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Guide answer

Sample Peak vs True Peak vs LUFS

Sample peak is the largest numeric sample stored in the audio file and is useful for preventing those values from exceeding digital full scale. True peak estimates the continuous waveform a converter reconstructs and can expose an inter-sample peak that the stored values miss. LUFS is a frequency-weighted, time-integrated loudness measure intended to track how programmes are perceived. Use sample peak for a simple constant-gain safety check, true peak for delivery headroom, and the specified LUFS target when programmes must sound consistently loud.

What to take away

  1. A sample-safe file can still exceed a true-peak ceiling between samples.

  2. Peak normalisation aligns one extreme value; loudness normalisation aligns an integrated programme measurement.

  3. A delivery specification should name dBFS, dBTP or LUFS rather than saying only “normalise the audio.”

The full explanation

Sample peak, true peak and programme loudness describe different properties of digital audio. Sample peak checks the values actually stored in a file; true peak estimates the continuous waveform between them; loudness applies a time- and frequency-aware model. Choosing a gain safely starts by naming the measurement the delivery target actually requires. Read the complete guide for the reasoning, examples and definitions behind this answer.

Use the idea

WAV Volume Adjustermake a WAV file quieterWAV Audio File Inspectorwhat sample rate and bit depth is this wav fileWAV Audio Trimmertrim a wav file without uploading it

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