Maximize Loudness - Working with a Reference

Sometimes just knowing where to apply the loudness can cause difficulties. This is especially true if you are working with a reference. When “matching” loudness having a reference is pretty much essential. Remember though (from the main course) that you’ll get the “best” sounding result by using your ear and setting to taste.

But if you need to be “competitive” you’ll want some kind of reference track. We discuss some strategies for setting up A/B comparisons and where you’ll want to apply your final maximization plugin.

If you’re not an Ableton or Bitwig (or a program with key commands) user I would recommend doing some outside research to figure out the most efficient way to switch between a reference and your track. I’m sure there are plenty of resources and tutorials out there for your DAW.