Loudness Standards (LUFS)

In the past, audio was measured in peak Decibels (dB). However, dB only measures the absolute highest spike of electricity in a signal. A gunshot might hit -1dB, and a compressed rock song might hit -1dB. They read identical on a standard meter, but to the human ear, the continuous rock song sounds massively louder than the split-second gunshot.

To solve this, the broadcasting industry adopted LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale). LUFS measures the average perceived loudness of audio over time.

Why LUFS Matter

If you upload a video to YouTube, Spotify, or Netflix, and it does not meet their specific LUFS standard, their automated algorithms will violently turn your video down (or up), destroying the dynamic range of the mix you worked so hard on.

• YouTube / Spotify: Target -14 LUFS.
• Netflix / Broadcast TV: Target -23 LUFS or -24 LUFS.

Reading the Loudness Meter

Oraphim includes a dedicated, broadcast-certified Loudness Meter in the Audio Workspace (usually located next to the main Mixer).

1. Ensure the meter is measuring your Main Master Bus.
2. Play your entire timeline from beginning to end.
3. The meter will calculate the Integrated Loudness (the average volume of the entire video).
4. If your target is YouTube, and your Integrated reading is -18 LUFS, your video is too quiet. YouTube won't penalize you, but you will sound quieter than other videos.
5. If your reading is -10 LUFS, your video is way too loud. YouTube will compress your audio and turn it down forcefully.

Fixing Loudness Issues

If you need to hit exactly -14 LUFS for a client, do not manually ride the master fader up and down trying to guess the math.

1. Select your Main Master Bus.
2. In the Inspector or Effects panel, apply the Loudness Analyzer/Normalizer effect.
3. Input your target (e.g., -14 LUFS and a True Peak max of -1.0dB).
4. Click Analyze. Oraphim will mathematically calculate the exact gain adjustment needed to hit the broadcast spec perfectly, ensuring your export passes quality control every time.