Thanks a bunch for everyone's replies and contributions, its all good stuff for sure. Thanks for the articles, brconflict and Sanderxpander. Those were really good sources I think and I added them to my growing file. Also, thanks to interP, Sander and brcon for your videos; there was some great stuff in there too. And everyone else who mentioned the meters they use or suggest.
I am sticking with the WLM for awhile longer but am checking into some of these others that you all mentioned too. By the way, I got the WLM for very cheap-something like 39.00-that's the main reason I picked it up. I think it is regularly something like nearly 400.00 and that's not a fake sale because I remember not that long ago when that plug and most of their other plugs were "not" on sale (lately, they are going goofy with putting nearly everything they have on sale). I sort of couldn't refuse I guess.
Anyway, these things seem to be apparent to me so far about the WLM and the new way of measuring:
(In no particular order-please correct me where necessary)
1) It doesn't matter nearly as much now as it recently did as to how loud you (us) make the master because the various online delivery services pinch it off anyway and therefore make all songs the same volume.
2) According to the article which brconflict supplied (from Waves), the consensus is to shoot for about -16 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) or -6 dbTP (True Peak). This is, I think, what I was trying to figure out with the original question, so in a roundabout way, I did get the answer. I know, it would be nice if I could construct my questions better!)
3) Few people, at least around here, are using the Waves WLM, and instead, believe that several other plug-ins are superior meters.
There are probably more, but that's it for now, I am sure you guys will be able to add more if you are in the mood.
Now, just to clear something obvious up for me:
On your Master bus for your mix (not the actual master), what do you set the following at?
OutptVlm
Input Gain
Do you set these the same for each song or is it different depending on certain things?
I read different things from different sources about these settings and am quite curious about what you all do with these settings. Even interP says, I think, something somewhat contrary to what some others say; but maybe I am not following him all that well!
What are some of the numbers that some of you have uploaded to itunes or the like use? Is there a purpose in trying to make your upload master as loud as you can (without sounding awful), or do you just accept that they (services) will adjust your work anyway and so therefore you just play it safe and upload something well beneath their cut-off? It seems to me that there is a battle going on between the old way and the new way and that no one really knows just what exactly, is going on.
Professional Mastering guys ( I think they are all dudes?) don't want to give up their way of life and their "secret" ability to make music louder. But, at the same time, the emerging industry (online) is saying that they will control how loud their music (what is given to them to sell), will be. Is this not correct to your thinking?
Why make the master overly loud only to have the online music world turn it down? This is primarily the center of my original query-what is the right number for anyone putting their music online?
I hope you all have some time to give your input about these questions because, I for one, could really benefit from your experience, wisdom and all-around knowledge pertaining to this area. And, if you don't well, thanks for everything you have done, it is deeply appreciated!
bob