Measuring the 'loudness' of tracks?

[Dusk Dave]

Hi All,

I'm new here and not as smart as I think I am. I could use some help regarding Cakewalk, specifically a way to ensure my drum and bass backing tracks are exported at a consistent loudness? For example, and specifically, I want to be able to export 'regular' drum tracks for most songs at about -5dB say, but then be able to drop that to -8dB for gentler songs and maybe up it to -3dB for heavier rock songs. I've had incidents where a John Denver number has come out louder than the Foo Fighters and it just sounds incongruous.

For drums, I am using MIDI data and an Addictive Drums soft synth so clearly just adjusting the velocities won't take into account any intrinsic volume dynamics of the kit AD is using. In short, I need a way to analyze the average loudness post AD but pre-export. The bass is a simple audio file but still needs the same kind of analysis and treatment.

Obviously, the single, peak loudness on the level meter could be misleading for this purpose. Intuitively, I feel I need something that can average the N loudest peaks in the track to give me a benchmark to work from. I saw a video of someone using an inline LUFS meter on their DAW. Is there anything like that available?

Any help will be gratefully received :)

DD

 

 

 

 

 

[DeeringAmps]

Try this:

Youlean Loudness Meter - Free VST, AU and AAX plugin

t

[Wookiee]

@Dusk Dave I second t's suggestion, the full version allows you to normalise to a number of different streaming platforms with a simple drag and drop.

[John Vere]

I think I covered this in detail in one of my tutorials but the workflow I use starts with midi velocity. 
Example I only use 2 different Bass VST s. Ample p bass on most and I have settled on the velocity set at 106. So that is the starting point. Then the VST is set at 1.0 on its volume control. I leave track level it unity. 
This usually gives me about-3 db on the bass buss. I will then adjust to around-4.5 depending on song. But for my backing tracks this is set in stone. 
I too use AD for the drums and I built a kit and saved the preset. I do swap out snare drums but once again I start with the kick and snare velocity is never over 110. This way it always puts out about-3 db on the Drum buss. And then I dial in around-4 db depending on song but backing track this is set in stone. 
Definatly invest in the You Lean loudness meter it is a huge time saver with the paid version to be able to drag and drop individually tracks as well as your export mix. 

[John Vere]

 

Edited July 29 by John Vere

[Dusk Dave]

Thanks so much for the suggestions, people. I've looked at the You Lean and the MLoudnessAnalyzer and they are the kind of thing I'm looking for... If only I could figure out why they give me different results on the same track? I suppose I have to just choose one and stick with it because, for live shows, it is all relative.

To be honest, even the free versions are far more sophisticated than I actually need as I am not mixing for YouTube or Spotify and 90% of what I am seeing means nothing to me. I think I can infer what I need with the peak loudness and the range. Having said that, it seems the ability to analyze an existing sound file (which will save me going through them all and adjusting, re-exporting etc... is only available on the paid versions so it looks like they got me.

Thanks again

DD

[msmcleod]

Bear in mind that your reference track is likely a fully mastered track.

Most mixed tracks are quieter than a mastered track in order to give headroom for the mastering process.

Rather than trying to match the levels of your reference track, lower the volume of your reference track to match your song ( say around  3db - 6db ).   This will give you plenty of room to play with when you come to master your song.