Loudness
Definition
The perceived intensity of a sound, which correlates with — but is not identical to — level or amplitude. Influenced by frequency content, dynamics, duration, and the psychoacoustic response of human hearing.
In Simple Terms
How loud something actually sounds to your ears — not what the meter says. A heavily compressed track might measure the same as a dynamic one but feel louder because it's dense and constant. Loudness is perception, not just numbers.
In Practice
A heavily compressed track may measure louder on a peak meter but feel less engaging than a more dynamic track at the same average loudness, because the constant density causes ear fatigue.