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Audio levels & loudness for video
Good sound is mostly about levels: dialogue you can always hear, music and effects that support it instead of fighting it, and a final mix as loud as the platform expects. Here are the typical targets editors aim for — tap any card for the what and the why.
Two scales to know: dBFS (peaks) & LUFS (loudness) ↓
-12 dBFSA common dialogue peak target — well below 0, with room to spare.
-6 dBFSHeadroom: keep peaks under this so nothing clips at the loudest moment.
LUFSHow loud it actually feels overall — what platforms normalize to.
Two scales, two jobs.
dBFS (decibels full scale) measures instantaneous peaks; 0 dBFS is the digital ceiling — go over and you clip/distort, so you leave headroom under it. LUFS (loudness units full scale) measures perceived loudness over time, which is what streaming platforms read and adjust. You set clip levels in dBFS while editing, then check the whole mix in LUFS before you export.
Where to set each element
relative levels in your mixPlatform loudness targets
integrated LUFS · normalization referencesThese are widely used starting points, not strict rules — every room, mic, and project is different, and your ears are the final meter. Platforms and broadcasters update their delivery specs over time, so confirm the current loudness spec for your exact destination before final delivery. Nothing on this page is sent anywhere or stored on a server.
CutRoom edits and mixes right in your browser — adjust clip volume, fade, and balance your audio, then export. No install, free forever.
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