Why does this reading differ slightly from my DAW's loudness meter?

Small differences can come from gating, filter, sample-rate, and channel-layout implementation details. Use a standards-validated meter for formal delivery acceptance.

Apps & Tools

LUFS File Checker

Upload an audio file for a local, offline integrated LUFS and loudness range estimate. It analyses the whole file and clearly reports where the browser calculation needs external validation.

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Knowledge Base

Integrated LUFS vs. a Live Meter

A live LUFS meter (like the site's Podcast Level Meter) shows momentary and short-term loudness as you record, useful for real-time gain staging, but it can't tell you your episode's true overall Integrated Loudness until the whole file exists. This tool measures the complete, final file using the same gated algorithm broadcast and streaming platforms use to check compliance.

What Integrated Loudness, LRA, and Peak Estimates Tell You

Integrated Loudness (LUFS): The single number platforms check against their target. This is what determines whether your file gets turned up or down on playback.
Loudness Range (LRA): How much your loudness varies over time, in LU. A very high LRA on a podcast usually means inconsistent mic levels between speakers or segments.
Peak estimate: This browser result uses linear interpolation and cannot reveal all inter-sample peaks. Use a true-peak meter with a reconstruction filter for formal delivery checks.

FAQ

Q: Why does this reading differ from my DAW's loudness meter?
A: Differences can come from gating, filters, sample rate, channel layout, and true-peak implementation. Use this tool for a local estimate and a validated meter for delivery acceptance.

Q: My file measures louder than my target, what do I do next?
A: Use the site's Loudness Normalizer to automatically adjust gain to your target LUFS and download a corrected file.