Loudness meters
Making sure your mix doesn't blast the viewer off the sofa.
What it is
About Loudness meters
Loudness meters measure integrated, short-term and momentary loudness in LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) alongside true-peak level, letting audio engineers hit the loudness targets mandated by broadcasters like EBU R128 in Europe and ATSC A/85 in the US. They're essential in the final stage of post-production to prevent jarring volume jumps between programmes, adverts and streaming platforms, and to pass broadcast delivery QC.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Measure integrated, short-term and momentary loudness in LUFS
Check true-peak levels to avoid inter-sample clipping
Verify compliance with broadcast standards like EBU R128 and ATSC A/85
Compare loudness consistency across a programme's segments
Generate loudness compliance reports for delivery QC
How to learn it
Learning Resources
EBU R128 and ATSC A/85 published loudness standard documents
iZotope's free educational content on loudness and mastering
YouTube tutorials on using loudness meter plugins in a DAW
Practise mastering or mixing a track to a specific LUFS target
Pro Tip
Mix and monitor to the target LUFS integrated value throughout the session, not just as a final check — chasing the number only at the end usually means a rushed, uneven-sounding remix.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool