RockAlternative Rock

Alternative Rock Frequency Spectrum vs. Pink Noise

Five Alternative Rock records measured against pink noise, every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS:

  • Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine”
  • Foo Fighters “Rescued”
  • Cage The Elephant “Neon Pill”
  • Kings Of Leon “Mustang”
  • Nothing But Thieves “Overcome”

Alternative rock has almost no sub (20–60 Hz sits on pink) and puts its weight in the bass (+6 dB) and the midrange (+3 dB), where the guitars live. The high mids stay above pink and the air rolls off to about 6 dB under. The stereo image is wide from the low mids up, and the kick peaks higher than in electronic sets, at 53–88 Hz.

Alternative Rock average frequency spectrum compared to pink noise, five reference tracks overlaid
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Alternative Rock frequency spectrum vs. other genres

The same pink-noise comparison for two related genres and three very different ones.

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Alternative Rock instrument frequency ranges and levels

Where the individual parts of a Alternative Rock mix sit — sub, kick, snare, the supporting and prominent mid layers, air and splash — as REFFREY's PARTS mode outlines them from the references.

Alternative Rock PARTS breakdown: sub, kick, snare, support, prominence, air and splash regions across 5 reference tracks
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REFFREY // Alternative Rock Parts Breakdown
PartPeak positionPeak level
Foundations
SUB53–100 Hz−28 to −25 dB
KICK53–88 Hz−26 to −22 dB
SNARE158–205 Hz−29 to −23 dB
Mids
SUPPORT293 Hz – 6 kHz−47 to −45 dB
PROMINENCE539 Hz – 3.1 kHz−31 to −21 dB
Highs
AIR6–22 kHz−65 to −62 dB
SPLASH6–22 kHz−49 to −47 dB

Levels are peak spectrum levels with every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS, so they compare across tracks and across genres.

Alternative Rock parts vs. other genres

Where Alternative Rock’s sub, kick, snare and mid layers sit next to five other genres.

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Alternative Rock Full Reference Stack: Peak, Average, and Stereo Width curves

Average (filled) and peak (dashed) spectra of every reference, with the stereo width strip below. Width is the side-to-mid level per frequency, averaged over the analyzed section: 0 dB means the sides are as loud as the centre, MONO means there is no difference between left and right at all.

Alternative Rock average, peak and stereo width spectra for 5 reference tracks
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Reference tracks and sections analyzed

The 5 Alternative Rock tracks behind this RefMap and the section of each that was analyzed. This is the Alternative Rock set that ships inside REFFREY.

  1. Linkin ParkThe Emptiness Machine
    Linkin Park — The Emptiness Machine: waveform with the analyzed section 2:37–3:03 marked
  2. Foo FightersRescued
    Foo Fighters — Rescued: waveform with the analyzed section 3:18–3:58 marked
  3. Cage The ElephantNeon Pill
    Cage The Elephant — Neon Pill: waveform with the analyzed section 2:31–2:50 marked
  4. Kings Of LeonMustang
    Kings Of Leon — Mustang: waveform with the analyzed section 2:45–3:10 marked
  5. Nothing But ThievesOvercome
    Nothing But Thieves — Overcome: waveform with the analyzed section 2:50–3:25 marked

Captured September 2026 from the REFFREY default set “Alternative Rock”. Analysis only — no audio is included.

Compare your tracks to your favorite artists with REFFREY

This Alternative Rock set ships inside REFFREY. Load it, drop your mix on top, and DIFF and PARTS show exactly where yours differs — in real time from your DAW.

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Tested in: Ableton • Reaper • Logic Pro • FL Studio

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