LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale)
Definition
LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is the international standard unit for measuring the perceived loudness of audio content. Unlike peak level meters (which measure the instantaneous peak amplitude of the audio signal), LUFS meters measure the integrated loudness of the audio over time, which more accurately reflects how loud the content sounds to the human ear. Broadcast standards around the world specify target loudness levels in LUFS — for example, the EBU R128 standard (used in Europe) specifies a target of -23 LUFS, while the ATSC A/85 standard (used in North America) specifies -24 LUFS.
Contextual Usage
The Re-Recording Mixer checks the loudness levels before delivery: "The integrated loudness of the final mix is -22.8 LUFS, which is just slightly above the network's target of -23 LUFS. I'm going to apply a very small amount of overall gain reduction to bring it down to exactly -23 LUFS. This is a technical adjustment only — it won't affect the perceived quality of the mix."
About this section
Delivery and distribution is the final stage of the post-production process — the point at which the finished project is packaged and delivered to the distributor, broadcaster, or streaming platform. ...
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