LUFS for 'Dummies

At the 2025 NAMM Show, RECORDING Editor Paul Vnuk Jr. approached me to ask whether I’d be interested in writing a “LUFS for Dummies” article, albeit perhaps with a less abrasive title. “You mean there are people whose entire life hasn’t been taken over by loudness?” was my immediate thought. Having worked at NUGEN Audio for eight years, it’s hard to imagine a world where my every waking thought isn’t preoccupied with loudness. Even when working on my own creative projects outside of NUGEN, VisLM (our flagship loudness meter, for the uninitiated) is rarely far from my line of sight. But, of course, this isn’t the case for most people! If I worked for a manufacturer of high-end luggage, I wouldn’t expect everyone else to match my knowledge of extendable suitcase handles and their durability, and the same should apply for someone working for a manufacturer of loudness meters.