Effect / Mastering The Mix
Mastering The Mix REFERENCE
8.3Great
REFERENCE 3 is a plugin that lets you A/B your mix against professional reference tracks and shows what adjustments are needed to match them.
Plugin comparison
Mastering The Mix REFERENCE vs Youlean Loudness Meter 2
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.7Great
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 is a free (with Pro upgrade) LUFS loudness meter for mix and master buses, with true peak, LRA, and streaming-oriented presets.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Youlean Loudness Meter 2 comes out ahead (8.7). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Mastering The Mix REFERENCE | Youlean Loudness Meter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| Formats | AU (Mac), VST3, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Price (official) | £59.00 GBP (no fixed USD price shown; site offers a currency selector) | — |
| Formats (Mac) | 64-bit AU, VST3, or AAX host; Apple Silicon native | — |
| Formats (Windows) | 64-bit VST3 or 64-bit AAX host | — |
| Key tools | Mix Descriptors, Masterscope, Mix Balance, Mix Instructor, and Match % | — |
| Mac requirements | OS X 10.15 or higher | — |
| Windows requirements | Windows 10 or higher | — |
| Type | — | Loudness / true-peak meter |
| Price | — | Free (Pro paid upgrade) |
| Formats | — | VST, AU, AAX |
| Measurements | — | LU, LUFS, LKFS, LRA, PLR, true peak |
| Platforms | — | macOS and Windows hosts supporting major plugin formats |
| Official site | — | youlean.co |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.