RefBooth
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RefBooth

Your master, measured.

RefBooth, the last check before you release.

  • Loudness, start to end
  • Peaks after every codec
  • Energy, band by band
  • Width in every band
  • Drop against drop
  • What to fix first

Meet RefBooth, the second opinion on every master.

Every figure here is what RefBooth measured in Urban Myths (Remix) by Shahab on Spotify, the founder’s own master, drawn with Studio’s instruments.

Loudness

Loud, and how loud, from the first bar to the last.

Integrated loudness, its range and its maxima, and the short-term curve over the whole track, marked by section and set against the target of the platform you deliver to.

LUFSintegrated, against Spotify’s −14

LUFS · short-term 3 s at 10 HzShort-termIntegratedTarget SpotifyGated out
4−2−8−14 LUFS−20−26−32−38−44−50LUFS0:001:002:003:004:005:006:00Left out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateIntegrated −9.5 LUFSSpotify −14.0 LUFSDistribution
  • Intro, 0:00 to 1:00
  • Drop, 1:00 to 2:00
  • Breakdown, 2:00 to 2:15
  • Build, 2:15 to 2:30
  • Drop, 2:30 to 3:45
  • Breakdown, 3:45 to 4:30
  • Pre-drop, 4:30 to 4:45
  • Drop, 4:45 to 5:34
  • Outro, 5:34 to 6:44
LUFS · short-term 3 s at 10 HzShort-termIntegratedTarget SpotifyGated out
4−2−8−14 LUFS−20−26−32−38−44−50LUFS0:002:004:006:00Left out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateIntegrated −9.5 LUFSSpotify −14.0 LUFSDistribution
  • Intro, 0:00 to 1:00
  • Drop, 1:00 to 2:00
  • Breakdown, 2:00 to 2:15
  • Build, 2:15 to 2:30
  • Drop, 2:30 to 3:45
  • Breakdown, 3:45 to 4:30
  • Pre-drop, 4:30 to 4:45
  • Drop, 4:45 to 5:34
  • Outro, 5:34 to 6:44
LUFS · short-term 3 s at 10 HzShort-termIntegratedTarget SpotifyGated out
4−2−8−14 LUFS−20−26−32−38−44−50LUFS0:002:004:006:00Left out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateLeft out of the integrated figure by the loudness gateIntegrated −9.5 LUFSSpotify −14.0 LUFS
  • Intro, 0:00 to 1:00
  • Drop, 1:00 to 2:00
  • Breakdown, 2:00 to 2:15
  • Build, 2:15 to 2:30
  • Drop, 2:30 to 3:45
  • Breakdown, 3:45 to 4:30
  • Pre-drop, 4:30 to 4:45
  • Drop, 4:45 to 5:34
  • Outro, 5:34 to 6:44

True peak

The peak after every codec, not only in your file.

Your master as delivered, then again after each encoder the platforms stream with: Spotify at 96, 160 and 320 kbps, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud and TIDAL. An over that only appears after encoding is found before release.

