Plugin with equal loudness volume control

[LionIT]

Dear users,
I would like to try to ask if anyone knows a plugin for Win or Mac, in the usual VST or AU formats, which supports volume control according to equal loudness curves of ISO-226:2023.
Clearly I mean a single control for volume plus equalization in linear phase according to the aforementioned curves, possibly with exposed MIDI control.
I have been looking for something like this for some time but I only found a plugin for Linux and the Acourate Convolver, which however does not support this function in the VST version (as I seem to understand).
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[ppataki]

Dear users,
I would like to try to ask if anyone knows a plugin for Win or Mac, in the usual VST or AU formats, which supports volume control according to equal loudness curves of ISO-226:2023.
Clearly I mean a single control for volume plus equalization in linear phase according to the aforementioned curves, possibly associated with a MIDI control (knob).
I have been looking for something like this for some time but I only found a plugin for Linux and the Acourate Convolver, which however does not support this function in the VST version (as I seem to understand).
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jriver's 'Internal Volume Control' does have an equal loudness contour based volume control (that you can turn on/off with the Loudness switch and also be able to configure in the Options)
I would recommend checking that out

 

[LionIT]

Jriver's 'Internal Volume Control' does have an equal loudness contour based volume control (that you can turn on/off with the Loudness switch and also be able to configure in the Options)
I would recommend checking that out

Thanks for the contribution, but I need a VST or AU plugin.

 

[ppataki]

This one for example:

Linux Studio Plugins Project

lsp-plug.in

 

[LionIT]

This one for example:

Linux Studio Plugins Project

lsp-plug.in

This appears to be for Linux only

 

[ppataki]

Then this:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/fletchy-muncher-62731137

 

[LionIT]

Then this:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/fletchy-muncher-62731137

I also saw this, but it only works as an equalizer, not as a volume control

 

[somebodyelse]

This appears to be for Linux only

There are binary downloads for linux and freebsd. For Windows you have to compile it yourself, or find someone to do it for you. I don't know if this is a licensing issue or just that the project has limited resources, but it's certainly a significant hurdle for most Windows users.
https://lsp-plug.in/?page=download&section=source
https://discourse.ardour.org/t/lsp-plugins-windows/110393

 

[LionIT]

There are binary downloads for linux and freebsd. For Windows you have to compile it yourself, or find someone to do it for you. I don't know if this is a licensing issue or just that the project has limited resources, but it's certainly a significant hurdle for most Windows users.
https://lsp-plug.in/?page=download&section=source
https://discourse.ardour.org/t/lsp-plugins-windows/110393

As far as I know, plugins compiled for Linux are not directly compatible with Windows.
In fact, in the discussion that you link there is someone who says this.
Unfortunately I don't have the skills to recompile everything for Windows.
I think it would be easier to rewrite everything from scratch with Juce.

 

[somebodyelse]

As far as I know, plugins compiled for Linux are not directly compatible with Windows.

Correct - the plugins need to be compiled for the correct platform. The project does not provide binaries for Windows, but they do provide instructions on how to compile it for Windows in the first link. The second link is to some recent discussion of doing this in practice. I thought it was worth pointing out in case you did have the necessary skills.

Unfortunately I don't have the skills to recompile everything for Windows.
I think it would be easier to rewrite everything from scratch with Juce.

You certainly aren't the only one, and it's a shame that the project doesn't provide Windows binaries, whatever the reason.

 

[Timcognito]

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[kemmler3D]

I think this piece of ancient history might do it: https://www.kvraudio.com/product/loudness_by_mda

But I think it only does the loudness contours, so you would also need to link it to a volume control. But should be doable.

 

[Timcognito]

Part of the bundle above

 

[dasdoing]

I'm pretty sure you can find a convolver VST that allows you to preload dozens of correction curves in 1dB steps and control them via midi commands.

 

[LionIT]

Thanks for the tips guys, but none of this performs the required function (volume + full range loudness correction with linear phase and single knob/slider control).
Linking a loudness control with a level one and hoping that they are synchronized is slightly utopian in my opinion.
So far the only software found with this function is the Acourate Convolver. But only in its standalone version, so not a plugin controllable with MIDI. Also it's just for Win.

I'm pretty sure you can find a convolver VST that allows you to preload dozens of correction curves in 1dB steps and control them via midi commands.

I have pursued this idea already, but it is not as feasible as it seems.
The linear phase equalizers where to load the preset with CSV format are few and what I tried (Voxengo) did not allow me to switch with between presets with midi knob.
The convolver are even worse in this regard. And they also need to create a filter for each level ...

 

[dasdoing]

why does it have to be a VST anyways?
I used a convolver for this on the Reaper monitor bus and it sucked....using EqApo was much more CPU efficient

EqApo has a nice function for this that works with the windows volume slider, but unfortunately the implementation is wrong.....but it would be something that could be fixed

I just use curves in EqAPO that I switch on and off

 

[Keith_W]

@mitchco publishes Hang Loose Convolver which I believe has ISO226 volume control and can be installed in the signal chain as a VST in Windows. There is a Mac version as well. I tagged him, so hopefully he sees this thread and weighs in. There is a free trial available.

 

[LionIT]

@mitchco publishes Hang Loose Convolver which I believe has ISO226 volume control and can be installed in the signal chain as a VST in Windows. There is a Mac version as well. I tagged him, so hopefully he sees this thread and weighs in. There is a free trial available.

I read that Mitcho considered the hypothesis of introducing the functionality on the HLC. But currently it does not seem available to me yet, at least not from the manual.
In any case it is an expensive plugin and I believe the eventual loudness only works with a loaded filter (doesn't needed in my case because I use the free MCFX).

why does it have to be a VST anyways?
I used a convolver for this on the Reaper monitor bus and it sucked....using EqApo was much more CPU efficient

EqApo has a nice function for this that works with the windows volume slider, but unfortunately the implementation is wrong.....but it would be something that could be fixed

I just use curves in EqAPO that I switch on and off

My entire DSP system is on Reaper, which works great for this purpose. Rock solid and no problem of processing power.
With an ASIO interface I can capture my streamer signal, process it and play it without clock drift problems.
I had to optimize Windows maniacally, with NTLite, to avoid glitching. Obviously if a plugin is poorly designed there is little to do... but in the pro field it is rare.
Also, on Reaper I can use MIDI controllers, for example to adjust the volume.
EqAPO unfortunately can't compete with the versatility of a DAW.

 

[dasdoing]

try El-Curve function in Slick-Eq M

 

[digitalfrost]

try El-Curve function in Slick-Eq M

While this does not solve OPs problem, it is an amazing EQ that allows you to quickly fix albums that have been mastered with strange EQ choices. I have some stuff here that it seemingly made to be listened to very quiet, i.e. the bass is very fat, and the highs are loud and if you listen quiet everything is there. But if you increase the volume to a fun level, the bass is boomy, the highs are harsh and the midrange is recessed. Instead of manually dialing in the EQ, the "EL Curve" thing does everything at once.