Metering

Definition

The visual display of audio signal levels using different measurement approaches. Peak, RMS, VU, and LUFS meters each measure different aspects of a signal and are used for different purposes across production and mastering.

In Simple Terms

The visual displays that show you what's happening with your audio—how loud it is, whether it's clipping, how dense it sounds. Your ears make the creative decisions; meters give you the objective numbers to back them up.

In Practice

A mastering session uses both a true peak meter (to prevent clipping) and an integrated LUFS meter (to meet streaming platform loudness targets) simultaneously.

Sources & Verification

• →
  ITU-R BS.1770-4 — Algorithms to measure audio programme loudness and true-peak audio level
  International Telecommunication Union, 2015
  https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-BS.1770
• →
  EBU Tech 3341 — Loudness Metering: 'EBU Mode' metering to supplement EBU R 128
  European Broadcasting Union, 2016
  https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/tech3341
• →
  AES17-2020 — AES standard method for digital audio engineering
  Audio Engineering Society, 2020
  https://www.aes.org/publications/standards/

Last verified: 2026-05-05

Related Terms