LuRar
by Noisebud · Utility · Gated loudness meter
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LuRar is a Noisebud loudness tool that measures gated passages on the fly, to help avoid needlessly high integrated LUFS values for streaming.
The developer calls it an early alpha build with basic graphics, and it is available through Patreon from $5.
Best for: Mastering. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: metering, mastering, broadcast, utility.
What it does
LuRar is a small measurement plugin that shows which passages of a master fall under the gate used in integrated LUFS measurement. The developer's question is whether you are "losing loudness on streaming platforms because of the LUFS gates", and the idea is to find quiet sections you could adjust before delivery.
- LUFS input box: you type in the integrated LUFS of your master (for example -10.4), and LuRar measures against it on the fly.
- Normal mode: a central red LED and a "GATED" warning show when a passage is being gated.
- Beep mode: plays a 440 Hz tone whenever gating happens, so you can hear the spots while the track plays; it must be turned off before you bounce the master.
- Add Noise: adds filtered noise at 19 to 20 kHz to test how much loudness you would gain; the developer marks it as not for final masters.
- Automation: the warning can optionally be written as automation, marking the passages on the timeline.
- Goal: the developer says adjusting the gated low-level sections can gain about 0.5 to 2 dB of perceived loudness on streaming services.
Version 1.0, released in October 2023 and made with SynthEdit. The developer calls it an early alpha with no effort put into graphics or manuals, though the core functions have been tested. It is available only to Noisebud's Patreon supporters.
When to use it
LuRar does one narrow job: it tells you where the LUFS gate kicks in, which full meters do not point out directly. Compared with Youlean Loudness Meter 2, LEVELS or WLM Plus, it has no loudness history, true peak readout or platform targets, so it works as a second opinion next to one of them rather than a replacement. Unlike Insight 2, it gives no visual overview at all, just an LED, a warning and an optional beep. It is an alpha with almost no documentation, so it suits engineers who already understand loudness gating.
- Best for: finding the quiet passages that pull integrated LUFS around during mastering for streaming.
- Genres: any.
- Look elsewhere if: you need a complete, polished loudness meter; Youlean Loudness Meter 2 is free and covers the standard readings.
- Tip: switch on Beep mode and play the whole master once to hear where the gated passages are, then turn it off before you export.
Where to buy
- Noisebud: see store (Available to Noisebud Patreon members, from $5 a month.)
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