How to actually meter loudness? (stock plugin only meters gain)

Question

Level 1

8 points

How to actually meter loudness? (stock plugin only meters gain)

So when I use the loudness meter and change the master volume OR the individual track volume, the loudness meter doesn't indicate any change (and yes i reset it all the time). It only accounts the GAIN change, so when I add a limiter and change the gain it does show up on the loudness meter but when i try to change the volume through the faders (either master track or the individual track) it doesn't indicate any change.

How do I actually meter the volume of the whole project (not gain) in RMS ?

🙂thanks guys!

Logic Pro X, iOS 10.3.1

Posted on Jul 5, 2017 12:02 PM

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Answer 1

jb123lolhi Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 7, 2017 5:23 AM in response to Pancenter

Thank you for the links! the first guy has something called "input scale" that's not showing up in my limiter.

So do i turn up the gain or volume? or a balance of both? 🙂 and how can i meter the loudness since the meter is only affected by gain?

here's a screenshot (i tried the limiter and loudness meter on both the stereo out track and the individual track and in both cases the same)

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Answer 2

jb123lolhi Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 6, 2017 6:34 AM in response to octopi

i've tried it inserted in the stereo out track as well as the individual track (the mixed but not mastered song track). in both cases the loudness meter always shows the same no matter how much i change the volume. 🙂

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Answer 3

jb123lolhi Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 6, 2017 11:48 AM in response to jb123lolhi

also, if anybody will reply, please let me know:

my track is simply too quiet. i saw people all over the internet pull up a limiter and pull up the gain.

when i do that, the track becomes yes louder but also a little distorted, not as clean.

should i pull up the gain or volume?

🙂

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Answer 4

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Jul 6, 2017 2:58 PM in response to jb123lolhi

Ahhh.. I see, you're new to this.

Put the Limiter in the last insert of the plugin chain on the final output Stereo Track (or whatever it's called in Logic X)

The Gain is the input to the limiter and yes, raising the gain too much will cause distortion, it's part of the design. Leave the gain at 0 or raise it slightly. Use the Volume adjustment to raise the level. However, you cannot drive the final Stereo Channel strip into the red as it's outputting to the audio hardware.

Dozens of users on this board will tell you this: Mixing is an art... it takes a lot of experimentation, a mix with a bass that's too loud or has not been properly eq'd, (too many sub lows)... will never allow the rest of the mix to come up to volume. To get a mix loud, first the mix has to be such that it can be brought up to commercial levels and it takes time to learn how to do that.

p.s.I hate volume wars, but that's the way it is now.

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Answer 5

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Jul 6, 2017 2:58 PM in response to Pancenter

Try this, bring the final mix volume slider up until it peaks at -3db at the loudest point in your track, use the limiter to raise the gain to -1db then bring up the volume of the limiter. You can place a compressor with a mild setting before the limiter. When you get the this point we're all guessing because we have no idea what you're working with, each song has to be approached individually.

Also, look into Logic's Mastering Tools.

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Answer 6

jb123lolhi Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 6, 2017 2:09 PM in response to Pancenter

yes i'm new and ashamed of asking such a basic question sorry!

so you're saying

1) raise volume of the individual track of the final mix until it peaks at -3

2) add compressor to STEREO OUT track

3) add limiter as last plugin in stereo out and add gain until it peaks at -1

4) raise volume of the limiter?

i checked and i couldn't find a separate volume for the limiter... should i screenshot?

and also, meaning i should forget about the loudness meter and level meter and RMS and LUFS all together because it's enough to look at the peak levels of the tracks to have competitive loudness?

i appreciate you giving your time so much

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Answer 7

Pancenter

Level 6

14,788 points

Jul 6, 2017 4:10 PM in response to jb123lolhi

Well, there's no shame in asking a legit question... there's people that work for years learning how to mix, it is truly an art.

I don't know what you're mixing... is it a multitrack arrangement? How many individual tracks in the song?

If you want to mix loud, I'm probably not the one to ask as I don't do that, I know the basics but there are others would give better advice. A screen shot of the main Logic page might help. Look at the links below

Make your mix loud for radio play - YouTube

Logic Pro X - How to MASTER your song LOUD! - YouTube

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