Metering and level measurement plugins allow you to visually analyze your audio signal. When your mix is overcompressed and too loud, your ears will get used to that squashed sound, especially after a very long mixing session. Looking at a meter that measures loudness will help you stay objective, and can help you retain proper dynamics in your mix. So what’s happening on the free metering plugin front? A lot. I’ve made a list of some free 64-bit metering plugins for measuring level, loudness and correlation that could very well replace the metering tools that Logic Pro 9 currently offers.

Free 64 Bit Metering Plugins By HOFA

HOFA 4U Meter, Fader & MS-Pan

Auf wiedersehen Direction Mixer, guten Tag HOFA 4U Meter. Although Logic Pro’s Direction Mixer is not a metering plugin, have a look at the specs of the HOFA plugin and note how it handles metering, panning and Mid/Side levels:

• inter-sample peak meter, plus an EBU loudness meter.
• metering: peak, hold, EBU, LRA.
• EBU scales: LU 9, LU 18, LUFS 9, LUFS 18.
• EBU modes: Momentary, Short Term, Integral.
• MS decoder. Balance Mid/Side levels in steps of 0.1 Db.
• trims, fades and mutes.
• stereo-mono switch.
• innovative panorama function (see below).
• changeable plugin window size.
• mouse-over tooltips.
• manual included.
• latency-free, and supports all common sample rates.
• parameters are automatable.

About that ‘innovative panorama’ function:

• dragging the panning triangles you see in the picture pans the signal like Logic Pro’s Direction Mixer would. Remember that this is something different than merely panning a (stereo) signal with the panpot on a Logic Pro channel strip.
• Holding down ⌥ while dragging enables panning beyond L/R.
• Holding down ctrl or shift while dragging, enables Mid/Side panning: “Shift” enables panning width only, “ctrl” is for panning mid only.

HOFA 4U Goniometer & Korrelator

While you’re turning spatialization into your new specialization, you may need the Goniometer & Korrelatorplugin too:

• switchable between goniometer and correlation meter
• new type of goniometer with peak, hold and energy indicator
• changeable plugin window size
• manual included
• latency-free, and supports all common sample rates.

Both plugins are for Mac and PC, 32 and 64 Bit DAWs. Audio Unit, VST, VST3, RTAS and AAX. Registration (email) required. Installation via the HOFA-Plugins Manager application.

MELDAproduction

MLoudnessAnalyzer

MLoudnessAnalyzer is an ITU-R BS.1770-1 and EBU 3341 compliant loudness meter. Specs:

• peak meter.
• momentary, short-term and integrated loudness meters.
• loudness range meter.
• Supports EBU+9, EBU+18 and EBU+27 scales.

This plugin is for Mac and PC, 32 and 64 Bit DAWs. Audio Unit, VST, VST3. Download after you’ve proven you’re not a robot! The installer contains all of MELDAproduction’s freebies.

Once I find other free 64 bit metering plugins, I will add them to this post.