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. The kick peaks between 53 and 111 Hz, higher than in the dance sets, and the snare sits at 158–193 Hz.
Mainstream Pop frequency spectrum vs. other genres
The same pink-noise comparison for two related genres and three very different ones.
Mainstream Pop instrument frequency ranges and levels
Where the individual parts of a Mainstream Pop mix sit — sub, kick, snare, the supporting and prominent mid layers, air and splash — as REFFREY's PARTS mode outlines them from the references.
| REFFREY // Mainstream Pop Parts Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part | Peak position | Peak level |
| Foundations | ||
| SUB | 29–76 Hz | −27 to −21 dB |
| KICK | 53–111 Hz | −22 to −19 dB |
| SNARE | 158–193 Hz | −30 to −22 dB |
| Mids | ||
| SUPPORT | 293 Hz – 6 kHz | −48 to −42 dB |
| PROMINENCE | 375 Hz – 3.9 kHz | −27 to −21 dB |
| Highs | ||
| AIR | 6–22 kHz | −64 to −61 dB |
| SPLASH | 6–22 kHz | −48 to −46 dB |
Levels are peak spectrum levels with every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS, so they compare 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.
Compare your tracks to your favorite artists 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.