VisLM 3 Loudness Meter Adds Stem Monitoring, LDR and 9.1.6
NUGEN VisLM 3 adds linked stem monitoring, LDR, timestamped notes, QC report export and 9.1.6 to the post loudness meter. $499, or $249 to upgrade.
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NUGEN Audio has released VisLM 3, the third generation of the loudness meter it describes as the industry standard for audio post, broadcast, podcasts and game audio. The update moves VisLM beyond the master bus: linked instances now meter dialogue, music and effects stems in one window, a new LDR reading tracks loudness-to-dialogue ratio, and a Loudness QC Report export hands deliverables a clean paper trail. It costs $499, with a $249 upgrade from any older VisLM.
At a glance: loudness meter for post, broadcast, podcast and game audio; AAX, VST3, AU and AudioSuite (64-bit) on macOS 11 and Windows 10; new linked stem monitoring, LDR measurement, timestamped notes on the history graph, Loudness QC Report export, new EBU R128 Supplement 4 and ATSC A/85:2026-07 presets, and 9.1.6 support. $499 (£349, €424), or $249 to upgrade from any VisLM. The most complete version yet of a delivery-grade meter, priced for people who bill for loudness compliance.
What is NUGEN VisLM?
VisLM is a loudness meter built around delivery specs rather than streaming targets. It measures to ITU-R BS.1770 (revisions 1 to 4) and ships with presets for the major broadcast and streaming standards, from ATSC A/85 (the CALM Act spec) and EBU R128 to Netflix and Apple Podcasts. True Peak measurement flags inter-sample peaks that a sample-peak meter misses.
The feature that made VisLM 2 a fixture in post rooms is ReMEM. It stores up to 24 hours of loudness data locked to your DAW's timecode, so the history view is navigable: scrub back to a scene and see exactly what it measured. Fix a loud line, play that section through the meter again, and the Integrated value updates automatically. There's no need to re-run the whole programme from end to end to get a new number. Loudness overdub and faster-than-real-time AudioSuite measurement round out the workflow, and 7.1.4 surround was already supported.
VisLM 3 keeps all of that and builds around it.
What's new in VisLM 3
Stem monitoring
This is the headline. Put an instance of VisLM 3 on each of your dialogue, music and effects stems and the instances link automatically. All the readings then appear in a single plug-in window, so you see the whole project rather than just the master bus. In practice, that answers the question every re-mix starts with: which stem is pushing the programme over spec? Instead of soloing buses and re-measuring, you read it off one screen.
Timestamped notes
NUGEN took the idea from its Jotter plug-in and folded it into the Flags system. You can now pin comments and feedback directly on the history graph, at the moment they refer to, and share them as a CSV. For a mixer working through a client's QC notes, or a supervisor leaving notes for the next session, the comment now lives on the timeline it describes rather than in a separate email thread.
LDR measurement
LDR, the loudness-to-dialogue ratio, compares the programme's overall loudness with its dialogue. Some delivery specs are starting to target it, because a mix can hit its integrated number while the dialogue sits too low under music and effects. VisLM 3 displays it alongside Integrated Dialogue and Dialogue %, exactly the trio you need when a spec asks whether dialogue carries the mix.
Loudness QC Report export
VisLM 3 can export a report with the key statistics for quality control. That turns the meter's readings into a document you can attach to a delivery, which matters when a broadcaster or streamer wants proof of compliance and not just your word.
New presets and 9.1.6
Built-in presets now include EBU R128 Supplement 4 and ATSC A/85:2026-07, so the new revisions of both are a click away. Channel support grows from 7.1.4 to 9.1.6, covering larger immersive layouts.
Supported loudness standards
The preset list is the practical reason post engineers buy VisLM: the target for each spec is a click away instead of a page in a delivery document.