dBTPin the file as delivered

True peak max
−0.25dBTP
Over the −1.00 ceiling
After the delivery encodeScalePeak after encode dBTPΔ vs sourceOver samples
Source as uploaded−0.25over—0
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 96+2.95over+3.2132,743
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 160+1.23over+1.4813,353
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 320+0.06over+0.313
Apple Music AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
YouTube AAC-LC 128 · estimate+9.36over+9.6110,432
YouTube Opus 160+1.43over+1.689,352
SoundCloud AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
SoundCloud AAC 160 · estimate+5.35over+5.606,003
SoundCloud AAC 96 · estimate+7.65over+7.9031,212
TIDAL AAC 320 · estimate+4.02over+4.28750
TIDAL FLAC−0.25over0.000
Sample peak
−0.31dBFS
Over samples
0
Clipped runs
0
True peak at
0:11.5
True peak max
−0.25dBTP
Over the −1.00 ceiling
After the delivery encodePeak after encode dBTPΔ vs sourceOver samples
Source as uploaded−0.25over—0
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 96+2.95over+3.2132,743
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 160+1.23over+1.4813,353
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 320+0.06over+0.313
Apple Music AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
YouTube AAC-LC 128 · estimate+9.36over+9.6110,432
YouTube Opus 160+1.43over+1.689,352
SoundCloud AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
SoundCloud AAC 160 · estimate+5.35over+5.606,003
SoundCloud AAC 96 · estimate+7.65over+7.9031,212
TIDAL AAC 320 · estimate+4.02over+4.28750
TIDAL FLAC−0.25over0.000
Sample peak
−0.31dBFS
Over samples
0
Clipped runs
0
True peak at
0:11.5
True peak max
−0.25dBTP
Over the −1.00 ceiling
After the delivery encodePeak after encode dBTPΔ vs sourceOver samples
Source as uploaded−0.25over—0
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 96+2.95over+3.2132,743
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 160+1.23over+1.4813,353
Spotify Ogg Vorbis 320+0.06over+0.313
Apple Music AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
YouTube AAC-LC 128 · estimate+9.36over+9.6110,432
YouTube Opus 160+1.43over+1.689,352
SoundCloud AAC 256 · estimate+3.94over+4.191,849
SoundCloud AAC 160 · estimate+5.35over+5.606,003
SoundCloud AAC 96 · estimate+7.65over+7.9031,212
TIDAL AAC 320 · estimate+4.02over+4.28750
TIDAL FLAC−0.25over0.000
Sample peak
−0.31dBFS
Over samples
0
Clipped runs
0
True peak at
0:11.5

Spectrum

Where the energy sits, band by band.

The whole track’s spectrum from the sub to the air, with each named region read out, so a heavy low end or a dull top shows before anyone else hears it.

Spectrum

Long-term average of the whole track, from the report
dB · 1/6 oct · slope 4.5 dB/oct around 1 kHz · Mid (L+R)
  • Long-term average
  • Max hold

Spectrum

Long-term average of the whole track, from the report
dB · 1/6 oct · slope 4.5 dB/oct around 1 kHz · Mid (L+R)
  • Long-term average
  • Max hold

Spectrum

Long-term average of the whole track, from the report
dB · 1/6 oct · slope 4.5 dB/oct around 1 kHz · Mid (L+R)
  • Long-term average
  • Max hold

Stereo width

Width you can see, in every band.

How wide each band sits against your reference, with correlation and balance, so a wide top and a mono-safe low end are a reading, not a guess.

correlation, the whole track

side share · √ scale · 1/3 octave, whole trackYoursWerq
20501002005001k2k5k10k20kHz110.50.50.10.1monomono below 120 HzSubLowLow midMidHigh midHighAir
Width
0.023
whole track · 0 = mono
Correlation
0.954
whole track
Bass correlation
0.996
below 120 Hz
Mono-sum loss
−0.10dB
side share · √ scale · 1/3 octave, whole trackYoursWerq
20501002005001k2k5k10k20kHz110.50.50.10.1monomono below 120 HzSubLowLow midMidHigh midHighAir
Width
0.023
whole track · 0 = mono
Correlation
0.954
whole track
Bass correlation
0.996
below 120 Hz
Mono-sum loss
−0.10dB
side share · √ scale · 1/3 octave, whole trackYoursWerq
20501002005001k2k5k10k20kHz110.50.50.10.1monomono below 120 HzSubLowLow midMidHigh midHighAir
Width
0.023
whole track · 0 = mono
Correlation
0.954
whole track
Bass correlation
0.996
below 120 Hz
Mono-sum loss
−0.10dB

Compare

Drop against drop, not minute against minute.

Add a reference and RefBooth pairs your sections with its sections, in order, so two drops meet two drops, and compares each pair at matched loudness, so a louder chorus never passes for a better one. Compare is part of Studio.

section pairs, Urban Myths (Remix) against Werq

Reference: “Werq” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 4.0.

