Why LUFS Matters and How to Prepare Audio Before You Edit

Peak level does not tell you how loud a whole programme feels. Two files can peak at the same point while one sounds consistently louder because its average energy and dynamic range are different.

LUFS gives editors a more useful way to assess that perceived loudness before export or handoff.

What Is LUFS?

LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale. It measures perceived loudness over time rather than looking only at the loudest sample.

The main programme-level measurement is integrated loudness. Sequence measures it using the ITU-R BS.1770-4 method.

Treat Targets as Delivery Decisions

There is no universal LUFS target. The right value depends on the destination, delivery specification, and desired dynamic range.

Common working points include:

• Online and social video: around −14 LUFS.
• Spoken-word podcasts: around −16 LUFS.
• EBU R128 broadcast delivery: −23 LUFS.

These are starting points, not substitutes for a broadcaster, platform, network, or client specification. Always check the current delivery requirements for the job.

True peak estimates peaks that can appear during playback or encoding, even when individual digital samples remain below the ceiling. Leaving headroom can reduce the chance of inter-sample clipping after compression.

What Is Loudness Range (LRA)?

LRA measures how much loudness varies across a piece of content, in Loudness Units (LU). A tighter range can suit speech that needs to remain intelligible in changing listening conditions. A wider range preserves more contrast when the creative or delivery context allows it.

The number is descriptive, not a quality score. Listen to the result and make sure the dynamics still serve the content.

How Sequence Handles This

Sequence includes loudness analysis, A/B preview, and normalisation in the rough-cut workflow. The source media remains unchanged.

Real-Time LUFS Metering

During playback, Sequence shows loudness information based on BS.1770-4 measurement. Use it alongside the waveform and your ears; a meter cannot decide whether the mix is creatively right.

Normalisation Presets

Sequence includes presets for common working targets:

Choose the closest preset, confirm it against the delivery specification, and preview the result before committing the prepared audio.

Advanced Control

Advanced mode lets you set loudness and dynamic-range values independently within Sequence’s supported range. Those guardrails prevent extreme settings, but they do not guarantee compliance with every delivery specification.

Codec Awareness

Sequence inspects the source audio and creates prepared media without overwriting the original. Encoding and container behaviour can vary by source and export path, so check the resulting file when the delivery requires an exact codec, sample rate, or bitrate.

The Result

Sequence stores the chosen loudness settings with the project variant. The prepared audio can be used in a finished media export or carried into Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

This removes a repetitive setup pass, but it does not replace a final listen, a proper mix, or the technical quality check required for delivery.