- Broadcast and measurement: ITU-R BS.1770 (1 to 4), ATSC A/85 including A/85:2026-07, EBU R128 including Supplement 4, ARIB TR-B32, OP-59, AGCOM 219/9/CSP, Portaria 354, DPP
- Streaming and studios: Netflix, Amazon Studios, Disney, Sony
- Cinema and trailers: Leq(m) (TASA and SAWA), Leq(a)
- Podcasts: Apple Podcasts
VisLM 3 specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Loudness meter for post, broadcast, podcast and game audio |
| Formats | AAX, VST3, AU, AudioSuite (64-bit) |
| macOS | macOS 11, 512 MB RAM |
| Windows | Windows 10, 512 MB RAM |
| Channel support | Up to 9.1.6 (7.1.4 in VisLM 2) |
| History | ReMEM, up to 24 hours locked to DAW timecode (full ReMEM needs timecode lock from the host) |
| Measurements | Integrated, Integrated Dialogue, LRA, True Peak, Short-term, LDR, Dialogue % |
| New in version 3 | Linked stem monitoring, timestamped notes (CSV), LDR, Loudness QC Report export, new presets, 9.1.6 |
| Extensions | 3D and DSP add-ons, sold separately |
| Bundles | Loudness Toolkit (VisLM, ISL, LM-Correct, DynApt extension), NUGEN Post (13 plug-ins) |
| Licensing | NUGEN account, optionally converted to iLok; free demo |
| Price | $499 (£349, €424); $249 upgrade from any older VisLM |
VisLM 3 vs Insight 2 vs Youlean vs LEVELS vs MasterCheck 2
| NUGEN VisLM 3 | iZotope Insight 2 | Youlean Loudness Meter 2 | Mastering The Mix LEVELS | NUGEN MasterCheck 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (PB) | $499 | $199 | Free version | $39.50 (from $80, to 15 Nov) | $239 |
| Main job | Delivery-grade loudness for post and broadcast | Metering suite: loudness, spectrum, stereo | LUFS and true-peak checks | Mix and master metering | Checking a music master against streaming platforms |
| Key readings | Integrated, Integrated Dialogue, LRA, True Peak, LDR, 24-hour ReMEM history | Loudness, spectrum, stereo field, mix diagnostics | LUFS, true peak, LRA, histogram (more in paid Pro) | LUFS, true peak, stereo, bass space, phase | Music master vs streaming platforms |
| Pick it if | You deliver to broadcast or streamer specs | You want broad mix diagnostics | You need a LUFS reading for $0 | You want guided music targets | You master music for streaming |
Which to pick: these meters overlap less than their spec sheets suggest. Insight 2 is the broader diagnostic suite for music and post, with spectrum and stereo views alongside loudness. Youlean's free version and LEVELS cover what most musicians need, a LUFS and true-peak reading for streaming, for nothing or $39.50 while the LEVELS deal runs. MasterCheck 2 is NUGEN's own tool for checking a music master against streaming platforms, and at $239 it's the better fit inside that company's range for music work. VisLM 3 is the one built for timecoded programmes, dialogue specs and compliance paperwork. If your job ends at a stereo master, our best mastering plugins guide is the better starting point.
Who VisLM 3 is for
Buy it if you mix for broadcast, streaming originals, film, podcasts or games and deliver to specs; if your QC process lives on stems rather than a single master; or if clients are starting to ask for LDR. Supervisors and editors who pass notes between sessions will also get real use from the timestamped notes and CSV export.
Skip it if you make music and only need to know your streaming LUFS. That's a $0 job with Youlean's free version, or $39.50 with LEVELS. Stem monitoring, LDR, 9.1.6 and QC reports are aimed squarely at dialogue-led post work, and $499 is post-production money. Bear in mind that the 3D and DSP extensions cost extra, and that you only get the full ReMEM history when your NLE or DAW sends timecode.
How much does VisLM 3 cost?
- Full version: $499 at Plugin Boutique. NUGEN's own store also sells it for $499, £349 or €424.
- Upgrade from any older VisLM: $249 at Plugin Boutique.
- Extensions: 3D and DSP add-ons for VisLM 3 are sold separately through NUGEN.
- Bundles: VisLM is part of the Loudness Toolkit (with ISL, LM-Correct and the DynApt extension) and NUGEN Post (13 plug-ins).
- Demo: a free demo is available from NUGEN.
Our VisLM 3 plugin page tracks the price.
Price-timing note: VisLM 3 launched at its full $499 with no launch discount, and Plugin Boutique matches NUGEN's price, so early buyers pay what everyone else pays. For VisLM 2 owners, the $249 upgrade is half the full price. Run the free demo against a real delivery first, then upgrade when a stem-based or LDR job lands.
FAQ
How much does VisLM 3 cost?
$499 for the full version at Plugin Boutique and NUGEN (£349 or €424 in NUGEN's store). Owners of any older VisLM can upgrade for $249.
Is the VisLM 3 upgrade worth it for VisLM 2 owners?
If you work with stems, deliver to specs that target LDR, or mix in 9.1.6, yes: those features are exclusive to version 3. If you only meter a stereo master to EBU R128, VisLM 2 already gives you ReMEM history, True Peak and the core presets.
What is LDR in VisLM 3?
LDR is the loudness-to-dialogue ratio, a measure of how the programme's overall loudness compares with its dialogue. VisLM 3 adds it because some delivery specs are beginning to target it.
What formats and systems does VisLM 3 support?
AAX, VST3, AU and AudioSuite in 64-bit, on macOS 11 or Windows 10 with 512 MB RAM. Licensing runs through a NUGEN account and can optionally be moved to iLok.
VisLM 3 vs Youlean Loudness Meter 2?
Youlean's free version gives musicians the LUFS and true-peak readings they need for streaming. VisLM 3 ($499) adds 24-hour timecode-locked history, linked stem monitoring, dialogue metrics, QC reports and a deep list of broadcast and studio presets for post delivery.
Verdict
VisLM 3 is a focused, sensible update to a meter that was already the default in many post rooms. Linked stem monitoring is the real step forward, turning VisLM from a master-bus readout into a view of the whole mix, and LDR, timestamped notes and QC report export all map directly onto how deliveries are checked today. The price keeps it a professional tool: $499 with no launch deal, paid 3D and DSP add-ons, and features musicians won't touch. For anyone who delivers to broadcast and streamer specs, though, it's the version to own, and the $249 upgrade is easy to justify once the first stem-based QC job arrives.
