KVR Audio

tommyzai · Post by **tommyzai** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:12 am

I'm having trouble understanding the difference between these meters. Can someone clarify?
Which would be best for tracking? Best for mixing? Mastering? Are there other meters that I did not list?

Benedict · Post by **Benedict** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:45 am

This covers everything that you need to know about levels and how to use them.

Simply you have:
1. Peak dBFS - Decibels full scale using a very momentary read. Useful for knowing how close to the top of the tin the sound is.
2. VU dB - Sound measured using Root Mean Scale (RMS), or an average based on how humans perceive sound (feel about it). Useful overall levels to understand how the music will feel in the real world.
3. LUFS - are a new fangled take on VU and personally I ignore* them as they add no real value past hitting targets if you happen to mix sound for TV (ignore the BS people talk about Sprotifry etc).

My advice, take the time to watch the vid a few times so it can really soak in.

*and no I do not need condescending commentary on how wrong I am, esp if you didn't watch and understand the video.

tommyzai · Post by **tommyzai** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:50 am

I'll watch the vid. Thank you. I had/have no plan on posting anything condescending. I'm grateful for any and all help.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:47 am

I use LUFS PLR LRA and the like. You know, all that BS stuff people talk about. After I learned how to use them my music and audio has never sounded better and more consistent. Don't let laziness and ignorance prevent you from progressing.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:47 am

< delete >

Synthman2000 · Post by **Synthman2000** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 12:29 pm

My best form of measurement for music is goose bumps and arm hair erection.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:14 pm

YouLean Loudness Meter is quite nice. Also the Statistics view in Sound Forge.

The way I see it, true peak dB is important because too close to 0 can screw up some crappy codecs. (I usually aim for -1dB.) LUFS is handy as a rough guide to keeping more-or-less consistent levels on an album (but songs are supposed to have dynamic variation so pinning it at an exact value isn't that helpful).

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:23 pm

I use headphones. Loudness debunked.

dionenoid · Post by **dionenoid** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:26 pm

In short :
VU Meters for gain staging (during mixing)
LUFS meters for loudness (during mastering)
dB meters for watching peak levels (everywhere)

Ofcourse there's many types of scales involved with all meters, but that's a long story...

VU or dB or Loudness Meter?