Mixing & output

Loudness & mastering

Understand LUFS and true peak, and hit streaming loudness targets.

“Loud enough” is measurable. JAW AI uses broadcast-standard metering so you can hit real targets instead of guessing, which matters most when you publish to streaming platforms.

LUFS — perceived loudness

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) measures how loud audio actually sounds to a listener, averaged over time — a much better guide than raw peak level. Streaming platforms normalize to a loudness target, so mastering to roughly −14 to −16 LUFS is a sensible aim for music and speech that will be streamed.

True peak — avoiding distortion

True peak (measured in dBTP) captures the real peak level after conversion to analog, which can be higher than the sample peaks suggest. Keeping true peak at or below −1 dBTP leaves headroom so lossy encoders (MP3, AAC) don't push the signal into clipping.

A simple mastering path

Clean up problems first (noise, clicks, unwanted resonances).
Balance tone with EQ and control dynamics with a compressor.
Set loudness to your target and cap true peak with a limiter.
Export and use the A/B preview to confirm it holds up in your delivery format.