Root Mean Square (RMS)

Root Mean Square (RMS) quantifies the average power of an audio signal, measuring overall loudness. By calculating the square root of the average of squared signal values, RMS ensures consistent audio levels and helps prevent distortion across applications.

Example: An audio engineer is finalizing a new track for a band. The mix has powerful drum kicks and sharp guitar riffs that create significant, sudden spikes in the audio signal, which are the peak levels. However, the overall perceived loudness, or the RMS level, is too low. To make the track sound fuller and more consistent, the engineer uses a compressor to gently increase the average RMS loudness. They carefully manage the peaks with a limiter to ensure the signal doesn't distort, resulting in a song that sounds consistently dynamic and powerful from start to finish.