Mastering is quite an important and final step in music production. It’s not about adding loudness to a song. It involves polishing, such as adding clarity, stereo imaging, compression, EQ, etc., to balance the dynamic and loudness.
Every platform has its standards for adding loudness. For example, YouTube has a standard of -14 LUFS, and Spotify has LUFS between -14 and -16.
Crossing these levels can result in the addition of unwanted distortion in the sound. So now, the question arises of how to observe these levels. Here comes the role of the metering and compression plugins.
APU Software APU Loudness Compressor is on them. So, in this article, I will discuss the following topics.
Table of Content:
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Key features:
- This plugin has an integrated loudness meter, which allows the user to set the loudness for each platform, such as YouTube.
- It plugin shows the user accurate loudness levels like LUFS, true peak RMS, Peak, etc.
- This plugin also offers multiband compression to manage sound dynamics and clarity. Users can set the targeted frequencies to be compressed.
- It plugin gives transparency to its process. It does not cause any harm to the sound during compression.
- Besides the multiband compression, this plugin controls the true peak to ensure no peak goes above the selected loudness level.
- Its plugin performs its low latency operations to have a transparent process over the sound.
- It plugin also works as an expander besides the compressor.
- It has a user-friendly interface that clearly visualizes input-output and gain reduction levels.
- It plugin offers multiple themes
- This Loudness Compressor plugin comes with a variety of presets designed for mixing, mastering podcasts, etc
Auto Learning
This APU Software plugin offers different functionalities, such as traditional compression, expansion, limiting, and more. Its advanced feature is AI.
The AI is present in this plugin in the form of the button named learn. This is the button made for those users who don’t have any experience using a compressor plugin.
When the user presses this button, the plugin recognizes the micro features of the input signal, such as dynamic range, tonal balance, frequency level, etc. The plugin then automatically sets the compression setting according to these features.
This plugin does so, but it also takes care to maintain the original tonality of the audio signal. This AI future is helpful for beginners. In this way, they can learn how to use a compressor plugin. Even experienced producers should use this feature as a suggestion.
Uses and Applications
Vocals and Instruments:
This plugin can be used to process vocals and instruments. It offers compression and EQ settings. It also provides an AI feature to process the input signal. This plugin can help the user add smoothness to vocal and instrumental recordings. It can also tame harsh frequencies to some extent.
Mix Buss Processing:
This plugin can also be used for bus processing. This method glues the mix and improves the placement of every element.
Loudness Normalization:
In broadcasts, TV programs, etc., it is quite difficult to maintain a constant level of sound through different segments such as ads, interviews, etc. This plugin can be useful in such cases. Its compression ability can help maintain the constant loudness level.
Voice-Over Processing:
This plugin can also add clarity to the vocals, control the loudness and dynamics, and more. Thus, it can also be used for voice covering for different purposes, such as in films, on the radio, etc.
Noise Control:
Users can also use this plugin to remove noise. It can control background noise to add clarity to the sound.
Live Performance:
This plugin has low latency. So, this can also be used for the live performance.
Stereo Imaging and Width:
This plugin can also be used to add stereo information and width to the sound. Adding stereo width can introduce a sense of 3D and clarity in the sound. This technique is mainly used over the master channel of the song.
