Loudness Units Full Scale (LUFS)

Loudness Units Full Scale (LUFS) measures perceived loudness as humans experience it. Unlike peak measurements, LUFS considers the entire audio program’s dynamics and frequency to ensure consistent loudness across media platforms.

Example: A music producer sends a new song to a streaming service. The song is mastered to be very loud, peaking at 0 dB, but the average perceived loudness is -8 LUFS. The streaming service's system, which has a target of -14 LUFS, would automatically turn the song's volume down by 6 LU to match the standard. This ensures that the song plays at a consistent volume with every other song on the platform, preventing a jarring experience for the listener.