NUGEN Audio MasterCheck 2

MasterCheck 2 is an optimization plug-in for cross-platform mastering, designed to ensure that your masters sound consistent across all platforms — physical, digital and streaming. Audition how loudness normalization will affect your track, and preempt the impact that each codec will have, alongside industry standard loudness and True Peak measurement.

Find the sweet spot between perceived loudness and dynamics, and avoid nasty surprises by compensating for encoding artifacts ahead of time.

Reference and compare

How does your music sound when it reaches the listener? You already optimize masters for domestic hi-fi systems, car stereos, headphones and earbuds. In the streaming era, shouldn’t you optimize for each streaming platform too?

Audition and preempt data compression and loudness normalization for…

• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Tidal
• YouTube
• Soundcloud
• Bandcamp
• Qobuz
• Pandora
• …and more, using the Codec mode and Offset to match function.

For mixing and mastering, for stereo and surround

To some extent, loudness and cross-platform optimization is primarily a concern for the mastering engineer, not the mixer, artist or producer. But if a mix is too hot or over-compressed then there is nowhere further to go! So it makes sense to reference Integrated loudness, PLR, PSR and True Peak even at the mixing stage. Plus, MasterCheck 2 can be a great demonstration tool for those clients who might still believe that “louder is better” no matter what.

MasterCheck 2 supports up to 7.1.4 channels, enough to receive a Dolby Atmos bed, or other immersive, 3D and surround audio formats. The resizeable portrait and landscape views mean that MasterCheck 2 can fit neatly into practically any layout and workflow, regardless of on-screen real estate.

Features

• Preempt encoding artefacts and loudness changes by compensating for codec and data compression before release.
• Reference and match playback levels for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Qobuz, Pandora and more.
• Monitor industry-standard loudness measurements including Integrated Loudness, True Peak, PLR and PSR to balance impact and dynamics.
• Integrate loudness awareness into both mixing and mastering workflows to prevent over-compression and manage loudness expectations early.
• Support for stereo, surround and immersive audio formats up to 7.1.4 channels, including Dolby Atmos beds.
• Use a flexible, resizable interface with portrait and landscape views that adapt to any studio layout or workflow.
• Simulate streaming platform loudness normalisation and codec processing to hear exactly how your master will translate across digital services.