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OVERVIEW
LOUDNESS METER
The Loudness Meter in Logic Pro measures the perceived loudness of your audio using industry-standard LUFS and True Peak metering. Unlike a simple level meter, it evaluates how loud your mix actually feels to listeners, not just how strong the signal is. By displaying Integrated, Short-Term, and Momentary LUFS, along with True Peak and Loudness Range (LRA), it ensures your mix meets streaming platform requirements and avoids unwanted clipping or over-compression. It is essential for mastering and for delivering audio that translates consistently across playback systems.
Key Features
Key Features
Integrated LUFS: Shows the overall long-term average loudness of an entire track—critical for meeting streaming loudness targets.
Short-Term & Momentary LUFS: Short-Term (3-second window) and Momentary (400 ms) readings capture how loudness changes in sections like choruses, drops, or transitions.
True Peak Metering: Detects inter-sample peaks that may clip during export, even when normal peak meters show no overload.
Loudness Range (LRA): Displays the dynamic variation across a project, helping you judge whether a mix is too compressed or too uneven.
Target Mode: Allows you to compare your mix against presets for Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, TIDAL, EBU R128, and more.
Best Use Cases
Best Use Cases
Mastering for Streaming: Ensures your final mix hits platform standards (e.g., –14 LUFS Integrated, –1 dBTP True Peak).
Controlling Over-Compression: Helps identify whether your mix has become too loud or fatiguing due to reduced dynamics.
Balancing Dynamics Across Songs: Useful for EPs or albums where track-to-track loudness should feel consistent.
Checking Inter-Sample Peaks: True Peak readings reveal clipping a standard peak meter may miss.
Workflow Tips
Workflow Tips
Match streaming targets: Spotify, Apple Music, and others normalize to around –14 LUFS Integrated. Master around this level for consistent playback.
Check True Peak frequently: Aim for –1.0 dBTP or lower to prevent encoding distortion during export.
Use Loudness Range (LRA) to judge dynamics
Pop: 4–8 LU
Acoustic: 8–12 LU
Cinematic: 12–20+ LU
Balance sections using Short-Term LUFS: Verses and choruses should differ naturally but not feel disjointed.
Use the history graph: It helps spot sudden jumps or dips in loudness across the full timeline of your track.
LISTEN to this POD about the LOUDNESS METER Plug-in
LOGIC VIDEO TUTORIALS
Loudness + LUFS
Loudness + LUFS
MusicTechHelpGuy provides a tutorial on LUFS in conjunction with the Loudness Meter. (14:37)
Noise Gate- Tips
Noise Gate- Tips
Jono explains LUFS and Loudness. (21:06)
Mastering and Loudness
Mastering and Loudness
MusicTechHelpGuy provides a tutorial on LUFS, Loudness Metering, and the Mastering Assistant. (18:57)
LUFS Short
LUFS Short
@benkestokmusic provides a short that quickly explains LUFS. (0:39)
SOURCE ARTICLES
SOURCE ARTICLES YOU CAN READ:
What is Loudness for Mastering? — Sage Audio
Youlean Loudness Meter – Free LUFS Meter Plugin for Mixing and Mastering — AudiArtist.com
Mastering Audio Metering in Music Production — Audivea.com article
LUFS Metering Explained — EDM Tips
6 Best Free Metering Plugins (for Mixing & Mastering) — WhippedCreamSounds.com
Top 5 Metering Plugins to Masterfully Improve Your Tracks — RouteNote Create Blog
traKmeter – Open-Source Loudness Meter Plugin — Bedroom Producers Blog
VOCABULARY
1. Loudness Meter: A tool that measures the perceived volume of audio, taking human hearing into account.
2. LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale): The standard unit for measuring perceived loudness.
3. Integrated Loudness: The average loudness of an entire track or section over time.
4. Short-Term Loudness: The average loudness measured over a short time window (usually 3 seconds).
5. Momentary Loudness: The instant loudness at a specific moment in the audio.
6. True Peak: The maximum sample value, including inter-sample peaks that can cause clipping.
7. LU (Loudness Unit): A relative unit showing loudness differences between parts of a track.
8. K-Weighting: A frequency weighting applied to match how humans perceive loudness.
9. Target Loudness: The level you aim for when mastering or mixing, often set by broadcast or streaming standards.
10. Meter Display: Shows loudness values in LUFS or LU over time.
11. Over: Indicates when the audio exceeds a specified target loudness.
12. Gate: Ignores very quiet audio to avoid skewing loudness measurements.
13. Real-Time Measurement: Updates the loudness reading continuously as the audio plays.
14. Bypass / Off: Turns the Loudness Meter on or off without affecting the audio.
15. Monitoring: Using the Loudness Meter to ensure your mix meets loudness standards for streaming, broadcast, or general listening.
QUIZZES
MANUAL
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