Loudness Meter

The Loudness Meter is an audio effect that measures the loudness of the audio. It does not change the audio.

What is Loudness

Loudness is the perceived volume of an audio recording. The audio meters in Premier Pro measure the peak or instantaneous audio levels. The Loudness Meter measures the average level over time which is a better way to evaluate the overall loudness of a mix.

Adding the Loudness Meter

The Loudness Meter is an audio effect available in Premiere Pro and Audition. It in only tool to measure the loudness level. It does not change the audio.

Premiere Pro

We need to add the effect to the Mix track fader in the Audio Track Mixer to measure the entire mix.

1. Go to Window > Audio Track Mixer
2. Click the Show/Hide Effects and Sends button (>) on the top left of the Audio Track Mixer
3. Go to the Mix Track fader and select the 5th insert slot
4. Go to Special > Loudness Meter
5. Double click the Loudness Meter to open the interface.

Audition

In a Multitrack Session the Loudness Meter can be added to the Mix Track fader in the Mixer.

1. Open a Multitrack Session
2. Go to Window > Mixer
3. Go to the Mix Track fader and select the last insert
4. Go to Special > Loudness Meter
5. The Loudness Meter interface should open

Using the Loudness Meter

Presets

Use the Presets menu to select a metering preset.

• ATSC A/85 LKFS
  • Target Loudness -24 LUFS
  • For broadcast
• YouTube
  • -14 LUFS
  • For YouTube

In the Loudness Meter click the Settings tab

1. Set the Target Loudness to -16.0 by dragging the slider
2. Click on the Radar tab

Interface

The Loudness Radar measure loudness overtime with 4 rings.

• The outer ring is when the audio is over the target.
• The second ring is when the audio is in the target range
• The other two rings are when the audio is below the target
• Try to keep the audio in the second ring with some peaks into the first ring
• The number in the lower right indicates the average level of the mix
• The curved arrow in the top right resets the measurement

Measuring Loudness

1. Play the project
2. Watch the average level in the corner
3. Watch how the audio fills in the rings
4. Adjust the mix to audio in the second ring with some peaks into the first ring

Additional Resources

• Measure audio using the Loudness Radar effect
  • Adobe Article
• How To Measure Loudness In Premiere Pro
  • Premiere Pro User Blog
• Loudness Explained
  • T.C. Electronics article