclude each other. A common setup is a plug-in on the master bus while mixing, and a file check on the bounce before release, because the bounce is what the platforms measure. Whichever meter you use, measure the exact file you upload.
FAQ
Do all loudness meters show the same LUFS?
Meters that follow ITU-R BS.1770 read the same integrated LUFS for the same file, to rounding. True peak differences of a few hundredths of a dB are normal. Bigger gaps come from the setup, such as measuring a selection or one channel.
Is Loudmeter a plug-in?
No. Loudmeter is an online analyzer and apps for Mac, iPhone and iPad. The Mac app meters the audio your Mac plays, so it works next to any DAW without a plug-in.
Is the online analyzer free?
Yes. Every reading is free and needs no account: integrated, short-term and momentary LUFS, true peak, LRA, PSR, PLR and stereo correlation, plus the streaming preview.
Does Loudmeter upload my file?
No. The online analyzer decodes and measures the file in your browser, and the apps measure on your device.
Which meter is best for checking a master before release?
Any BS.1770 meter works if you measure the bounced file. Loudmeter's online analyzer does it in the browser with nothing to install, and lets you hear the file at each streaming service's level.
Keep reading
What Is LUFS?
What LUFS measures, how it differs from dB and RMS, and the LUFS numbers that matter for streaming.
Spotify LUFS
What −14 LUFS means, the Loud, Normal and Quiet settings, and how loud to master for Spotify.
Apple Music LUFS
Sound Check, the −16 LUFS level, AAC and lossless, and what they mean for your master.
YouTube LUFS
YouTube turns loud videos down and never turns quiet ones up. How to read content loudness.
SoundCloud LUFS
No normalization, so louder is louder. Why true peak matters more on SoundCloud than anywhere.
True Peak vs Sample Peak
Why a master that peaks at 0 dBFS can still clip, and why −1 dBTP is the number everyone quotes.
What Is LRA?
Loudness range, how it's calculated, typical values, and what it can't tell you.
PLR and PSR
Peak-to-loudness and peak-to-short-term ratio: how hard is your master limited?
Loudness Penalty
How much Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others turn your master down, with a calculator.
Choosing a Loudness Meter
Plug-in, online tool or app? What each kind of meter does well, and which one fits your work.
Why Meters Show Different LUFS
Same file, different numbers? The four setup mistakes behind almost every mismatch.
Loudness Targets for Every Platform
Streaming, podcast, broadcast and game targets in one table, with what each number means.
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