Mainstream Pop Frequency Spectrum vs. Pink Noise
Five Mainstream Pop records measured against pink noise, every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS:
- Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso”
- ROSÉ “APT.”
- Dua Lipa “Levitating”
- Tate McRae “greedy”
- BTS “SWIM”
Mainstream pop keeps a full low end (bass and low mids 4–5 dB over pink) with a sub that varies a lot from track to track; some of these records have almost none. The midrange sits 2–3 dB above pink, the high mids on it, and the air falls about 5 dB below.
Mainstream Pop frequency spectrum vs. other genres
The same pink-noise comparison for two related genres and three very different ones.
Mainstream Pop Mixing Guide: instrument frequency ranges and levels
The kick peaks between 53 and 111 Hz, higher than in the dance sets, over a sub at 29–76 Hz. The snare is outlined in four of the five tracks at 158–193 Hz.
| REFFREY // Mainstream Pop Parts Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part | Level vs loudest | Peak frequency |
| Foundations | ||
| SUB | −5 to −2 dB | 29–76 Hz |
| KICK | 0 dB | 53–111 Hz |
| SNARE | −9 to −2 dB | 158–193 Hz |
| Mids | ||
| SUPPORT | −27 to −24 dB | 293 Hz – 6 kHz |
| PROMINENCE | −5 to 0 dB | 375 Hz – 3.9 kHz |
| Highs | ||
| AIR | −42 to −41 dB | 6–22 kHz |
| SPLASH | −27 to −25 dB | 6–22 kHz |
How loud each part peaks compared with the song’s loudest part (0 dB). Not a fader setting. Each range covers all five tracks, every one gain-matched to -14 LUFS, so the balance compares across tracks and across genres.
Mainstream Pop parts vs. other genres
Where Mainstream Pop’s sub, kick, snare and mid layers sit next to five other genres.
Mainstream Pop 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.
Reference tracks and sections analyzed
The 5 Mainstream Pop tracks behind this RefMap and the section of each that was analyzed. This is the Mainstream Pop set that ships inside REFFREY.
- Sabrina CarpenterEspresso
- ROSÉAPT.
- Dua LipaLevitating
- Tate McRaegreedy
- BTSSWIM
Captured September 2026 from the REFFREY default set “Mainstream Pop”. Analysis only — no audio is included.
Mix like the Pros with REFFREY
This Mainstream Pop 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.