Singer-Songwriter Frequency Spectrum vs. Pink Noise
Five Singer-Songwriter records measured against pink noise, every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS:
- Noah Kahan “Stick Season”
- Taylor Swift “cardigan”
- Ed Sheeran “Boat”
- Lizzy McAlpine “ceilings”
- Gracie Abrams “That’s So True”
Singer-songwriter records carry their weight in the bass and low mids (both 6–7 dB above pink) with a midrange 3 dB over and a sub that ranges from present to almost absent. The top end is dark: presence 6 dB and air 10 dB under pink.
Singer-Songwriter frequency spectrum vs. other genres
The same pink-noise comparison for two related genres and three very different ones.
Singer-Songwriter Mixing Guide: instrument frequency ranges and levels
Drums are only outlined in a couple of tracks (kick 41–76 Hz, snare 135–217 Hz); the prominent mid layer, where the voice sits, is the loudest part in three of the five tracks and within 1 dB of it in the other two.
| REFFREY // Singer-Songwriter Parts Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part | Level vs loudest | Peak frequency |
| Foundations | ||
| SUB | −6 to 0 dB | 41–64 Hz |
| KICK | −2 to 0 dB | 41–76 Hz |
| SNARE | −6 to −1 dB | 135–217 Hz |
| Mids | ||
| SUPPORT | −25 to −16 dB | 293 Hz – 6 kHz |
| PROMINENCE | −1 to 0 dB | 445 Hz – 6 kHz |
| Highs | ||
| AIR | −48 to −42 dB | 6–22 kHz |
| SPLASH | −30 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.
Singer-Songwriter parts vs. other genres
Where Singer-Songwriter’s sub, kick, snare and mid layers sit next to five other genres.
Singer-Songwriter 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 Singer-Songwriter tracks behind this RefMap and the section of each that was analyzed. This is the Singer-Songwriter set that ships inside REFFREY.
- Noah KahanStick Season
- Taylor Swiftcardigan
- Ed SheeranBoat
- Lizzy McAlpineceilings
- Gracie AbramsThat’s So True
Captured September 2026 from the REFFREY default set “Singer-Songwriter”. Analysis only — no audio is included.
Mix like the Pros with REFFREY
This Singer-Songwriter 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.