VU Meter from Waves is a utility that shows averaged level readings on a mechanical-style needle display, inserted on individual channels or on stereo buses to check loudness and headroom.
VU Meter at a glance
| Developer | Waves |
|---|---|
| Type | Studio Tools / Utility |
| Formats | VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 or later, macOS |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €26.78 (regular €55.93) |
What VU Meter does
Where a digital peak meter jumps with every transient, this meter averages out short peaks so the displayed reading follows musical energy more closely. The developer states that the design target was mechanical realism rather than modeling a specific sound, and that the readings correlate more closely with how ears perceive musical energy than peak meters do. An LED-style clip indicator lights at levels above -0.009 dBFS, and the scale is shown in Volume Units dB with a reference adjustment, so the headroom can be calibrated against the reference level set in the DAW.
Because the processing load is listed as negligible, any number of channels can carry an instance. The stereo version can be displayed in a small, medium or large meter size.
Key features
- Averaged needle reading. Short peaks are averaged out, so the needle shows the level trend rather than each transient, which helps when judging how dynamic a mix sits.
- Clip indicator. An LED-style light turns on at levels above -0.009 dBFS, flagging the point where the signal reaches digital full scale.
- Reference level calibration. The scale is set in Volume Units dB, and the reference adjustment aligns it with the reference level used in the DAW.
- Stereo meter sizes. The stereo version offers small, medium and large meter sizes to suit the layout of the session window.
- Low processing cost. The developer describes the CPU use as negligible, so a meter can be inserted on as many channels as needed.
Compatibility
VU Meter is available as VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS, with Windows 10 as the minimum operating system.
VU Meter compared with similar plugins
SSL Meter from Solid State Logic is a studio metering tool offered as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS. Both are listed under the Studio Tools / Metering type, while VU Meter from Waves is listed under Studio Tools / Utility.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VU Meter | Waves | Utility | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €26.78 (regular €55.93) |
| SSL Meter | Solid State Logic | Metering | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €49.98 |
| K-Meter | MeterPlugs | Metering | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €44.63 |
| SSL Meter Pro | Solid State Logic | Metering | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €101.15 |
| ListenHub | Sonnox | Referencing Tools | VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone | macOS | €84.29 |
Price and availability
VU Meter was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €26.78, reduced from €55.93. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
VU Meter FAQ
Is VU Meter available as a torrent or magnet link?
Torrent and magnet link repacks of the Windows and macOS builds are listed, and the repack is often packed as .rar or .iso.