guildensterne Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Hi all! I have a problem with LUFS levels that change when I export my projects. I've got a finished mix, have analyzed the LUFS values with Youlean Loudness Meter, then exported the project as a wav-file. Next thing I've done is to import the wav-file into a new project in order to master it. This is where the fun starts. I run the Youlean Loudness Meter again and expect to get the same results as I got before I exported the mix, but no. Not by a bit. The Loudness range increased by 3 LUFS and the integrated LUFS increased with about 2 LUFS (making it louder I mean). So since I didn't know what was going on, I checked other projects as well and out of 7 different projects all had changed somewhat. Some contained only minor changes, but others more severe, like getting 6 LUFS quieter (!) or LU loudness range changes by 5 LUFS, (although these were not in the same project). I mean, it gets a bit unpredictable to work with when it behaves so irradical So I wonder what this can be? I read a thread about normalization on this forum, but I haven't touched any normalization button (don't even know where to find it). I just record my music with virtual instruments, try to gain stage as best I can and get the mix in the ballpark before exporting it for mastering in a new project file. But it does sound like something's going on under the hood, and I don't know what... If anyone has any advice or theories about what this can be that would be highly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Stanton Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 where are you measuring the LUFS? on the final FX of the master before the H/W? (with the H/W level set to 0?) if your master buss is set to 0, the H/W output is set to 0, and the meter is the last thing before the H/W, then your readings should be consistent. then the next step is: how are you exporting? what export settings are you using? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guildensterne Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 I measure the LUFS on the master channel just before export. As you can see I have a few other things on the master channel as well. An instance of Breverb, Tonal Balance Control and also a 6db gain input, but I'm hoping that (the gain input) shouldn't affect the Youlean Loudness Meter as the meter comes after it on the FX. I tried to export with 0 gain but that didn't solve the issue. I also have this problem on exports where I don't have any gain added. I sometimes use volume automation on single tracks and the master bus output volume however, could that affect this do you think? I hope you can see my export settings also on the screenshot. I haven't tried rendering in real-time, but I only use software and a few standard plugins so I don't know if that could be a problem. I hope that answered your question? I'm not sure if I understand what you mean by H/W output?... Sorry if I'm a bit green about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Gregy Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Welcome to the forum. The 'Toneport' would be your hardware (H/W) and it looks like the H/W output is the export source, not the Master bus. Go into your project and mute the Master bus and press Play. Is it silent? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guildensterne Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 (edited) Thanks! Ah, Hardware, of course....! I should have guessed! Yes, when I mute the Master bus and press play it goes silent. And at the bottom of my Master bus it says "In/Out; Output1+output2" which is then obviously my soundcard Toneport UX2 (which is quite old) which you pointed out. Could this be a problem?/Something to do with it? I've always just had this setup and haven't thought much about it really. Edited August 16 by guildensterne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobus Prinsloo Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 Hi there, this post triggered my curiosity: I checked my export source, which is also the h/w. My question is - how do I change the source to the Master bus? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutrageProductions Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 (edited) @Cobus Prinsloo Under <Source Category> choose your Master Bus. Edited August 17 by OutrageProductions 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guildensterne Posted August 17 Author Share Posted August 17 What is the difference between having the Master Bus as your source or the h/w (audiocard) ? Doesn't the signal from the master bus go throgh the audiocard anyway? What do people generally use as a source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeringAmps Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 5 hours ago, guildensterne said: What do people generally use as a source? The MASTER buss. t 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobus Prinsloo Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 9 hours ago, OutrageProductions said: Under <Source Category> choose your Master Bus. AH - thank you! I was looking for "Master bus" in the Source Category - no wonder I couldn't find it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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