VU Meter MK4

Name: VU Meter MK4
Price: 6.8 USD
Author: HoRNet

by HoRNet · Utility · VU meter with auto calibration

Not rated yet

VU Meter MK4 is a digital VU meter from HoRNet that calibrates its reference level automatically from the signal.

It adds peak hold and clip indicators, an adjustable 0 VU reference and grouping across instances, for about $7.

Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Vocals, Drums. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: metering, utility, reference & monitoring, low latency, auto-gain, full mix, mixing, analog-sounding, bus processing, CPU-light, drums, mastering, mix bus, vocals, zero-latency.

What it does

VU Meter MK4 is HoRNet's "digital VU meter with automatic gain". It follows the VU standard and can calibrate itself to the incoming signal, so gain staging stops being guesswork.

VU ballistics: standard 300 ms integration time, so the needle moves like a hardware VU and shows average level rather than peaks.
Auto calibration: an auto gain button analyzes the audio in real time and sets the gain so the signal reaches your target level.
Reference level: sets which digital level reads 0 VU; it defaults to -18 dB and can be changed.
Peak and clip warning: peak hold indicators plus a red alert when the digital signal clips.
Instance groups: eight assignable groups link instances, so you can switch auto mode on or off across a group and see the group's meters from one window.
Display: per-instance meter colours on a scalable, hardware-accelerated interface.
Light footprint: zero latency, low CPU use across many instances, and every parameter can be automated.

The current version is 4.2.6. There is no demo, but HoRNet offers a 15-day money-back guarantee.

Source: HoRNet product page

When to use it

VU Meter MK4 is the pick when you want old-school VU gain staging on every track for very little money. Its auto calibration is what sets it apart: you drop it on a track, press auto, and it sets the gain toward your reference level, which saves time across a large session. Unlike Youlean Loudness Meter 2 or Insight 2, it shows no LUFS, true peak or spectrum, so it is a tracking and mixing tool, not a mastering meter. Compared with the metering in LEVELS, it does one job only, but it is much cheaper and light enough to put on dozens of channels.

Best for: gain staging into analog-modeled plugins and keeping consistent levels across tracks and buses.
Genres: any.
Look elsewhere if: you need loudness, true peak or spectrum metering; use Youlean Loudness Meter 2, Insight 2 or SPAN.

What producers say

There are no magazine reviews yet; the few user comments are positive about its value for gain staging.

PlugInGuru forum one member called it "a neat plugin for auto gain staging" after buying it in a sale.
PlugInGuru forum another said it is "probably my most used plugin".

PlugInGuru forum thread

Where to buy

HoRNet: $6.80 (Listed at €5.99; converted at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))

Tutorials and reviews

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