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12 of the best VST/AU metering plugins

By Computer Music
published 4 January 2019

If you really want to see what's going on with the levels of your mix or master, you're going to need one of these…

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Intro

Intro

While the meters built into your DAW or audio editor are probably sufficient for tracking and mixing purposes, when it comes to high-precision work - most pertinently, mastering - you might want to get your hands on something rather more… serious.

Although dedicated metering plugins might not be any more accurate that your integrated meters for measuring standard peak and RMS levels, they add all kinds of incredibly useful features, from K-System and True Peak metering to scrolling histograms and adjustable PPM ballistics. Here are a dozen of our favourites several of them available for free…

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Voxengo Span

Voxengo Span

Perhaps too good to be free, SPAN can do K-System metering, and includes a correlation meter as well as comprehensive spectrum analysis options.

Best of all, though, you can overlay mid and side spectrums for really detailed information about stereo width. 

Download Voxengo Span for free

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
ToneBoosters EBU Loudness

ToneBoosters EBU Loudness

TB EBU Loudness, part of the the BusTools 3 bundle, provides all the essential R.128 standard loudness and true peak measurements, with support for multichannel surround formats as well as stereo.

The full-size plugin provides an optional history graph.

Read more about ToneBoosters EBU Loudness

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
TBProAudio mvMeter2

TBProAudio mvMeter2

This one provides a choice of metering types, with an attractive, resizable 4K-ready interface, and even a choice of skins.

The classic style is perhaps better suited to VU or PPM metering than modern EBU loudness measurements, but it looks great… and it’s also free!

Download TBProAudio mvMeter2 for free

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Signum Audio Bute Loudness Suite

Signum Audio Bute Loudness Suite

Serves up an array of loudness metering standards, and features a True Peak limiter and a level history graph.

The last is useful when working to broadcast standards that specify a Loudness Range (LRA), as you can easily see exactly where you’ve deviated from spec. 

Read full Signum Audio Bute Loudness Suite review

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Klanghelm VUMT

Klanghelm VUMT

VUMT provides emulations of classic VU and PPM style metering, or K-System RMS, and you even get a choice of different skins.

The Deluxe version is only slightly more expensive, but adds features that go way beyond just metering, such as dynamic EQ.

Read more about Klanghelm VUMT

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
brainworx bx_meter

brainworx bx_meter

Displays peak and RMS levels on the same scale, K-System style, with the central meters showing the difference between the two - the ‘crest factor’. This is a measure of transient pokiness: if it drops too low, it might be that you’re limiting too hard. 

Read more about brainworx bx_meter

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
zplane PPMulator

zplane PPMulator

PPMulator provides classic PPM metering, with an interface that will make BBC engineers feel right at home.

Metering can be M/S stereo or conventional L/R, with dual side-by-side meters, or a single meter with dual needles. There’s also a classic goniometer display.

Read more about zplane PPMulator

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
MeterPlugs Dynameter

MeterPlugs Dynameter

Dynameter doesn’t display absolute levels at all. Instead, the ‘Peak to Short Term Loudness Ratio’ (PSR) is displayed as a scrolling histogram.

PSR is a better measure of crest factor than RMS-based methods, making this very useful for judging your final limiting.

Read more about MeterPlugs Dynameter

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
HOFA 4U Goniometer & Korrelator

HOFA 4U Goniometer & Korrelator

A modern goniometer is essential. Anything below the centre line is potentially going to sound weird in mono, so if there’s a lot of activity in the bottom half of the circle, do a mono check.

Download HOFA 4U Goniometer & Korrelator for free

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Page 10 of 13
iZotope Insight

iZotope Insight

Insight’s resizable interface provides any combination of all the standard types of metering, plus some less common ones. The 3D spectrogram, for example, isn’t essential for mastering, but it might help you to locate a problem area in less time. 

Read full iZotope Insight review

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Waves Dorrough

Waves Dorrough

The hardware Dorrough meters are popular in high-end studios, showing both peak and average levels on the same scale - a bit like K-System metering.

Waves brought this metering to the masses, providing stereo and surround plugin versions.

Read more about Waves Durrough

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
FabFilter Pro-L 2

FabFilter Pro-L 2

Despite being a limiter, Pro-L 2 has built in metering good enough that you might not actually need a dedicated metering plugin.

It provides true peak and LUFS measurements, with a scrolling graph that can display an integrated loudness history. 

Read full FabFilter Pro-L 2 review

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Page 13 of 13
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Computer Music
Computer Music
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Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

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