U-03

NORMALIZE
READOUT
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Manual

  1. NORMALIZE adjusts the level of an audio file to a target value. It has two modes: peak normalize, which matches the loudest point of the waveform to a target, and loudness normalize, which matches LUFS — a measure closer to perceived loudness — to a target.

  2. Peak normalize: detects the loudest point (peak) in the file and applies a single gain change so it lands exactly on the target peak level (-1.0dBFS or -0.1dBFS). The relative dynamics of the waveform don't change.

  3. Loudness normalize: measures LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) based on the EBU R128 / ITU-R BS.1770 standard and processes in two passes to hit a target loudness (-14 LUFS for most streaming platforms, -16 LUFS for Apple Music, -23 LUFS for EBU R128 broadcast). The first pass measures the file; the second pass uses that measurement to normalize accurately.

  4. Peak vs. loudness: peak only looks at the single loudest instant, while loudness measures perceived loudness across the whole track. Two tracks with the same peak level can have very different loudness if one is quiet and sparse and the other is dense and loud. Loudness normalize suits delivery to streaming platforms; peak normalize suits simple clipping prevention.

  5. Before/after values are shown side by side in the Readout. Everything runs in your browser; the file is never uploaded.

  6. Q. Which mode should I use? A. For delivering to Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and similar platforms, use loudness normalize. If you just want to even out volume differences, peak normalize is simpler.

  7. Q. It didn't land exactly on the target. A. Loudness normalize is a precise two-pass method, but a margin of about ±0.5dB can remain. True-peak limiting (to avoid clipping) can also nudge the result slightly away from the target.