Topmusicanswers
LUFS stands for Loudness Unit Full Scale, which references Loudness Units to full scale (i.e., the maximum level a system can handle). Steinberg Cubase, PreSonus Studio One Professional, Magix Samplitude, iZotope Insight, and other programs now include this type of metering.
- What is standard LUFS?
- What is a good LUFS level for mastering?
- What LUFS should I mix to?
- How many dB is LUFS?
What is standard LUFS?
Worldwide Loudness Delivery Standards
| CTA: Loudness Standard for Over the Top Television and Online Video Distribution for Mobile and Fixed Devices | |
|---|---|
| Standard | EBU R128 |
| Integrated (I) | –23 LUFS (±0.5 LU) |
| Short Term (Smax) | –18 LUFS/+5 LU |
| True Peak (TPmax) | –1 dBTP |
What is a good LUFS level for mastering?
The best mastering level for streaming is an integrated -14 LUFS, as it best fits the loudness normalization settings of the majority of streaming services. Although other measurements like the true peak value and other metrics need to be considered, -14 LUFS is the best mastering level when considering loudness.
What LUFS should I mix to?
How loud should your master be? Shoot for about -23 LUFS for a mix, or -6db on an analog meter. For mastering, -14 LUFS is the best level for streaming, as it will fit the loudness targets for the majority of streaming sources. With these targets, you're good to go!
How many dB is LUFS?
Both terms describe the same phenomenon and just like LKFS, one unit of LUFS is equal to one dB.
