1. LUFS and true peak
What LUFS and true peak really measure, how to read them in Studio One and which numbers matter for mastering.
Two songs can reach the same peak with one sounding much louder than the other. So the peak isn’t enough: you need to measure separately how loud it’s perceived and how high the real peak goes. That’s what LUFS and true peak are.
LUFS: perceived volume
LUFS measure volume as the ear perceives it, with more weight on mids and highs than on deep lows. There are three readings:
The average from start to finish, not counting silences. It's the number platforms use for normalizing and the one that usually guides your target.
It shows how the volume changes between parts. It's useful for checking that the chorus sits a few dB above the verse.
It reacts almost hit by hit. It's useful as a visual reference, but it isn't a good basis for decisions.
You’ll also see LRA (loudness range), which indicates how much the volume varies in the song. In dense metal it’s usually low, and that’s normal for the genre.
True peak: the real peak
A regular meter reads sample by sample. But when converting to analog or MP3, the reconstructed wave can pass above those samples. True peak estimates that real peak, and it’s measured in dBTP.
Why it matters
The numbers
- Ceiling: −1 dBTP at most.
- Rock and metal: −10 to −8 LUFS integrated. To start, −10.
- Streaming reference: around −14 LUFS, which is where platforms tend to leave the song when playing it.
−14 isn’t a mastering target for this genre: it’s the level the platform plays it at. We cover it in destinations.
Respecting the true peak ceiling avoids distortion you won't see in the session and that only appears on the platform. It's a single setting on the limiter.
How to read them in Studio One
- Project page: on the meters, choose the EBU R128 scale to read in LUFS.
- External meter, if you need one: if your version doesn’t clearly show true peak, the Youlean Loudness Meter has a free version with LUFS and true peak readings.
- Measure the whole song: the integrated value only counts from start to finish. Let it run in full before reading the number.
What the numbers don’t say
Two masters at −9 LUFS can sound very different: one open and punchy, the other crushed. LUFS measure how much, not whether it sounds good. Use them to avoid overshooting and decide with your ears.
Common mistakes
What NOT to chase yet
Quick path: measuring
Quick path
- Open the Project page and choose the EBU R128 scale.
- Measure your whole reference.
- Measure your whole master.
- Check that integrated is between −10 and −8 LUFS.
- Check that true peak doesn't exceed −1 dBTP.
- Confirm the chorus sits above the verse in short-term.
Expected result
Expected result
You know what each number measures and which one to look at, and you can read them in your session. You only need to memorize two: −1 dBTP and −10 LUFS to start. With this clear, here comes what moves them: the chain and the limiter.