Metering, tools and techniques

[Martin]

Im sure there is a thread on this already, but i couldnt find it...

Lately ive been thinking that i might need some better metering tools and techniques and would like to hear what you use and when/how?

Dynamics
I use klanghelm vu meter on the master after watching rtics dub techno video posted here on the forum, its been really useful! Especially for balancing the kick and bass.
I wonder if you use any more tools for metering dynamics during production or mixing? Would i benefit from something that gives me more information about the transients maybe?

Spectrum analyzer
Ive been using fabfilter proq2 with a 4,5 dB slope, slowest rate and lowest resolution on the master for years, but i realise there are probably better tools out there than the spectrum of an eq?

Width
I dont use any stereo metering, should i?

[Planar]

I use pro-q 2 as an analyzer as well, but I just recently changed to a 3dB slope as that seems to visually match what I expect a little better than 4.5dB. It's pretty damn good for the job. Other than that I just use bx meter a bit to check my masters final peaks and rms levels. I just picked up metric ab (with some coupons as it's far too expensive without) for referencing against pro tracks I like and it's really, really good and just helped immensley with a mixdown I just finished a couple of days back.

[CRDM]

I use Klanghelm VUMT on as the first inset on my master channel, that's my main visual information. I do look at lives meters but I feel more comfortable just with my ears and the VU.

I use this free analyzer plugin on the master output, but I don't look at it all that much, mainly when I have things working together nearer the end of a project. For tuning percussion and other instruments I quite like lives EQ-8 as it has the note readout and is embedded in the GUI.

Other than those two I don't use any other metering or visual tools. I use bx Console SSL 4000 G channel strip which I love but currently the meters are useless. Once they get fixed, I will use those per channel but until then I am fine with making a sound/recording and then using the master instance of VUMT, this also has the added usefulness of getting a feel for how tracks interact like you mentioned.

[Jean Luc Cougar]

I just recently changed my approach to analyzers. In the past I was basically only using Ableton's spectrum which is helpful, but doesn't really do all of the things I need.

My "new" approach and tools:
Klanghelm VUMT - I use this on individual tracks to quickly check and set RMS, also for mono-ing below certain frequencies
Voxengo Analog Spectrum Analyzer - I use this on the master and I find it specifically help for overall level setting, and comparing to reference tracks. Unfortunately my life situation dictates that I am working in headphones 80% of the time, so this has been really helpful to overcome some of the problems I have had mixing in phones.
Meldia MultiAnalyzer - This has been a crazy useful tool for mixing. It has multiple modes (spectrum, sonogram, loundness, and frequency collisions). The super cool thing is you can route multiple channels to one Spectrum and see them in different colors so you can see how the kick and the bass are interacting with each other visually. Obviously using your ears is paramount, but the effective visual reference has been helpful for me to challenge myself to listen harder as I continue to train my ears. Check out the video of this one.

[Root]

Just as an add on for vu-metering: search for "Satson/ Britson" in the forums and you'll find a nice console emulation + vu metering helping you finding a way to proper gain staging. Subtle but great plugins.
I'm using them on every channel, busses and master bus. On my master bus i have a simple spectrum analyzer (voxengo) for drum tuning and mixing. That's all i need beside my ears at the moment.

[dubdub]

For metering I've been using TrackMeter from DMG audio recently which has pretty much all the metering options you'll usually need in one plugin.

[Mattias]

Glad to see so many using VUMT. Such a lovely little tool.

When I make tracks, I only watch the peak level. Nothing else.

[rktic]

Glad to see so many using VUMT. Such a lovely little tool.

When I make tracks, I only watch the peak level. Nothing else.

On which reference scale? Standard -18 dbfs?

[Mattias]

I don't use VUMT dor checking peak levels. I see now that it may come across so. I only watch the DAW PPM OR plugin PPM when I make music.

[CRDM]

I don't use VUMT dor checking peak levels. I see now that it may come across so. I only watch the DAW PPM OR plugin PPM when I make music.

Out of interest do you use VUMT for anything at all Mattias? Your posts kind of reads like you may or may not.

[Mattias]

I don't use VUMT dor checking peak levels. I see now that it may come across so. I only watch the DAW PPM OR plugin PPM when I make music.

Out of interest do you use VUMT for anything at all Mattias? Your posts kind of reads like you may or may not.

Yes for mastering as well as mixing for others I use VUMT.

[Lost to the Void]

Im sure there is a thread on this already, but i couldnt find it...

Lately ive been thinking that i might need some better metering tools and techniques and would like to hear what you use and when/how?

Dynamics
I use klanghelm vu meter on the master after watching rtics dub techno video posted here on the forum, its been really useful! Especially for balancing the kick and bass.
I wonder if you use any more tools for metering dynamics during production or mixing? Would i benefit from something that gives me more information about the transients maybe?

Spectrum analyzer
Ive been using fabfilter proq2 with a 4,5 dB slope, slowest rate and lowest resolution on the master for years, but i realise there are probably better tools out there than the spectrum of an eq?

Width
I dont use any stereo metering, should i?

Well, I`m still very happy with Satson on my master, so I use that for metering, final metering during mixing I usually use BX meter as this gives DR, peak, and RMS, and I try to mix to a consistent RMS and Monitoring level (though in reality my ears are now fully used to working at a consistent monitoring and RMS level, so I rarely need to check meters, which is the point), it also conforms to the Katz scale.

Sometimes I use more exotic metering (in production) especially if it is broadcast stuff, ie DVD authoring, where the standards are more stringent and you really need to play close attention to TruePeak and Integrated LUFS.


Spectrum, I just abletons spectrum set to give an average reading, just as an occasional reference so I can check that I haven`t gone mad.
I used to run out to some hardware VU meters but I sold them as they really werent that useful to my working method.

I don`t really use stereo metering in production, again, unless it`s broadcast work, or I have done some crazy effects that I feel I need to keep an eye on, in stereo/phase terms.

I use EQ`s with spectrum meters in them when dealing with specific notching, usually EQ8 or DMG EQuilibrium, or generally to see how specific sounds are using up space.

In mastering I use all sorts of meters... Mainly peak, rms, phase, 3d spectrograph and FFT spectrum.
I found out something disturbing recently, in that various TP meters give different readings based on the same material, which was surprising, so I`m currently writing to the companies and speaking to several mastering engineers I know so we can all get to the bottom of this....
In mastering I use everything, still like using Lissajous when dealing with vinyl mastering over super modern stereo phase meters, but I do also use them, LUFS/Loudness meters, spectrum phase meters are quite handy, giving you phase reading across the spectrum rather than overall.
I recently got Levels, by MTM, which is a nifty little loudness, dynamics and TP meter.
I recently got a terrain meter calculator, which allows me to track the potential terrain that a track will use when cutting at different voltages and speeds, which makes life a shit load easier when dealing with bass heavy dance music.

[CRDM]

I don't use VUMT dor checking peak levels. I see now that it may come across so. I only watch the DAW PPM OR plugin PPM when I make music.

Out of interest do you use VUMT for anything at all Mattias? Your posts kind of reads like you may or may not.

Yes for mastering as well as mixing for others I use VUMT.

Ah I see, I understand your posts now. You mean you use just the DAW meters when creating, but VUMT and other metering when mixing/mastering. I'm doing the same/similar, I only really check VUMT when it comes to mixing and adjusting anything on my master, when I am creating I just ballpark it and can go with the DAW meters which is enough info, I still check it occasionally but less so until a song is at a later stage. Cheers for your reply!