LowEnd Balance is a mix analysis tool designed to help you achieve a professional low-frequency balance between kick and bass. By comparing your mix against proven low-end targets derived from professional tracks—or your own references—the plugin gives you a clear visual guide for dialing in a balanced low end that translates reliably across playback systems.

Interface Overview

LowEnd Balance is divided into three main sections:

1. Target Section – Select and manage reference targets

2. Loudness Section – Match the loudness of your mix to the reference

3. Graph Section – Analyze and match kick and bass energy

Target Section

Located at the top of the interface, this section controls which low-end targets are used for comparison.

Target Genre Selector

The Target Genre Selector loads predefined low-end targets derived from professional mixes in different genres.

Each target defines typical peak levels for:

• Kick energy

• Bass energy

Choosing a genre gives you a reliable starting point based on how low end is typically balanced in that style.

Save Button

The Save button allows you to create and store your own target presets.

Custom targets are useful when you want to:

• Reference a specific professional track

• Capture the low end of your own productions

• Create a target for a particular artist or sub-genre

Saved targets will appear in the Target Genre Selector.

Loudness Section

Before comparing low-frequency levels, you have to make sure that your mix is analyzed at the correct reference loudness.

LUFS Meter

The LUFS meter displays the current loudness of your mix in short-term LUFS.

This allows you to monitor the loudness level and ensure it matches the target used for comparison.

Loudness Target Slider

The Loudness Target defines the reference loudness used when the targets were created.

Matching this value ensures the analysis remains consistent.

Match Target Button

Press Match Target to automatically apply internal gain so your mix matches the loudness target.

In addition to adjusting the overall level, it also reduces the dynamic range of the signal to better match the dynamics typically found in mastered tracks. This allows the kick and bass peaks in your mix to be compared more accurately to the reference targets.

Gain Slider

The Gain slider allows you to manually apply internal gain if you prefer to match the loudness target yourself.

This can be useful if you want to fine-tune the gain or deliberately add slightly more or less gain than the automatic match function provides.

Like the Match Target function, this gain is applied internally for analysis only and does not affect the output level of your mix unless you solo a specific frequency band.

Graph Section

The graph visualizes the peak loudness of low-frequency events over time, allowing you to compare your mix to the reference targets.

Two frequency bands are analyzed:

Sub Band Very low frequencies responsible for the deepest bass energy.

Bass Band Upper low frequencies that contribute to punch and body.

Kick and Bass Targets

Each frequency band contains two target sliders.

Kick Slider

Defines the target peak level of kick hits in that band.

Bass Slider

Defines the target peak level of bass notes in that band.

Your goal is to adjust your mix so that the peaks in the graph align closely with these targets.

Band Solo Buttons

Each band includes a Solo button.

When activated, only the selected frequency band is played back. This makes it easier to hear:

• Kick energy

• Bass energy

• Masking between elements

Crossover Sliders

The Crossover sliders determine the frequency boundaries between the Sub and Bass bands.

Adjusting the crossovers allows you to tailor the analysis for different genres and production styles.

Target Toggle Buttons

These buttons control which targets are displayed in the graph.

Loudness Target (green) – Displays the overall loudness reference
Kick Target (pink) – Displays kick peak targets
Bass Target (blue) – Displays bass peak targets

You can toggle these independently to focus on specific aspects of the mix.

Time Scale Slider

Controls how much time is visible in the graph.

• Shorter settings show more detailed transient activity

• Longer settings provide a broader overview of the low-end balance

Peak Scale Slider

Adjusts the vertical scale of the graph.

This lets you zoom the peak scale in or out for easier comparison with the targets.

Using LowEnd Balance

LowEnd Balance is designed to integrate quickly into your mixing workflow.

Step 1 — Insert the Plugin

Place LowEnd Balance on the master or main output track so it analyzes the combined low end of your mix.

Step 2 — Choose a Target Genre

Select a genre that best matches your track.

This loads low-end targets derived from professional mixes in that style.

Step 3 — Match the Loudness

Press Match Target to automatically align your mix with the loudness target.

Matching loudness ensures the analysis is accurate and comparable to the reference targets.

Step 4 — Adjust Kick and Bass

Use EQ and level adjustments on your kick and bass tracks until the peaks in the graph align with the targets in both frequency bands.

In many mixes:

• The kick appears as taller, isolated spikes

• The bass appears as groups of spikes with similar height

However, this pattern can vary depending on the sounds and arrangement.

When kick and bass sit close to the targets, your mix will typically achieve a balanced low end that translates reliably across playback systems.

Creating Your Own Targets

You can also build custom targets based on your own reference tracks.

This allows you to match the low end of a specific song or production style.

1 — Load a Reference Track

Place LowEnd Balance on the master track of your reference mix.

2 — Configure the Analysis

Adjust the following controls to your preference:

• Crossover sliders

• Time scale slider

• Peak scale slider

These settings define how the low-end analysis is displayed.

3 — Set the Loudness Target

Adjust the Loudness Target slider until it matches the peak loudness of the reference track.

4 — Set Kick and Bass Targets

Adjust the Kick and Bass sliders in both frequency bands until they match the peak loudness of the kick and bass visible in the graph.

5 — Save the Target

Click Save, enter a name for the preset, and store the target.

Your custom target will now appear in the Target Genre Selector and can be used in future mixes.

Understanding the Graph

The graph is the core visualization in LowEnd Balance. It shows the true peak loudness of low-frequency events over time, separated into two frequency regions.

This allows you to clearly see how your kick and bass behave relative to the target levels.

What the Peaks Represent

Each spike in the graph represents a low-frequency event detected in your mix.

Typically these events correspond to:

• Kick drum hits

• Bass notes

• Occasionally other low-frequency sounds such as toms or synths

The height of each spike represents the peak loudness of that event within the selected frequency band.

Identifying Kick and Bass

In many mixes, kick and bass produce visually distinct patterns.

Kick

• Often appears as tall individual spikes

• Occurs rhythmically on the beat

• Usually has higher peak energy

Bass

• Often appears as groups of spikes with similar height or longer structures

• Follows melodic or rhythmic patterns

• Usually slightly lower peaks than kick

However, this behavior can vary depending on:

• Sound design

• Compression

• Sidechain processing

• Arrangement

Because of this, it is best to listen to the track while watching the graph to learn how your kick and bass appear.

Sub vs Bass Bands

LowEnd Balance separates the low end into two frequency regions:

Sub Band

Contains the deepest low frequencies.

This band is responsible for:

• Subwoofer energy

• Deep rumble

• Physical impact

Genres such as trap, drum and bass, and dubstep often have strong energy here.

Bass Band

Contains the upper low frequencies.

This band contributes to:

• Punch

• Perceived loudness of the low end

• Translation on smaller speakers

Balancing this band correctly is crucial for mixes that translate well outside of club systems.

Using the Graph Effectively

A well-balanced low end usually shows:

• Kick peaks aligning near the kick targets

• Bass peaks aligning near the bass targets

• Consistent peak behavior across the timeline

Small deviations are normal, but large mismatches may indicate:

• Kick too loud or too quiet

• Bass overpowering the mix

• Poor frequency separation between kick and bass

Use the Targets as Guidance

The targets in LowEnd Balance represent common patterns found in professional mixes, but they are not strict rules.

Different productions may intentionally deviate from them.

Use the targets as a reference point, while trusting your ears and artistic vision.

LowEnd Balance

- User Manual -