AB-Loudness Match

Manual

by TBProAudio 2020

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1 Introduction
Welcome to AB_LM, a gain control which enables level matched and sample accurate AB
comparison of FX chains.
We at TBProAudio found us very often in mixing or mastering situations where we need to
quickly identify the contribution of a certain plug-in (FX) or even a complex FX chain to the
sound. Most DAWs can easily enable/disable (AB) single plug-ins or even whole FX chains,
but in most case there is an audible loudness difference between both cases.
In order to compare the impact of a plug-in chain objectively the loudness of the incoming
signal should match with the loudness of outgoing signal.
Comparing the plug-in effect at equal loudness levels avoids the "louder is better" - pitfall.

In fact AB_LM compares constantly the pre and post-FX loudness and displays the gain
difference. Based on this information you can either set the match-gain manually or let
AB_LM do this automatically.

AB_LM is based on the free AB Level Matching JSFX for Reaper, which should
demonstrates the superior functionality of the scripting language JS in Reaper. Many thanks
to the developer from Cockos!

2 Features
AB_LM offers following features:

 match pre and post-FX loudness

 match pre-FX loudness with reference level
 3 loudness match modes: manual, auto and gain stage
 delta signal monitoring
 FX chain drive
 up to 256 sender/receiver pairs including auto channel link
 automatic latency measurement/compensation
 6 measurement modes: RMS Sum, RMS Avg, EBU R128 SL, EBU R128 ML,
VU, Max Peak
 adjustable RMS measurement window
 control several AB_LM instances simultaneously
 bypass complete AB_LM pair
 4 snapshot slots
 tool tips
 very CPU friendly
 large and easy to use GUI

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3 Design
AB_LM consists of 3 gain stages:

1. The incoming signal is (optionally) leveled to a certain reference level. This keeps
your ears fresh and balanced, even if you work with different audio material over a
longer time period.
2. This stage changes (optionally) the signal gain fed into plug-in chain.
3. This stage matches the pre and post-FX loudness levels.

The AB button toggles seamless and loudness matched between pre and post-FX signal.

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4 Overview

Mode & Link Channel

Sets the mode of the plug-in, either Sender or Receiver and the link channel for the
communication. Sender is placed before the plug-in(s) which should be AB level matched,
Receiver is inserted after. Use the "L"-button (Link) to quickly set next highest (free)
sender/receiver channel.

Latency Compensation
Some plug-ins add latency to the plug-in chain. For a sample-exact AB loudness comparison
audio streams need to be synchronized. This can be done automatically (just press PDC button
and wait 1-2 seconds) or manually by entering the latency value (in samples).

Match Modes
AB_LM lets you match the loudness either manually, or automatically. In addition AB_LM
can operate in pure gain staging mode.
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Auto: Matches automatically the loudness of pre and post-FX signal
Manual: Matches the loudness of pre and post-FX signal by pressing the match button
(PostFX Diff/Gain)
The match gain is added after FX chain. If "inverse" is enabled match gain is added before FX
chain.

Gain (Gain staging): this mode works differently. There is no loudness match of pre and
post-FX signal. The PreFX gain and additional FX drive gain is just removed from the audio
stream right after the FX chain, for "pure" gain staging purposes.

Pre-FX Diff/Gain
This meter shows the loudness difference of pre-FX signal and the reference level. The match
button lets you set the additional pre-FX gain based on the loudness difference.

Pre-FX Curr/Max
This meter shows the current and maximum loudness of the audio stream just before the plug-
in(s). Many plug-ins work best at a certain loudness level (e.g. -18 dBFS)

Post-FX Diff/Gain
This meter shows the loudness difference of pre and post-FX signal. The match button lets
you set the additional post-FX gain (match mode "Manual") based on the loudness difference.
Match mode "Auto" does this automatically.

Snapshot Slots
AB_LM provides 4 snapshot slots to store and recall settings for FX drive and Post-FX gain.
So you can test your plug-in chain with different gain levels, all loudness matched.

FX Drive
This parameter adjusts the additional pre-FX gain.

AB Switch
This button lets you seamless switch between pre and pre-FX audio signal.

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5 How to use
You can setup a plug-in (chain) controlled by AB_LM very easily with 3 steps:

Step 1: Insert AB_LM before your plug-in (and configure it as "Sender" and select link 1)
Step 2: Insert any plug-in, e.g. EQ, compressor etc.
Step 3: Insert AB_LM after your plug-in (and configure it as "Receiver" and select link 1)

Now start playing, modify the EQ or any other plug-in, monitor the gain difference, press the
match button and later the FX AB button.

6 Minimum System Requirements

 Windows XP SP3 or newer
 Mac OS X 10.9 or newer
 Win: 32/64 Bit VST, 32/64 Bit VST3, 32 Bit RTAS, 32/64 Bit AAX
 OS X: 32/64 Bit VST, 32/64 Bit VST3, 32/64 Bit AU, 32 Bit RTAS, 32/64 Bit AAX
 Tested with: Cockos Reaper, Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo/Wavelab 6/7/8/9/10, FL
Studio 12.x/20.x, PT10/12/2018, Reason 9.5/10, Studio One, Ableton Live

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7 Plug-in Controls
7.1 Mode & Link
Sets the operation mode of AB_LM: either Sender or Receiver. Up to 256 link channels can
be set. Use the "L"-button to set next highest (free) sender or receiver channel.
Per link channel only one pair is allowed: Sender 1 - Receiver 1, Sender 2 - Receiver 2 etc.
The pair should be placed on one track, connections across tracks may not work. Pairs could
be nested.
Note: Yellow "satellite" and "receiver" icons indicate working link.