APU Software APU Loudness Compressor VS Gulfoss EQ
| Features/Aspects | APU Loudness Compressor | Gullfoss EQ |
| Type of Plugin | It is not easy to learn, and it offers a lot of customization. Therefore, this plugin requires some time to learn. | It is just an EQ plugin. |
| Primary Function | Controls the dynamic range, shows the loudness in the form of the LUFS, true peak, etc | It has a user-friendly interface. |
| Processing Type | Dynamic | Adaptive EQ |
| User Interface | Controls the dynamic range, shows the loudness in the form of the LUFS, true peak, etc | It is also supported by AI. It also learns the input signal and adjusts the EQ curves in real time to handle the harsh frequencies. |
| Compatibility | VST, AU, AAX formats; Windows and macOS | VST, AU, AAX formats; Windows and macOS |
| Special Feature | Control the loudness transparently | It is also supported by AI. It also learns the input signal and adjusts the EQ curves in real time to handle the harsh frequencies. |
| Sound Character | It offers multiple themes | Smoothens the harsh frequencies |
| Themes | It has few controls and does not offer vast customizations, making it easy to learn quickly. | It does not offer multiple themes |
| Learning curve | It has few controls and does not offer vast customizations, so it is easy to learn in less time. | It is not easy to learn, and it offers a lot of customization. Therefore, this plugin requires some time to learn. |
Honest Review:
I am sharing my thoughts about this plugin. I didn’t get paid or get anything free to write this. I want to help people who might be interested in using it. Everyone likes different things, so what I think might differ from what you think. This is just my opinion.
Here is my honest review of this plugin.
The first thing I liked about this plugin is that it provides many loudness insights through different standards, such as LUFS.
It is good for the mastering engineers because the right loudness levels are important for the platform on which the song is to be uploaded; otherwise, unwanted distortion will be introduced into the song.
The second thing I like about this plugin is that it is not just a metering plugin. It can also work as a limiter and compressor. This plugin is also supported by AI.
Beginners can also use this plugin’s learn button to learn how the compression works. This plugin’s learning option, supported by AI, can also work as a suggestion for expert mastering engineers.
The third thing I liked about this plugin was its graphics. This plugin has a user-friendly interface and a good visual representation of the gain reduction input/output levels, among other things.
These were the good things that I realized while using this plugin. Now, I will tell you about the cons of this plugin that I realized about this audio plugin.
This plugin has limited controls for tonal shaping. It cannot replace the traditional EQ plugins.
The plugin’s AI auto-learning features are good for basic sounds. However, it does not give proper settings when the input signal is complex, so the user needs to fine-tune its settings.
Running too many plugins in a single project can be CPU-consuming.
FAQs
Does the plugin support side-chain compression?
No, this plugin does not support side-chain compression. However, it works as a traditional compressor but lacks the feature of side chaining.
This plugin’s main focus is to control the dynamic range and overall loudness and show the loudness information in the form of LUFS, true peaks, etc.
In what standards does this plugin show the loudness?
This plugin primarily shows the loudness in the form of LUFS.
Can I use this VST plugin to increase the loudness of my audio?
This plugin is mainly designed to control the overall loudness and dynamic range and to display the loudness in standards.
Yes, you can increase the perceived loudness of your track with this plugin, but it is not designed for this purpose. I think you should use some other plugin for this purpose because this plugin may introduce saturation in the sound by increasing the volume or gain.
Does this Compressor plugin support True Peak metering?
Yes, this compressor plugin can also be used for true peak metering and limiting.
Conclusion:
- This audio plugin works as the compressor, limiter, meter, etc
- It has a user-friendly interface and real-time visuals of the input/output gain, peak limitations, etc.
- It offers advanced customizations, and in this way, it is not easy to master. It may require some time to learn it thoroughly.
- This plugin is also supported by AI. Its AI feature to detect the input signal and adjust its settings is good for basic sounds but not complex ones.
- This plugin offers multiple themes.
- This plugin works as EQ but does not have the full features of the traditional EQ plugins.
- This audio VST plugin can be used for mixing, mastering, podcasts, etc.
Technical Details & System Requirements:
- Developer: APU Software developed this plugin.
- Format: SAL, VST3, AAX, AU.
- Bit capacity: 32/64bit.
- System requirements: The user must have the WIN 10+ macOS 10.14+ installed on his or her operating system.
- Size: 92.1 MB HD space is required to install this plugin.
Alternatives:
- Ozone
- Izotope Loudness Meter
- FabFilter Pro-L2
- Waves L3 Ultramaximizer
- Universal Audio L-200
- Youlean Loudness Meter
- Voxengo Elephant
- T-Racks One
