Our REFERENCE 3 plugin is jam-packed with powerful features that are guaranteed to transform your music productions. That said, one of its most formidable tools is also one of its most understated: the humble Level Line, now displayed inside REFERENCE 3's Masterscope.
With the Level Line, you'll be able to create the exact EQ curve you need to make your music sound like your favorite pro-produced track. Best of all, it's easy and intuitive to use.
In this post, we'll explore REFERENCE 3 and its Level Line feature, and we'll give you in-depth instructions on how you can use it to elevate the sound of your mixes and masters.
Replicate the Sound of Your Favorite Music with REFERENCE 3
Want to achieve the sound of your favorite music? With REFERENCE 3 in your plug-in arsenal, re-creating the sound of any professionally mastered music is easier than you might think.
REFERENCE 3 lets you load up reference tracks into its library and uses Smart Reference Tracks to automatically suggest the best matches for the song you're working on. Auto-looping locks onto the loudest section of your reference for you, so you can easily compare different sections of your track to the reference without any manual setup.
REFERENCE 3 instantly and accurately matches the loudness of your track with the reference track. This is essential — reference tracks are of little use if you can't make a true apples-to-apples comparison.
REFERENCE 3's Mix Descriptors and Masterscope employ intelligent algorithms to supply you with practical visual insights that make matching the true peak, loudness, EQ balance, dynamics, and stereo width of any reference track a piece of cake — with a Match % score that quantifies exactly how close you are.
Achieve EQ Balance with REFERENCE 3's Level Line
Located front and center on REFERENCE 3's Masterscope is its white Level Line. This provides you with a visual representation of how your song's EQ balance differs from your reference track.
The faint line through the middle of the Masterscope represents 0dB. Use an EQ, such as our MIXROOM plug-in, and adjust the EQ curve to match the Level Line curve.
The closer you match the Level Line curve, the more your track will sound like your reference track. Boost wherever the Level Line is above 0dB and cut wherever the Level Line is below 0dB. Need it spelled out in plain words? The Mix Instructor in REFERENCE 3 turns the Level Line reading into clear directions across three frequency bands — things like "boost by 4 dB" or "narrow the width".
In addition to the EQ Match setting described above, REFERENCE 3 also includes an EQ Difference setting that inverts the Level Line display (you can change this preference by clicking on the plug-in's settings icon - the cog wheel in the top right corner).
REFERENCE 3's Level Line Eliminates the Guesswork
Replicating the frequency spectrum of a reference track with a run-of-the-mill "EQ matching" plug-in simply won't work. There are too many variables involved, such as instruments, tuning, performance, samples, and more.
That's where REFERENCE 3 comes in. Its complex algorithm was custom-tailored to reproduce how the human ear perceives certain frequencies within the context of a mix.
For example, as we can see in the above illustration, our track needs a 3.5dB cut in the 0–200Hz range to achieve the same low-frequency balance as the reference track. An appropriate solution would be to reduce the level of our bass track, add a low-frequency cut to our kick track, or apply a gentle cut with a low-frequency shelf on our mastering EQ.
Whether you're boosting or cutting, getting within +/-3dB of the Masterscope's central 0dB line will get you in the same sonic ballpark as your reference track. Of course, as powerful as REFERENCE 3 is, you should never neglect your most important tool: your ears! If it sounds right, it IS right!
Dive Into Your Track with REFERENCE 3
REFERENCE 3's Level Line algorithm contains three refresh modes: Short, Medium, and Integrated. You access these modes by clicking on the plug-in's settings icon.
When you're using REFERENCE 3's Short refresh mode, the Level Line updates over a 3-second period based on how your current EQ balance compares to your reference track. REFERENCE 3's Medium refresh mode updates over 10 seconds.
REFERENCE 3's Integrated refresh mode accumulates input analysis data on a continuous basis, providing you with a constant reading. Click Reset after making any EQ changes to your track.
REFERENCE 3 and Sample Rates
To obtain optimal performance out of REFERENCE 3, use reference tracks that are at the same sample rate as your session. While REFERENCE 3 is capable of applying sample rate conversion, matching sample rates is generally best to preserve quality.
Conclusion
With REFERENCE 3 in your plug-in toolbox, you'll find matching the quality of your favorite professionally produced music to be easier than you ever imagined. Don't believe us? Download a 15-day trial today and see for yourself!
