After all, both decibels and LUFS are more or less equal as 1 LUF is roughly 1 DB. Should You Use LUFS or DB?ĭecibels and LUFS both measure sound, so how do you know which measurement to use? On paper, LUFS and decibels seem to be the same phenomenon. Integrated LUFS represent the average loudness of sound over time while short-term LUFS merely take into account a short section of audio. A LUFS meter will usually showcase both integrated and short-term LUFS to give you a clear view of your sound. You can measure a LUFS with a LUFS meter in your DAW. In music production, this means you won't touch LUFS until you're ready to master the mix. You'll normally use LUFS when configuring how loud a piece of audio might be. By blending these two important parameters, we are able to create the most balanced perceived loudness unit for human hearing. Therefore, using LUFS is the golden loudness standard since this measurement blends our perception with actual audio output. The same phenomenon explains why we may hear low sounds louder than others while enjoying music. As we can see, there's a difference in how sounds are perceived throughout the frequency spectrum. This graph outlines audio contours across the full frequency spectrum. The difference in perception used with LUFS is outlined through the Fletcher Munson Curve: This means that LUFS doesn't just take into account true audio loudness as perceived through decibels, it also factors in how the human ear perceives sound.īased on the way sound hits the human ear, certain frequencies sound naturally louder than others. Measuring loudness with LUFS also takes into account perceived loudness. LUFS measures the average loudness of a piece of audio, measuring loudness over a specified period of time. LUFS are a broader type of loudness unit. The LUFS algorithm creates a smooth, consistent listening experience for users and alters the audio accordingly, which is why it's so important to take stock of a platform's LUFS standard while mastering. Whether you see this sound unit represented as LUFS or loudness K-weighted relative to full scale, both represent the same thing.ĭifferent audio outlets have standard LUFS levels and LUFS algorithms so that you don't experience a shocking volume difference when transitioning from one song to the next. You might also see LUFS described as LKFS, which is an acronym for loudness K-weighted, relative to full scale. They are also the most recent and accurate way of measuring audio. It stands for loudness units relative to full scale. LUFS can be thought of as a measuring stick for audio that's used for creating a consistent audio experience across radio, film, TV, and music outlets. The average amount of decibels measured over a period of time is referred to as RMS, which serves as the standard for measuring volume until the development of LUFS. While mastering, keeping track of your decibel peak levels and average level is key to creating a strong track. You'll keep an eye on decibels while recording, producing, mixing, and mastering, though during the mastering process you'll also have to keep an eye on your LUFS meter. Decibels and volume metering are used all throughout the music production process. Decibels' overall volume increases drastically as a sound becomes louder. Therefore, 10 dB is 10 times louder than 0 dB. It's also worth mentioning that decibel loudness increases exponentially. Amplitude is how strong the audio signal is. ![]() Frequency measures the number of vibrations in a sound and also determines an audio signal's pitch. How are Decibels Measured?ĭecibels are measured utilizing two different metrics: frequency and amplitude. The dark green represents the peak levels of the decibels while the light green showcases the average decibels within a section. You can see the green bars indicating the loudness measured in dB in Ableton Live: For instance, you'll find decibel measurements built into faders and the meters in your DAW. In music production, you'll see decibels come up time and time again as a standard form of measurement. Generally speaking, a measurement of 0 dB is the smallest unit of sound that's perceptible by the human ear. Decibels represent the amount of air pressure created by sound itself, with higher intensity sounds correlating with a higher rate of perceived loudness. So, what is a decibel, anyway? A decibel, or dB for short, is a loudness unit that measures the intensity or energy of sound. This way, you can easily understand when it's best to use one unit over the other. We'll detail the key differences between the two loudness unit types below and also share some practical applications for each unit. These audio loudness units are commonly mistaken for one another, and while they are similar, they aren't exactly the same thing. As a music producer, composer, podcaster, or anyone in the audio world, it's important to understand the difference between LUFS vs.
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