Difference, drop against drop

Yours against Werq, band by band
dB · yours − Werq after level match · 1/6 oct · Drop ↔ Drop
  • Yours − Werq
  • ±3 dB
  • Outside
13.24 kHz: −17.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale18.88 kHz: −18.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale
Past the ±15 dB scale: 18.88 kHz −18.1 dB, 2 runs
Level match+2.53dBto yours, by section

Difference, drop against drop

Yours against Werq, band by band
dB · yours − Werq after level match · 1/6 oct · Drop ↔ Drop
  • Yours − Werq
  • ±3 dB
  • Outside
13.24 kHz: −17.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale18.88 kHz: −18.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale
Past the ±15 dB scale: 18.88 kHz −18.1 dB, 2 runs
Level match+2.53dBto yours, by section

Difference, drop against drop

Yours against Werq, band by band
dB · yours − Werq after level match · 1/6 oct · Drop ↔ Drop
  • Yours − Werq
  • ±3 dB
  • Outside
13.24 kHz: −17.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale18.88 kHz: −18.1 dB, beyond the ±15 dB scale
Past the ±15 dB scale: 18.88 kHz −18.1 dB, 2 runs
Level match+2.53dBto yours, by section

From the first bar to the last codec, every reading of your master sits against the platform you deliver to. What to fix first comes ranked, and the reference you trust sits beside it at matched loudness. Everything a finished master needs checked, in one report.

Your session with RefBooth

  1. 01

    Drop the master

    The file you would send to the distributor, as it is.

  2. 02

    Pick the platform and the genre

    Every reading is then judged against that target.

  3. 03

    Read every reading

    Each one with its target band and a verdict.

  4. 04

    Fix what comes first

    The one change that matters most, at the top.

  5. 05

    Hold it against a reference

    Your sections against its sections, at matched loudness.

  6. 06

    Share it with a link

    Anyone with the link reads it, no account needed.

The whole report, before you sign up.

Check a master free

Every reading, against its target. 12 of 13 in band against Spotify.

ReadingValueTarget bandVerdict
Loudness
Integrated loudness−9.5 LUFS−16.0 to −13.0 LUFSLoud, by choice
Loudness range5.5 LU4.0 to 12.0 LUIn band
Short-term maximum−7.7 LUFS−24.0 to −11.0 LUFSLoud, by choice
Peaks
True peak−0.25 dBTP−6.00 to −1.00 dBTPOutside
Inter-sample overs0zeroIn band
Sample peak−0.31 dBFS−6.00 to −0.10 dBFSIn band
ReadingValueTarget bandVerdict
Dynamics
Peak to loudness9.3 dB9.0 to 18.0 dBIn band
Crest factor10.2 dB10.0 to 20.0 dBIn band
Level variation7.8 dB3.0 to 10.0 dBIn band
Stereo
Stereo correlation0.950.30 to 1.00In band
Bass correlation1.000.70 to 1.00In band
Mono-sum loss−0.10 dB−1.00 to 0.00 dBIn band
Spectrum
Spectral tilt−7.0 dB/dec−12.0 to −6.0 dB/decIn band

What to fix first. The findings, ranked, each with where it happens and what to do about it.

  1. FixThe file stops while the sound is still loud

    The last 50 ms sit 12 dB under the loudest part of the track and were not falling, so the file ends on a cut rather than a fade or a decay. If this is the finished master, re-export with the tail captured or add a short fade; if it is an excerpt or a loop, ignore this.

  2. NoteSpotify will play this 4.5 dB quieter

    4.5 LU above the -14 LUFS Spotify normalises to. The level comes back down on playback and the density used to reach it stays: the trade a loud genre makes on purpose. Other services that normalise turn it down by their own amounts; a club system plays the file as it is.

Sections, paired. Your sections against Werq’s, in order, each pair with its loudness, range and peaks. Compare is part of Studio.

