r/Valeton

I had a problem I suspect many of you know: record a few presets, compare them in a mix, and even with matched LUFS they sit at completely different perceived volumes. A dense crunch pushes harder than a clean tone at the same K-weighted number — the ear isn't a meter.

I spent a few months figuring out why. The short answer: LUFS K-weighting treats all frequencies equally, but the ear doesn't. A dense midrange-heavy tone triggers more loudness perception than the number suggests.

So I built something. It measures perceived loudness using a psychoacoustic Bark-band model — same principle as Zwicker's loudness model — and gives you:

- The exact dB correction to apply to each preset's output to match perceived loudness to a reference

- A timbre-only "Character" score (presence, dynamics, stereo width) separated from volume — tells you if a difference is a gain issue or an EQ issue

- Cut-through score — how well the spectrum sits in a dense mix

- 8-band spectral balance with concrete parametric EQ suggestions

- Loudness curve over time (N50 sustain / N5 peaks)

Workflow: record the same passage through each preset, drop the files in, pick a reference, press Analyze. Runs in the browser, no install.

I'm selling it but happy to answer questions about the model or the approach first. Has anyone else run into this problem and how did you solve it?

https://www.ppianalyzer.com/

Some more detailed pictures of these three pedals for anyone considering between them. Also, here is a playlist with examples of the pitch-shifting, delays, and NAM file playability of all three (plus a blind test between the GP-50's and Pocket Master's delay and pitch-shifting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0yKRon7f8&list=PLxMvz12ZxvCdUUGQzVFEvE-wbyXyvPI0_&pp=sAgC

I ended up deciding to keep the Pocket Master. I'm primarily plan to use it as a headphone amp, so the portability sacrifice wasn't worth it for me. The GP-50 didn't sacrifice too much portability but also didn't add many extra features, while the GP-180 added quite a few extra features but was a large portability sacrifice. If there was a GP-50-sized device with all the effects of the GP-180, I would probably have opted for that. So I'm hoping Valeton eventually upgrades the GP-50, or maybe Sonicake brings some of the extra effects to a Pocket Master 2.

Also, even though it lacked some of the delays the GP-50 and GP-180 had, I did kind of like the delays they shared best on the Pocket Master. They sounded a bit warmer to me (and I tend to prefer warmer tape-style delays). Though the delays on all three are quite good - I'm super happy with them and plan to not only replace my Mustang Micro as a headphone amp, but will also be using the PM for delay into my board and selling my EHX Grand Canyon.