Thrive™

Streaming-first mastering with spec validation.

Master with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Netflix, and broadcast targets visible in real time — so you can see exactly how far you are from each one before you upload. Thrive's loudness panel shows fourteen platform targets side by side, with at-a-glance status pills, live delta measurements, and a one-click Auto-Spec suggestion to help you get in the neighborhood of the selected target.

$79 $99

Perpetual license Buy once. Use forever. 14-day refund guarantee.

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What you get

Everything included in the download.

✓ Thrive v1.0 for macOS — signed and notarized installer, one-click install to AU and VST3 plugin folders.

✓ Perpetual license — buy once, use forever. No subscription. No annual renewal. No online activation.

✓ 33 factory presets across 12 categories — foundational mastering starts plus genre sets for Electronic, Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Classical, and Spoken Word.

✓ Free updates through v1.x — every point release and feature update in the 1.x series ships free to license holders.

✓ Free upgrade path to Windows VST3 (shipping Q1 2027) and AAX for Pro Tools (shipping Q2 2027). Existing license holders get both format additions at no extra cost.

✓ Email support from the developer — typically same-day responses. Bug reports are welcomed and acted on.

✓ 14-day full refund if the plugin doesn't work for you. No questions, no re-activation drama.

What's in it

A full mastering chain,
built around streaming delivery.

Standards-based loudness metering

A dedicated panel shows Integrated, Short-Term, and Momentary LUFS (per ITU-R BS.1770-4) alongside True Peak (L/R), PSR dynamic range, and stereo correlation. A 30-second scrolling LUFS graph shows how loudness has evolved across the section you just played. Every measurement is defined and referenced — see How Thrive measures loudness, level, and dynamics for definitions and why LUFS and dB aren't interchangeable.

Fourteen platform targets

Each preset carries the platform's currently published loudness target, true-peak ceiling, and dynamic-range floor — measured to the platform's published specification, with notes on user-override behavior (see platform notes below the grid). Verified against primary source docs as of 2026; we update when platforms change their specs.

Spotify-14 LUFS (default)

Apple Music-16 LUFS (Sound Check)

YouTube-14 LUFS

TikTok-14 LUFS*

Tidal-14 LUFS

Amazon Music HD-14 LUFS*

Netflix-24 LUFS integrated*

Disney+See platform docs

Amazon Prime VideoSee platform docs

CD Master-9 LUFS (convention, not a spec)

Vinyl Prep-14 LUFS (cutting reference, not a spec)

ATSC A/85-24 LKFS (US broadcast)

EBU R128-23 LUFS (EU broadcast)

Platform notes.

Streaming targets are for default normalization. Spotify offers Loud (-11), Normal (-14), Quiet (-19), or Off. Apple Music's Sound Check is user-toggleable. Tidal and Amazon Music are similar. YouTube's normalization applies attenuation only — quiet masters are not boosted. Listeners can override normalization on most platforms; your master is heard as-mastered when they do.

Video platforms use dialogue-anchored LKFS. Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video specify loudness against isolated dialogue (Netflix's published spec is -27 LKFS dialogue-anchored). Thrive measures integrated LUFS across the full program — the Netflix chip shows -24 LUFS integrated as an approximation of Netflix's dialogue-anchored spec for typical film mixes. For serious video delivery, use dedicated dialogue-anchored metering (Nugen VisLM, iZotope Insight, or a Dolby tool). Consult each platform's mix specification.

CD and vinyl are conventions, not specs. There is no LUFS specification for either. Values shown are common practice for modern mastering, not a platform requirement.

*Netflix integrated value is an approximation for full-mix integrated LUFS metering, not Netflix's actual delivery spec (which is -27 LKFS measured on isolated dialogue). Use dedicated dialogue-anchored tools for actual Netflix delivery.

*TikTok and Amazon Music HD values are per commonly cited industry sources; consult each platform's current published guidance if you're delivering to spec.

At-a-glance spec status

In Spec Out of Spec Adjust Limiter

Red / green pills tell you instantly whether your master is on target for the selected platform. Live guidance text describes the delta — "Integrated LUFS is 3 dB over target; True Peak is within limits" — instead of just throwing numbers at you. You decide whether to adjust and how — the plugin surfaces the information, not a prescription.

Codec preview

Listen to your master through DSP approximations of AAC 256, MP3 320, and Opus 128 — models built to reproduce each codec's known artifact signature — before you hand off. A "Compensate" button applies codec-aware dynamic-EQ moves to counter the damage zones each codec is known to expose. (The real streaming encoders are proprietary; Thrive's previews are approximations, useful as a directional guide rather than a bit-perfect prediction.)

One-click Auto-Spec

Sets your limiter gain and ceiling so the master hits the selected platform target without fishing for the right combination. Tweak from there.

Full mastering chain

6-band parametric EQ with optional per-band dynamic mode and live spectrum overlay. Compressor with transfer-curve visualization. Stereo width. Brickwall limiter with lookahead. Output stage with input/output gain, mix (parallel processing), dither, and true-peak detection.

Buy Thrive — $79 launch price

Factory Presets

Starting points for every genre.

Thrive ships with 33 factory presets across 11 categories — Mastering, Technique, Dynamic-EQ showcases, Mixing, Electronic, Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Classical, and Spoken Word (podcast, broadcast voice, audiobook narration). Each preset is a starting point, not a finished master — combine with a platform target and Auto-Spec for fast results, or hand-tune from there.

System requirements

macOS 11.0 or later.

Operating systemmacOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
ArchitectureApple Silicon or Intel — Universal Binary
Plugin formatsAudio Unit (AU), VST3
Tested hostsLogic Pro, Ableton Live, Studio One, Reaper, GarageBand
Memory8 GB RAM recommended
Storage200 MB free disk space

Windows VST3 shipping Q1 2027. AAX (Pro Tools) shipping Q2 2027. Existing license holders get both format additions free.

Frequently Asked

Questions before you buy.

How is Thrive different from FabFilter Pro-L 2 or iZotope Ozone?

Thrive is built around streaming-platform delivery. Most loudness meters show you the LUFS of your master; Thrive shows you your master's measurements against fourteen platform targets side by side, with notes on how each platform actually behaves. The codec preview + codec-aware EQ compensation workflow — hearing your master through DSP approximations of AAC 256, MP3 320, and Opus 128 with one-click EQ moves to counter each codec's known damage zones — is uncommon in mastering plugins as a first-class feature. (Standalone codec-preview tools exist; Thrive integrates the preview with the rest of the chain.)

Will Thrive replace my existing mastering chain?

For streaming-delivered masters, Thrive can be the entire chain — the EQ, compressor, stereo width, limiter, and output stage are all included. Many mastering engineers will instead use Thrive as the final stage of an existing chain, replacing their loudness meter, limiter, and delivery formatting. Both workflows are supported.

What formats does Thrive ship in?

At launch: macOS Audio Unit (Logic Pro, GarageBand), and VST3 (Ableton, Studio One, Reaper, and other modern DAWs). Windows VST3 ships in Q1 2027. AAX for Pro Tools ships in Q2 2027. If you buy the macOS version today, both format additions are free when they ship — you don't pay again.

Is there a free demo?

Yes. A 14-day fully-functional demo of Thrive is available — install, run any material through it, master to your normal workflow. After 14 days the plugin loads with audio bypassed and a prominent purchase prompt. No watermarks, no feature limits during the trial. Contact support if you'd like a demo download link.

What's your refund policy?

Full refund within 14 days of purchase, no questions asked. Email support@thrivemastering.com from the address you bought with. Refunds are processed same-day.

How many computers does a license cover?

Your license covers up to two Macs that you personally own and use — typically a studio desktop and a laptop. Thrive v1.0 doesn't require online activation; you install from the download link in your purchase email. If you need to install on a replacement machine (laptop upgrade, hardware failure, etc.), just use the same download link again. License transfers to another person are supported with a $30 admin fee. See our EULA for full terms.

Is this a subscription?

No. Thrive is a perpetual license — buy once, use forever. No subscription. No annual renewal. No online activation.

Is my checkout secure?

Yes. Checkout is handled by Payhip, a UK-based payment platform. Payhip uses Stripe and PayPal for PCI-compliant payment processing — we never see your card details. Payhip acts as Merchant of Record for VAT collection in the EU and UK; for other jurisdictions, Thrive Mastering (Mixing Pro AI, LLC) is the seller of record.

Ready to ship your next master to spec

Get Thrive.

Perpetual license. Instant delivery. 14-day refund. Everything you need to master streaming-first, without guessing.