1. Volume in the Ableton Mixer 2.

Peak Level
Each line on the Ableton mixer measures Average Level
6dB of volume.
This number shows
Digital volume is measured in dbFS, Peak Level in dBFS
meaning "decibels relative to Full Scale"
This number shows
Full Scale (Peak) is the point where the track volume in dBFS
system can not measure any more,
The light green
and we hear distortion.
bars show Peak level
And digital distortion sounds really bad. The dark green bars
show Average level
(RMS)

RMS means "Root-Mean-Square", which

measures sound the same way our ears

3. VU meter & Ableton meter levels naturally perceive loudness.

When you see RMS, think "loudness."

Here are two meters with the same music going through them at the same time.
When you see Peak, think "the Limit."

4. HEADROOM
HEADROOM is how many db of space
your mix can increase before distortion.

Headroom is essential for dynamic, loud,

The Ableton meter displays an average mix level around -18dbFS (three lines down). professional-sounding mixes.
The VU meter displays an average mix level around 0dB.
Keep your master channel at -18db RMS
-18 dbFS = 0 dbVU to preserve HEADROOM in your mix.
VU meters show the average level a lot more clearly than the Ableton RMS meter.
Use a VU meter to read the RMS mix level..

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