How Pre Fader Metering ACTUALLY Works in Logic Pro

There are lots of ways for you to keep track of levels throughout your Projects. From the meters of the individual Channel Strips to dedicated plug-ins like Logic’s Multimeter.

But are you familiar with Logic’s Pre Fader Metering? Like, really familiar with it?

Pre Fader Metering is a handy mode that allows you to flip what the Mixer’s meters are telling you about your track levels:

Non-Pre Fader Metering reports the peak levels of your tracks including fader adjustments
Pre Fader Metering reports peak levels of your tracks excluding fader adjustments

In a nutshell:

Pre Fader Metering = peak metering that takes place before the fader.

While it sounds simple enough, many users tend to misunderstand how Pre Fader Metering works. For example:

Some users believe Pre Fader Metering measures levels before plug-in processing.
Other users believe Pre Fader Metering is the only way for Logic Pro to accurately report recording levels.

In both these cases, neither are true. Pre Fader Metering occurs before the fader but after plug-in processing.

And when you record-enable audio tracks, Logic Pro’s meters automatically report input recording levels. Regardless of plug-in processing or fader adjustments.

No doubt some won’t believe me. But it’s true. And today’s video will walk you through Pre Fader Metering in 3 different use cases: