iZotope Audiolens v1.4.0-R2R

you don't know how each instrument on the reference track was handled individually in the mix.

The plugin just creates a curve profile of the overall frequencies of a sound you can use later on to compare it with your mix, it is really helpful for people like me with a small semi-treated studio that can't afford to have 20k studio monitors... so I compare my mixes against 100k studio mixes, and rest assure that if they have a similar frequency balance my mixes will translate better in more expensive systems... but I feel this discussion is too technical for someone that probably doesn't know what "mix" means.

It's more of a simulation method than a mixing method...

You don't have to "Know" the 1:1 processing of an individual track for referencing. You "Get it in the ballpark." The 60's and 70's were built on "Ballparking" mixed with science. Same difference here with Audiolens.

Splicing tape, hand written settings notes on the mix board, a second/3rd 'Dude' helping to ride faders, tape delay, and VU Meters were all imperfect techniques deployed to create solid music in the 60's-70's. All are forms of "Getting it in the Ball Park". None of those techniques were 'Precise', Audiolens is not precise. "Ballpark" is the key here.

Those techniques (And More) have been replaced by technology, except in your studio because tech is a 'Crutch', correct? Your fader-rider must be very happy with your attitude and today's fader-rider rates.

Your line of thinking is the view from in the grave of history looking out, relegated to old bitter mentor stories, anecdotes of teachers, and in the recorded history of audio production elitist gatekeeping..."Mix With the Masters" interviews.

AB Metric/Span/Tonal Balance plugins are here to stay. Hater-Producers from the 70's-90's are not.

That fast-approaching meteor in the sky is definitely not getting smaller bro. Don't look up.

In the late seventies, when I started working as a sound engineer, no one even thought about such *******. But there was SOUND.
Nowadays, instead of learning how to process a mix, music creators try to make sound using THIS. Naturally, someone makes good money on this.