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
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  EBU Tech 3341. Loudness Metering: 'EBU Mode' metering to supplement EBU R 128
  European Broadcasting Union, 2016
  https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/tech3341
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  AES17-2020. AES standard method for digital audio engineering
  Audio Engineering Society, 2020
  https://www.aes.org/publications/standards/

Last verified: 2026-05-05

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