Section-based targeting
Measures the loudest sliding window (default 20 s / 5 s hop), not whole-file average or playback-time trim.
Work in progress · Open source · Windows
Loudness prep for the drop, not the average.
Analyze the loudest sections of your tracks, set your own LUFS target and true-peak ceiling, and render _DG copies without touching your originals. You'll always know how loud the drop actually hits.
For DJs comfortable running from source while builds and limiter support expand.
SECTION
LUFS
-7.6
dBTP
-1.0
GAIN
+1.2
Exports standard audio files for DJ libraries
RekordboxSeratoTRAKTORVirtualDJMixxxWAVAIFFMP3FLAC
Features
Your targets, your call
LUFS band, ceiling, gain mode, analysis window, and output routing — exposed in Preferences, not hidden behind one-click presets.
True-peak ceiling
Default -1.0 dBTP. When level and peak conflict, gain is reduced or limiter-assisted processing applies.
Clean gain or limiter-assisted
Linear gain when the ceiling allows. FabFilter Pro-L 2 with a capped max reduction when peak control is needed.
Library analysis
Recursive scan with per-track LUFS, dBTP, suggested gain, limiter estimate, and render eligibility.
_DG outputs
Non-destructive copies beside sources or under a separate root. All metadata is preserved, whether keeping the original format or forcing AIFF/MP3.
Library Tuning
Profile your library and get recommended targets, window/hop, thresholds, and ceiling settings.
Verification
Post-render re-measurement, loudness tags stripped, optional CSV report and session log.
Bass-aware trim
On positive gain only: low-band energy can reduce boost on bass-heavy sections.
Open by design
Control you can verify
Closed prep tools trade transparency for convenience. DropGain is built the other way around.
Read the processing chain
Licensed under AGPL-3.0. Gain, limiting, and measurement logic live in the repo — auditable and forkable, not a black box.
Parameters, not presets
Window length, hop size, LUFS targets, true-peak ceiling, gain mode, and export routing stay in your hands.
Review before render
Every track is analyzed first. LUFS, dBTP, and suggested gain appear in the table before any batch processing runs.
Workflow
Source to _DG in five steps
Analyze your library, review per-track numbers, then render copies. Library Tuning is optional profiling along the way.
Source folder
Analyze
Review table / waveform
Render
*_DG outputs
Library Tuningoptional
Current limitations
What to expect right now
DropGain is a work in progress — useful if you want section-based loudness prep and can run a Python app from source. Not ready for casual install-and-go use yet.
Source install only
No Windows installer or packaged executable yet. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and run from source.
Active development
Bugs are still possible. Test exports on copies of your library, not your only masters.
Pro-L 2 for limiter mode
Limiter-assisted processing currently requires FabFilter Pro-L 2 (VST3) (30-day free trial available). Clean gain and full analysis work without it.
UI still evolving
The app is functional but not polished. Expect rough edges while the interface improves.
Early adopters
Early adopters wanted
No rented quotes or suspicious five-star screenshots — just an empty row until real DJs actually use DropGain in their prep workflow.
If that is you, drop me an email or start a discussion with a short note or before/after result. Good feedback may earn a name here later.
Setup
Run from source
No installer yet — follow the repo README for dependency install, then launch main.pyw and validate your setup in Preferences before rendering.
What you need
- WindowsTested by the author. macOS/Linux may work but are untested.
- FFmpeg / ffprobeMust be on PATH for analysis and render.
- FabFilter Pro-L 2 (VST3)Only for limiter-assisted mode (30-day free trial available). Clean gain and full library analysis work without it.
Developer setup
- Python 3customtkinter, numpy, scipy, pyloudnorm, mutagen, pedalboard, Pillow
- Clone and runLaunch main.pyw from the app repo after installing dependencies.
- Validate in PreferencesCheck Pro-L 2 detection and system dependencies before batch render.
Disable playback auto gain before loading _DG exports
This is required in Rekordbox, Serato, TRAKTOR, VirtualDJ, and similar software. Auto gain will fight the levels DropGain applied and make your prep unreliable in the booth.
Try it early
Clone the repo, set your targets, review the analysis table, and render _DG copies when you are ready.