MeterPlugs Dynameter is a specialized metering plugin designed to help audio professionals optimize the dynamics of their music for modern loudness-normalized playback platforms. Developed by mastering engineer Ian Shepherd in collaboration with plugin developer Ian Kerr, Dynameter provides real-time visual feedback on a track’s dynamic range using a unique measurement called PSR (Peak to Short-term loudness Ratio). The plugin displays this information through an intuitive color-coded interface, allowing users to easily assess and adjust their mix or master to achieve optimal dynamics for various streaming services and broadcast platforms. Dynameter goes beyond traditional loudness or dynamic range meters by focusing specifically on the relationship between peak levels and perceived loudness, which is crucial in the era of loudness normalization. The plugin’s interface features a constantly updating graph that shows the dynamic profile of the audio over time, making it simple to identify problematic sections or ensure consistency throughout a track or album.
Pros:
• Provides clear, real-time visual feedback on audio dynamics
• Helps optimize mixes for loudness-normalized platforms
• Intuitive color-coded interface for easy interpretation
• Customizable target ranges for different genres and platforms
• Allows for both short-term and long-term dynamic analysis
Cons:
• Requires some learning to fully understand and utilize all features
• May encourage over-reliance on visual feedback rather than critical listening
The core feature of Dynameter is its PSR measurement, which displays the difference between peak levels and short-term loudness. This value is represented by a horizontal bar that expands and contracts in real-time, leaving a trail that forms a dynamic history of the audio. The plugin uses a color-coding system to indicate the health of the dynamics, with green and blue representing ideal ranges, while red and grey indicate potentially problematic compression or limiting.
Dynameter offers four presets for target PSR values: Wide (14), Balanced (12), Competitive (10), and Limited (8). These presets correspond to different levels of dynamic range, with Competitive being recommended for most modern productions intended for loudness-normalized platforms. Users can also set custom target values to suit specific needs. In addition to PSR, Dynameter also measures PLR (Peak to Loudness Ratio), which provides insight into the overall dynamic range of a track or album. The plugin includes platform-specific presets for various streaming services and broadcast standards, allowing users to optimize their audio for specific delivery methods.
The plugin’s interface features a resizable history graph that can display dynamics over various time scales, from a few seconds to an entire album. This allows for both detailed analysis of specific sections and a broad overview of dynamic consistency across a project. A timecode display helps users correlate visual information with specific points in their DAW timeline.
Dynameter also provides numerical readouts for minimum PSR and current PLR values, offering precise data for comparison and reference. The ability to reset these measurements allows for easy A/B testing of different processing choices.
One of the most valuable aspects of Dynameter is its focus on optimizing dynamics for loudness-normalized playback. By encouraging users to maintain appropriate dynamic range, the plugin helps create mixes that will translate well across various streaming platforms without being turned down or over-compressed by automatic loudness management systems.
Compared to similar plugins, Dynameter stands out for its specific focus on dynamics in relation to loudness normalization. While tools like Brainworx bx_meter and TT Dynamic Range Meter provide crest factor measurements, they don’t directly relate these to loudness standards used by streaming platforms. Mastering The Mix’s Levels plugin offers some similar functionality but lacks the detailed historical view and platform-specific targets that Dynameter provides. Izotope Insight and Waves WLM Plus are comprehensive loudness metering solutions that include some dynamic range information, but they don’t offer the same intuitive, at-a-glance assessment of dynamics that Dynameter does. Dynameter’s strength lies in its laser focus on this specific aspect of audio production, making it a unique and valuable tool in a market filled with more general-purpose metering options.
This plugin is best for:
• Mastering engineers optimizing tracks for streaming platforms
• Mix engineers aiming to achieve appropriate dynamics in their mixes
• Producers working in genres where dynamic range is crucial
• Audio post-production professionals adhering to broadcast loudness standards
• Musicians and content creators distributing music across multiple platforms
MeterPlugs Dynameter is a highly specialized tool that addresses a critical need in modern audio production. As the industry continues to shift towards loudness-normalized playback, maintaining appropriate dynamics has become increasingly important. Dynameter provides a clear, intuitive way to visualize and optimize these dynamics, helping producers and engineers create mixes that will translate well across various platforms. The plugin’s unique approach to measuring and displaying dynamic range in relation to loudness standards sets it apart from more traditional metering tools. While there is a learning curve to fully utilizing all of Dynameter’s features, its potential impact on the quality and consistency of audio productions makes it a valuable addition to any audio professional’s toolkit. By encouraging a focus on dynamics rather than absolute loudness, Dynameter helps users create more engaging, impactful mixes that stand out in the current audio landscape. Its platform-specific presets and customizable targets also make it a versatile tool adaptable to various genres and production styles. For those willing to invest the time to understand its methodology, Dynameter can become an indispensable part of the mixing and mastering process, helping to ensure that productions maintain their intended impact across the diverse array of modern playback systems.