📖 Audio Glossary

Loudness

The perceived intensity of sound — a subjective quality influenced by frequency content, duration, and measured in LUFS.

Loudness is not the same as amplitude or SPL. Human ears are more sensitive to midrange frequencies (2–5 kHz) than bass or extreme highs. A bass-heavy track at the same SPL will sound quieter than a midrange-heavy track. LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is the standardized measurement that accounts for human hearing sensitivity.

Streaming platforms normalize audio to consistent LUFS levels: Spotify −14 LUFS, YouTube −14 LUFS, Apple Music −16 LUFS. Mastering hotter than the target does not make your track louder on streaming — it just gets turned down, potentially with an audible limiter.

Related Terms

← All glossary termsBuying guidesCompare prices