Review: MasterCheck Pro, Adjust To Different Loudness Normalisation Standards

Mastering your music for the plethora of possible listening devices out there just got a whole lot easier, and you won't need to be a rocket scientist to use it.  

Loudness normalization is becoming the norm, and as a process has been around for a long time in broadcast media like TV. But these days big digital music streaming sites and distributors like iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and even computer operating systems have started to incorporate it to one degree or another.

As it becomes even more widespread hopefully it means people will stop crushing their final mixes so their tracks sound louder than everyone else’s, leaving room for better dynamics. However there is a glaring downside to loudness normalization as it is today. It’s not normal: meaning, there is no single international standard that all the companies are abiding by. Instead, each has its own standard. 

That’s great for someone who is listening to music on YouTube and doesn’t have to adjust the volume for every new music video. For a mastering engineer on the other hand it could mean a lot more work. In the past, it was one master for tape and one for CD. Now it’s one for almost every website you want to release music with. Luckily, digital metering technology exists. There are a few great resources out there like iZotope’s Insight and even Ozone Advanced which has the Code Preview module. In my opinion though, for dealing with loudness normalization standards, the best plug is NuGen Audio’s MasterCheck Pro.

URL: https://www.nugenaudio.com/mastercheckpro-playout-loudness-dynamics-codec-metering-aax-au-vst_60

MasterCheck Pro allows a mastering engineer to preview the final output as if it was being played back through a number of loudness normalized sites and their respective codec specifications. This allows an engineer to make any adjustments necessary to get the best master for each location. There are a couple specific features I would like to draw your attention to. 

The “Offset to Match” button

The offset to match button will take your incoming signal and boost or attenuate it as per the preset or the settings you are using. This allows you to get a quick idea of how loud your track will sound / appear after it’s been uploaded to YouTube, for example, and YouTube’s normalization algorithm has been applied. Much quicker than uploading the video and testing that way!

The Encoding Section

Next is the Encode section, and this is where I personally spend most of my time and what really makes this plugin stand out amongst the rest. This feature allows you to monitor, audition and hear any distortion that occurs when you encode your master to any number of file formats. You can even load up to 5 at once and jump back and forth between them quickly using the available buttons. 

There are three ways you can analyze the different codecs. 

  • Meter: Meter the selected codecs while playback is that of the DAW’s original source.
  • Monitor: The audio output is that of whichever codec is selected.
  • Delta: This mode outputs only the artifacts introduced by the encoding process for whichever codec is selected.

Codec Options

MasterCheck Pro comes with many options for codec previews. There is a large preset list which includes most major websites (YouTube, Apple streaming, Apple download, Tidal, Pandora, etc - full list below). Each of those presets have several different codec previews. YouTube, for example, has previews for videos that are less than 720p, and the standard streaming format, while the AES Streaming preset has previews for high to low quality streaming and even a “poor connection” preview option.

You can also make your own custom codec choices. There are AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, and Ogg Vorbis. You can also choose from Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and Variable Bit Rate (VBR). And finally you can choose the bit rate. You can go with high quality (320 kbps) all the way down to 16 kbps!

In Conclusion

If you have spent hours or even days on making your music, movie, or podcast it only seems logical that you want it to sound its best no matter where it gets played. Having a plugin like MasterCheck Pro allows you or your mastering engineer to have quick access to previews for virtually all the sites that might host your media. This significantly cuts down on guesswork, tedious “test uploads” and will help you get one master that covers most of the bases, or, if need be, several different masters for each location you plan on using without having to leave the mastering software.

Don’t let the non-normalness of loudness normalization get in the way of getting your music to play back in pristine quality no matter where it ends up!

MasterCheck Pro Presets

  • AES Streaming Practice
  • Apple Download – afclip 
  • Apple Streaming – aflcip
  • BBC iPlayer Radio
  • DAB+ Radio
  • Optimal Master – Codec Only
  • Optimal Master – Dynamic
  • Optimal Master – Loud
  • Pandora
  • Replay Gain 
  • Spotify
  • Tidal
  • TV Europe
  • TV Japan
  • TV USA
  • Youtube

MasterCheck Presets

  • -16 afclip -0.5 / Very Hot
  • -16 afclip -1 / Hot
  • -16 afclip -2 / Safe
  • AES Streaming Practice
  • EBU R128 (S1)
  • Loud Streaming / Mobile
  • Radio (Replay Gain)
  • Spotify
  • Streaming / Mobile
  • Tidal
  • TV Europe / AAC
  • TV Europe
  • TV Japan
  • TV USA
  • Youtube (approx..)

 

 

Pros: A one stop metering plugin with a massive amount of actionable information presented in a stylish fashion.

Cons: Still no SoundCloud preset? Though, to be fair, it would be easy enough to add it as a user preset.

Prices – MasterCheck Pro $199 (standard $129)

https://www.nugenaudio.com/mastercheckpro-playout-loudness-dynamics-codec-metering-aax-au-vst_60 

Joshua Casper is an accomplished live performer, DJ, producer, and music educator. His specialties are centered in and around Ableton Live and Native Instruments. His educational material has been featured on Ableton.com and Maxforlive.com as well as a myriad of large music production websites. His music has been featured on Dubstep.ne... Read More

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