ARREF

ARREF lets you compare your mix directly against finished reference tracks. Load up to eight reference files, place ARREF last on your master bus, and switch between MIX and REFERENCE with one click. Both continue playing in the background, so every comparison lands at the same point. To keep louder tracks from influencing the comparison, ARREF measures both signals using ITU-R BS.1770 integrated loudness and turns down whichever side is louder until they match. Nothing is boosted, preventing loudness matching from introducing clipping. Independently measured, matched signals differ by less than 0.01 LU. Detailed metering displays integrated and short-term loudness, loudness range, and true peak for both signals side by side. Tonal balance is also compared at matched loudness, with the difference displayed underneath to help identify spectral differences between your mix and the reference. References can follow your session timeline or use their own playhead, with looping for focused comparisons and a mono check for both signals. ARREF supports WAV, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, and MP3 on macOS and Windows, plus M4A on macOS.