There is a new metering standard called LUFS, which is quickly becoming a standard loudness measurement unit for mastering. Here is everything you never wanted to know about LUFS: https://tech.ebu.ch/loudness
Hoffa 4U makes a nice LUFS meter that packs a bunch more features, including some Mid/Side processing and panning. It's called HOFA 4U Meter, Fader & MS-Pan.
https://hofa-plugins.de/en/plugins/4u/
Feeding a good limiter so that you get just enough gain reduction where it's not distorting and a reading of about 10-13 LUFS on the 4U meter will make any rock, pop or EDM song plenty, plenty loud while retaining clarity and punch.
I use this along with the TT Dynamic Range Meter to measure the peak-to-loudness ratio of the music I am mixing and mastering. It's well worth the price (free!).
If you are interested in having me master a song for you - for free - head over to www.levityproject.com/mastering and fill in the mastering form.
Here's to your music!
Ryan
