Waves WLM Plus Loudness Meter: features and spec-based rating

The Waves loudness meter WLM Plus measures loudness (how loud people perceive a sound to be) to ITU, EBU and ATSC standards. It also has a true peak limiter (true peak is a guide to the clipping that can happen when exporting or when a streaming service converts the file) and a gain trim, so you can adjust the level after measuring.

A loudness meter measures how loud a song sounds. You use it to check that a track fits the loudness guidelines of streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify.

In this article we compare WLM Plus with 10 loudness meters and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 10 loudness meters, WLM Plus is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.0.

Strengths

• Measurable values (4 points): it can measure a wide range of values about volume.

Things to keep in mind

• Finding problems (2 points): it is mainly for measuring volume.

Who it suits: people who want to measure the loudness of a mix or an export and adjust it to a standard.

Main features of WLM Plus

Measure to a standard

A loudness meter measures how loud a song sounds (loudness, in LUFS) and more, to check that it fits streaming and broadcast standards. The manufacturer explains that WLM Plus can measure to ITU, EBU and ATSC standards.

A range of readings

It shows momentary, short-term and long-term LUFS, true peak, and LU, a guide to dynamic range. You can also choose from five momentary-value scales, five weightings, and high-pass and low-pass filters.

Limiter and trim

A true peak limiter and a gain trim are included, so you can adjust the output level to the measured result. Results can also be recorded.

Where it is useful

• Checking loudness and true peak before exporting
• Adjusting the output gain to a standard
• Recording measured results to compare song by song

Rating by criterion

Streaming checks: 3 / 5

We check whether you can confirm that a track fits the targets of each streaming service.

It can measure to ITU, EBU and ATSC standards.

Measurable values: 4 / 5

We check how many values it can measure, such as loudness, loudness range and the risk of clipping (true peak).

It can measure momentary, short-term and long-term LUFS, true peak, and LU, a guide to dynamic range.

Finding problems: 2 / 5

We check whether it finds and tells you about problems other than volume (such as the balance of the sound).

It has a true peak limiter and a gain trim.

If “finding problems” matters most to you, EXPOSE 2 (5 points) is a better fit.

How we score (Loudness meters)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Streaming checks	Whether you can check against the targets of streaming services	Streaming-service targets, plus automatic loudness adjustment and a preview of how it sounds after audio compression	Targets for each streaming service (presets)	Presets for standards such as broadcast	It only measures numbers	—
Measurable values	How many of loudness, loudness range, true peak and PLR or dynamic range it can measure	All four	Three	Two	One	—
Finding problems	Analysis and advice beyond volume	Three or more kinds of analysis, plus advice on how to fix problems	Three or more kinds (stereo width, frequency distribution, dynamics and so on)	One or two kinds	No analysis beyond volume	—

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: checking that a song can be released at a volume suited to streaming services. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Streaming checks" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information, and features that could not be confirmed on the official page are treated as absent. Measurement accuracy has not been tested, so it is not part of the score. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

WLM Plus system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later / Mac (Monterey 12 to Sequoia 15)
Plug-in formats	VST, AAX, AU (Windows: VST, AAX)
OBS (streaming)	Not confirmed

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.

Compared with other loudness meters

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• BUTE Loudness Analyser 2: features and rating (rank B)
• VisLM: features and rating (rank B)
• Youlean Loudness Meter: features and rating (rank A)
• Insight 2: features and rating (rank A)