Built in auto channel link:

AB_LM comes with "auto channel link" which supports you to easily setup a larger number
of plug-in-in pairs without manual interaction. Due to the nature of DAW plug-ins and its
internal parameter management it works well under certain conditions:
 AB_LM should be setup in pairs e.g. Sender1, Receiver1, Sender2, Receiver2.
 AB_LM selects plug-in mode (Sender/Receiver) and next free link channel
automatically if you create a new instance (insert plug-in).
 If you copy a track with plug-in pairs, the link channels on the new track are
renumbered based on next free channel. Even complex and nested AB_LM pairs are
copied and all channel links are renumbered in the right way.

7.2 PDC & Latency

Press the PDC button to start the automatic latency measurement. Or enter the latency value
manually (up to 176.000 samples).
Note: Some DAWs require "play" mode in order to send audio through the plug-ins.
Note: The quality of latency measurement is increased by setting the effect of the FX chain
initially as neutral as possible.

7.3 Metering Mode

Either pure RMS Sum (Channel summed RMS), RMS Avg (Channel averaged RMS), EBU
R128-2014 ML (momentary loudness, 400ms) or EBU R128-2014 SL (short term loudness,
3000ms). Both EBU R128 modes do pre-filtering according to EBU R128-2014 specification.
Additionally VU metering can be used (300ms raise and fall time), 0VU = -18dBFS
Max Peak mode uses the current max peak level as loudness level. Please reset PRE-FX
loudness values if you change FX parameters of sandwiched plugins.

7.4 Window
This parameter sets the loudness measurement (RMS) window (in ms) (RMS Sum/Avg only).
Note: Too small values may cause audible gain changes in match mode "auto".

7.5 Ref level

If you work with calibrate audio systems set the loudness reference level (in dBFS or VU) for
the incoming signal.

7.6 Pre FX: Diff, Gain Level

The meter displays the loudness difference of incoming signal level and reference level (in dB
or VU). Press the match button to balance the current loudness with the reference level (ctrl

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mouse click balances the max loudness with reference level, shift mouse click all instances).
Click on the reset button resets the measurement (shift click for all AB_LM instances).

7.7 Pre FX: Cur, Max Loudness Level

The meter displays the current and maximum loudness (in dBFS or VU) of the signal fed into
FX chain (Pre-FX loudness). Click on the reset button resets the measurement (shift mouse
click for all AB_LM instances).

7.8 Active
This button/LED lets you activate/deactivate the AB_LM pair. Shift mouse click
actives/deactivates all instances.

7.9 Drive FX
Increases/Decreases gain of incoming signal fed into FX chain. Shift mouse drag affects all
instances.

7.10 AB FX
This button/LED lets you switch between pre and post-FX signal.
Note: latency needs to be set correctly in order to get a sample-exact comparison. Shift mouse
click toggles all instances.

7.11 Delta Monitoring

Monitors the difference between output und input signal depending on match modes.
e.g. in match mode “auto” only loudness changes of the sandwiched FX are audible.
If you need to monitor also static loudness changes use match mode “manual” and set Post-
FX gain to 0 dB (by clicking on the reset button). Shift mouse click toggles all instances.

7.12 Disable automatic update of gain difference

During match mode “Auto” AB_LM updates by default internally the last gain difference
value. This helps to get the right gain value during project load phase.
But in some DAWs this could create many undo data. So use the switch to enable/disable
automatic storage feature. Shift mouse click toggles all instances.

7.13 Tool tips

Toggles tool tips.

7.14 Post FX: Diff, Gain Level

The meter displays the loudness difference of pre and post-FX signal (in dB or VU).
Depending on match mode you can balance the gain difference manually (match mode
“Manual”) or automatically (match mode “Auto”) with the match button (shift mouse click
for all instances with match mode “Manual”). Click on the reset button resets the
measurement (shift mouse click for all AB_LM instances).

7.15 Match Mode

Manual: pre/post-FX gain difference is balanced by a click on the match button
Auto: pre/post-FX gain difference is balanced by AB-LM automatically
Gain: pre-FX gain difference (compared to reference level) is balanced by a click on the
match button

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7.16 Inverse
Inverse Match Mode: if enabled match gain is applied before FX chain (match mode
“Manual” and “Auto” only)

7.17 Snapshots
4 slots keep the settings for FX drive and post-FX gain.

7.18 Global controls

The following parameter can be controlled across all AB_LM instances by holding the left
shift key:
 FX Drive
 AB FX
 Delta Monitoring
 Active/Inactive
 Disable automatic update of gain difference

7.19 Plugin info

Click on the AB-LM logo to get information about the plugin, open the online manual and
open the change log.

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8 Demo mode versus Registered Mode
In demo mode (without registering) the plug-in mutes audio every 90 seconds for a short
period. This could be circumvented by clicking on the "TBProAudio" logo within 90 seconds.

9 Activation
After purchasing the license key, unpack the key to a convenient place on your PC (e.g.
desktop). Add the plug-in to any track in your DAW, click on the text “Demo: Click here to
activate” text and select the key file. Remove the plug-in in your DAW and add it again. The
GUI shows now “Registered to your name”.

You can register your copy at http://www.tb-software.com\tbproaudio.

10 GUI Design
All credits for the GUI design go to Crimson Merry (http://twitter.com/twitersaya). He did an
incredible job by designing this clearly structured and easy to read user interface. Thank you!

11 Conclusion
So finally if you have any questions or suggestions just let us know. And have fun with our
tools and visit us here: http://www.tb-software.com/TBProAudio/index.html

Your team from TBProAudio :-)

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