Sections

Your sections paired with Werq’s
YoursBarsWerqPairingLoudness LUFSyours · ref · Δvs loudest dByours · ref · ΔIntegrated LUFSyours · ref · ΔShort-term max LUFSyours · ref · ΔTrue peak dBTPyours · ref · ΔPSR min LUyours · ref · Δ
Intro0:00–1:001–32Intro0:01–0:32same label— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−10.1 · −11.5Δ +1.4 LU−8.3 · −10.2Δ +1.9 LU−0.25 · 0.55Δ −0.80 dB8.0 · 10.1Δ −2.0 LU
Drop1:00–2:0033–64Drop0:32–1:02same label— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−8.6 · −11.1Δ +2.5 LU−8.0 · −9.8Δ +1.8 LU−0.29 · 0.68Δ −0.97 dB7.7 · 9.7Δ −2.0 LU
Breakdown2:00–2:1565–72No pairNo breakdown in the reference— · —no pair— · —no pair−12.6 · —no pair−12.0 · —no pair−0.28 · —no pair11.7 · —no pair
Build2:15–2:3073–80No pairNo build in the reference— · —no pair— · —no pair−13.3 · —no pair−12.3 · —no pair−0.30 · —no pair11.4 · —no pair
Drop2:30–3:4581–120Drop0:32–1:02same label— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−8.7 · −11.1Δ +2.4 LU−7.7 · −9.8Δ +2.2 LU−0.28 · 0.68Δ −0.96 dB7.4 · 9.7Δ −2.4 LU
Breakdown3:45–4:30121–144Pre-drop1:02–1:33same relative level— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−13.8 · −16.8Δ +2.9 LU−11.4 · −15.2Δ +3.8 LU−0.30 · 0.02Δ −0.32 dB11.1 · 15.2Δ −4.2 LU

Sections

Your sections paired with Werq’s
YoursWerqLoudness LUFSyours · ref · Δvs loudest dByours · ref · ΔIntegrated LUFSyours · ref · ΔShort-term max LUFSyours · ref · ΔTrue peak dBTPyours · ref · ΔPSR min LUyours · ref · Δ
Intro0:00–1:00Intro0:01–0:32— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−10.1 · −11.5Δ +1.4 LU−8.3 · −10.2Δ +1.9 LU−0.25 · 0.55Δ −0.80 dB8.0 · 10.1Δ −2.0 LU
Drop1:00–2:00Drop0:32–1:02— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−8.6 · −11.1Δ +2.5 LU−8.0 · −9.8Δ +1.8 LU−0.29 · 0.68Δ −0.97 dB7.7 · 9.7Δ −2.0 LU
Breakdown2:00–2:15No pair— · —no pair— · —no pair−12.6 · —no pair−12.0 · —no pair−0.28 · —no pair11.7 · —no pair
Build2:15–2:30No pair— · —no pair— · —no pair−13.3 · —no pair−12.3 · —no pair−0.30 · —no pair11.4 · —no pair
Drop2:30–3:45Drop0:32–1:02— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−8.7 · −11.1Δ +2.4 LU−7.7 · −9.8Δ +2.2 LU−0.28 · 0.68Δ −0.96 dB7.4 · 9.7Δ −2.4 LU
Breakdown3:45–4:30Pre-drop1:02–1:33— · —Δ —— · —Δ —−13.8 · −16.8Δ +2.9 LU−11.4 · −15.2Δ +3.8 LU−0.30 · 0.02Δ −0.32 dB11.1 · 15.2Δ −4.2 LU

What every platform does with it. Each target, where it comes from, and what that platform does with Urban Myths (Remix). Sources for every figure

  • Spotify−14 LUFSPublished by the platformTurned down 4.5 dBOver the −2.0 dBTP ceiling
  • Apple Music−16 LUFSPartly published by the platformTurned down 6.5 dBOver the −1.0 dBTP ceiling
  • YouTube−14 LUFSReported, not publishedTurned down 4.5 dBOver the −1.0 dBTP ceiling
  • SoundCloud−14 LUFSPublished by the platformTurned down 4.5 dBOver the −2.0 dBTP ceiling
  • TIDAL−14 LUFSReported, not publishedTurned down 4.5 dBOver the −1.0 dBTP ceiling
  • Amazon Music−14 LUFSReported, not publishedTurned down 4.5 dBOver the −2.0 dBTP ceiling
  • Deezer−15 LUFSReported, not publishedTurned down 5.5 dBOver the −1.0 dBTP ceiling
  • Club / DJNot levelledA working conventionPlayed as isOver the −0.3 dBTP ceiling

Read from the ground up

  1. LoudnessIntegrated loudness · Loudness range · Short-term maximum
  2. PeaksTrue peak · Inter-sample overs · Sample peak
  3. DynamicsPeak to loudness · Crest factor · Level variation
  4. StereoStereo correlation · Bass correlation · Mono-sum loss
  5. SpectrumSpectral tilt
  6. SectionsIntro · Drop · Breakdown · Build · Pre-drop · Outro
  7. What to fix3 findings, ranked

Studio, for the last pass before release.

