Metering guide

What the meters show.

Settings, spectrum and final level answer different questions.

Spectrum and EQ

The 32 bands show measured stereo energy by frequency, in dBFS RMS per band. They are not the EQ curve. Strong bass can dominate the plot without clipping. Auto EQ corrections and preset values describe processing, not the music’s energy.

Spectrum and EQ · Actual screenshot from the pilot installation. Click to enlarge.

LUFS and true peak

The separate monitor analyses the decoded stream. The reference changes only the display, not the sound. Reset starts a fresh measurement session. True peak ≥ 0 dBTP is red, while above −1 dBTP is amber. These thresholds do not automatically apply to each spectral band.

LUFS and true peak · Actual screenshot from the pilot installation. Click to enlarge.

Timing and interpretation

Engine telemetry follows processor output; stream measurement includes transport and codec. A listener’s player may have a different buffer. Integrated LUFS depends on the session, and a short audition does not validate an entire day’s level.