SleepfreaksDTM MEDIA SITE

ARTICLE VIDEO

MetricAB Tutorial 2: Loudness Match and the Playback Section

Mixing Plug-in TutorialsPublished 2019.02.17Updated 2026.07.17
Read article ↓

MetricAB’s Playback section provides tools that can greatly streamline mixing and mastering. In particular, Loudness Match automatically adjusts the level difference between your current track and a reference, allowing a fairer assessment of sound quality. You can also set up to four marker points with Cue, repeat specific passages with Loop, and isolate frequency ranges with Filter for more detailed analysis. These features make monitoring more accurate and convenient during arranging and mastering.

Play Reference Tracks More Efficiently

Adapter Audio MetricAB

Welcome to the second part of our guide to MetricAB, a useful tool for mixing and mastering.
Here, we will focus on the Playback section, which helps you optimize reference-track playback.

MetricAB Video Tutorial: Useful Features and the Analysis Section

Product website: https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/adptr_metricab.html

MetricAB Playback Settings

MetricAB includes a variety of useful playback features.

Loudness Match

A large level difference between your current track and a reference can make it difficult to judge sound quality.
In this situation, the Match function is useful because it adjusts the level automatically.

Mixing and Mastering Tutorial: Peak, RMS, and Loudness

Match

  • 1. Select the reference track you want to use and press Match.
  • 2. The Match button will flash. Play your track while it is flashing.
  • 3. When the Match button stops flashing, the process is complete.

The reference track’s Gain is adjusted to match the track you are currently working on.

Cue

Cue feature

You can set up to four Cue (marker) points for the selected reference track.

Simply press one of the Cue buttons numbered 1–4 at the desired playback-cursor position.
Once a Cue is stored, pressing its button instantly moves the playback start position to that point.

Repositioning a Cue by dragging

You can reposition a Cue point by dragging it.
You can also delete a Cue.

Delete Cue

Right-click the Cue you want to remove and select Delete Cue from the menu.

Press Loop to repeatedly play a specific passage.
This is useful when you only want to use part of a reference track.

You can also set a separate loop range for each of the four Cues.

Cue position and loop range

You can change the loop range by dragging, or use the buttons to the right of Loop to move the Cue and shorten or lengthen the range.

Filter

The Filter feature lets you cut unwanted frequencies and listen only to the frequency range you want to examine.
Filtering is applied simultaneously to your current track and all reference tracks.

Click FILTERS to enable it; the button will light up.

From left to right, the controls work as follows:

  • SLOPE: Choose 12 dB or 24 dB. The higher value gives a steeper filter slope and stronger attenuation.
  • LOPASS: Cuts high frequencies, leaving the low frequencies.
  • BANDPASS: Cuts high and low frequencies, leaving the midrange.
  • HIPASS: Cuts low frequencies, leaving the high frequencies.

You can also adjust the filter’s frequency range alongside these controls.

Frequency range settings

Set the range with HIGH–LOW on the left, or recall frequency-range presets using the buttons on the right.
Click Reset at the bottom right to return all filter settings to their defaults.

What did you think?
MetricAB includes many thoughtful features that make it more convenient to use.
It is a monitoring tool that really addresses the details you need.

The plug-in is also useful when choosing instruments and samples during arranging.
Give it a try!

Product website: https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/adptr_metricab.html

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I use Loudness Match?

Select a reference track and press Match, then play your track while the button is flashing. When it stops flashing, the process is complete. The reference track’s gain is automatically adjusted to match the track you are working on.

Q2. What can I do with Cue?

You can set up to four marker points (Cues) in a single reference track. Pressing a Cue button instantly moves the playback position, letting you jump straight to a specific passage.

Q3. Which frequencies can I cut with Filter?

LOPASS cuts high frequencies, HIPASS cuts low frequencies, and BANDPASS cuts both high and low frequencies to isolate the midrange. You can choose a 12 dB or 24 dB slope and apply filtering simultaneously to your current track and all reference tracks.

Related Articles