Studio

Codec preview

Hear your master after each streaming encoder, and see where its peak goes over, before the platform does it for you.

Studio

Level-matched A/B

Switch between your master and a reference at matched loudness, so you hear the mix and not the level.

Studio

Up to eight at once

Your master and seven references side by side in compare.

Every plan

Arranged your way

Pick the instruments, their size and their order. Signed in, the layout is kept with your account; without one it lives in the page address and nowhere else.

Open the app

The analyzer lives at app.refbooth.com, in any browser: your library, every report, and Compare beside it, with the instruments arranged the way you work.

Open the app

Specifications

Files
WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, M4A, AACUp to 400 MB and twenty minutes
Loudness
Integrated loudnessLoudness rangeShort-term maximum
Peaks
True peakInter-sample oversSample peak
Dynamics
Peak to loudnessCrest factorLevel variation
Stereo
Stereo correlationBass correlationMono-sum loss
Spectrum
Spectral tilt
Platforms
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Deezer, Club / DJEach target with where it comes from
Report
Every reading against its target bandWhat to fix first, rankedSections, by name, across the track
Free
Unlimited reports on a free account. Your first needs no account at all.Up to 25 tracks kept
Studio
Compare up to 8 sources at once — your master and 7 references — level-matchedLevel-matched A/B player with band solo

Pricing

Free to analyse. Studio when you compare.

Free

Unlimited reports on a free account. Your first needs no account at all.

Free

No card, no trial clock.

Check a master free

What you get

  • Every standard measurement, with the full figures
  • All 8 delivery platforms and every genre profile
  • Spectrogram, loudness over time, waveform, sections
  • Source truth and the 8 readiness checks
  • Up to 25 tracks kept

Studio

Compare, A/B, and the detailed instruments.

$12a month

Or $99 a year.

Sales tax is added at checkout where it applies. Renews automatically until you cancel.

Get Studio

Everything in Free, plus

  • Compare up to 8 sources at once — your master and 7 references — level-matched
  • Reference library, 16 saved slots
  • Level-matched A/B player with band solo
  • Suggested EQ moves against the reference
  • PSR over time, per-band width and correlation, correlation map
  • Resonance table
  • Codec preview: the master through 11 delivery encoders
  • Version history, album mode (24 tracks), comments
  • CSV export, and a print-ready report

Prices are in euros in the EEA, in pounds in the UK and in US dollars everywhere else. Pick the country you are billed in: its price is the one that applies, as the terms set out.

Questions

Before you drop a master.

Is it really free?

Yes. Your first report needs no account at all, and a free account runs as many as you like and keeps up to 25 tracks. Studio, the paid plan, adds compare, the A/B player, the codec preview and the detailed instruments.

Which files can I drop?

WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, M4A and AAC, up to 400 MB and twenty minutes. Drop the file you are about to deliver: the report reads it as it is.

What happens to my master?

It is stored and measured on our own servers in the European Union, shared with no other company and never used to train anything. You can delete it at any time, and deleting it removes the audio and its report. A master uploaded without an account is deleted after 7 days.

How is this different from a loudness meter?

A meter shows the moment that is playing. RefBooth reads the whole file, judges every reading against the platform you deliver to, ranks what to fix first, shows what each streaming codec does to your peak, and compares your track against a reference section by section.

Where do the platform targets come from?

From each platform where it publishes one. Where it does not, the report says so: Spotify and SoundCloud publish a target, Apple publishes a headroom rule, and the rest are reported figures or working conventions, marked as such beside the number.

Why does the price depend on my country?

Prices are set by country so that they are fair where you live: in euros with VAT included across the European Economic Area, in pounds with VAT included in the United Kingdom, and in US dollars everywhere else, at five price levels. We suggest a country from your connection and you can pick another. Pick the country you are billed in: its price is the one that applies, as the terms set out.

Does this site store anything on my device?

Only what you choose: the country you pick for prices, until you close the browser, and your answer about visit statistics. Dropping a file into the box also sets one cookie for the app at app.refbooth.com, so the report is yours when you come back (seven days, or until you sign in). Statistics are counted by our own tool on our own server, set no cookie and are never linked to an account.