Metering tools

Mixing might be mostly about using our ears, but there are other senses we can bring in too, specifically our eyes

DAWs are full of great features to help view and analyse our tracks and this month we’re going to look at how to use some of these during the mix process.

Working in audio, and mixing in particular is mostly about using your ears and training yourself to hear things in a number of different ways. This combination of critical listening and more general objectivity can take some time to master. Nevertheless, there are times when we can and should be using our eyes as well. The most obvious example is level meters. But beyond making sure we don’t overload the channel, what information do these convey?

And what about spectrum analysers, correlation meters and everyone’s current favourite, the loudness or LUFS meter?

In this masterclass I’m going to focus on the metering and visual tools you can use when mixing, looking at the specific options available, what information they provide and how we can use them to assist our ears. Most DAWs already include a decent set of analysis tools, but if you have the budget there are some awesome third-party options. That said, if you need a freebie, don’t overlook the CM Plugin Suite, which includes at least a couple of pretty decent spectrum analysers.

Jon Musgrave

Jon is a London-based producer, mixer, composer and club remixer with a diverse CV that spans dance, pop, rock and music for media. He’s also a long term contributor to Computer Music. Whether working alone or collaborating he usually handles final mixdowns, which is why we’ve got him to share some pearls of mixing wisdom.