Metering Cockpit vs Open Audio Analyzer

Metering Cockpit is a loudness metering plug-in for mixing and mastering, with a frequency analyzer and monitoring aids. Its displays cover loudness, peak level, dynamics, spectrum, stereo correlation, waveform, and loudness history. Loudness measurement follows BS.1770-4, and loudness range measurement follows EBU R128. The fractional-octave analyzer spans 1/1 to 1/24 octave and can show raw FFT bins. For reference monitoring, users can load a file, compare it with a mix, and set its listening level independently. The plug-in adds no latency and leaves audio unchanged unless a frequency band is soloed or the reference is playing. It works in hosts that load VST3 or AU. macOS 11 or newer is required, with VST3 and AU formats; 64-bit Windows 10 or newer supports VST3. The macOS installer is signed and notarized. The plug-in is free for private and commercial use, with no registration or time limit. Reference files are limited to ten minutes because they are converted to the session rate and held in memory.

Open Audio Analyzer is free, open-source software for measuring loudness and spectrum in live audio and audio files. Its fourteen meter types include loudness, true peak, VU, spectrum, spectrogram, oscilloscope, phase scope and histogram. Loudness measurements follow EBU R 128 and ITU-R BS.1770-4, with momentary, short-term and integrated LUFS, loudness range and oversampled true peak. Users can arrange meters across tabs, save presets, choose delivery targets for streaming or broadcast, and create their own targets. A command-line tool analyzes individual files or album folders and can produce reports or CSV output. VST3 and Audio Unit plugins send measurements and DAW transport position to the app. An AAX plugin is in the plugin archive but is not signed for a released Pro Tools version. A tablet on the same network can display the app's published measurements over Wi-Fi. The maker says measurements stay on-device and audio is neither stored nor transmitted. The remote display link has no encryption or authentication. The app runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows.