Recommended Tools
Loudness Leveler
Maintain -27 LUFS with steady real-time target tracking.
Loudness Compressor
Shape dynamics toward -27 LUFS with built-in True Peak control.
Loudness Limiter
Drive audio to -27 LUFS while respecting -2 dBTP.
Dynamics Optimizer
Analyze offline for precise -27 LUFS delivery.
Loudness Meter
Verify -27 LUFS and -2 dBTP targets.
About this Target
Netflix specifies -27 LKFS +/-2 LU using dialogue-gated measurement and a maximum true peak of -2 dBTP for applicable full-program mixes.
Netflix's delivery specification depends on dialogue-gated BS.1770 measurement and also includes channel layout, near-field mix, metadata, file-format, and other deliverable requirements. A generic Integrated target range can help visualize the nominal value, but it cannot reproduce the required dialogue-intelligence measurement or certify delivery.
Guide: Loudness Leveler
The APU Loudness Leveler is a strong fit when you want to hold a program close to the Netflix target continuously rather than force it there with conventional compression or hard limiting.
Instead of mapping one loudness range onto another, the Leveler follows a target zone in real time and applies correction only when the program drifts away from where you want it.
Load a Leveling - Present or Leveling - Deep preset, then select the Netflix target range to initialize the target loudness and limiter ceiling.
From there, adjust Target Tolerance to control how tightly the audio is held around -27 LUFS. Present tends to work well for general-purpose material, while Deep is useful when you want the correction to follow the larger contour of the audio instead of every phrase-level change.
The built-in Tail Guard mode helps prevent the leveler from amplifying breaths and other relatively quiet moments at the end of phrases, which can lead to a more natural sound. When Tail Guard is enabled, the leveler holds gain correction during these moments, allowing them to sit more naturally in the mix.
The built-in limiter then handles final peak containment at -2 dBTP, which makes the Leveler especially useful for podcasts, dialog-heavy material, streams, and other sources that benefit from steady loudness tracking instead of obvious peak chopping.
Guide: Loudness Compressor
The APU Loudness Compressor is a complete loudness solution that combines dynamic range control with a built-in True Peak limiter.
This allows you to achieve the Netflix target by increasing density and "glue" rather than just chopping off peaks.
Workflow:
1. Use Source Range Learn to detect the dynamic range of the complete program.
2. Select the Netflix target range to set the compressor target to -27 LUFS and the limiter ceiling to -2 dBTP.
Guide: Loudness Limiter
For direct loudness and peak containment, the APU Loudness Limiter can be used as a standalone maximizing solution.
It simultaneously targets the Netflix LUFS loudness and True Peak references.
Select the Netflix target range to configure the limiter ceilings at -27 LUFS and -2 dBTP. Use this as a starting point and verify the complete deliverable with the measurement required by the destination.
Soften up the limiter some more by switching to Short term loudness mode for a slower, more musical response. Short term is based on
a 3 second average and is less sensitive to transient spikes, making it ideal for transparent music mastering.
Guide: Dynamics Optimizer
If you prefer an automated, offline approach, the APU Dynamics Optimizer analyzes your entire audio
file and applies optimal normalization and limiting to meet the Netflix target in one pass.
Because it can see the entire file before processing, the Optimizer can calculate the gain adjustments needed while preserving the dynamics of the original material.
Select the Netflix target range, open the complete file, then analyze and optimize it. Review the result and verify the exported file against the destination requirements.
Metering for Netflix
Use a meter and workflow that implement the required dialogue-gated measurement, then validate the complete deliverable against the current Netflix specification. The APU target selector is only a nominal visual reference for this destination.
Select the Netflix target range as a visual reference, then measure the complete program using the method required by the destination.
Short-term loudness is useful for seeing how individual sections move, while Integrated loudness shows where the complete program finishes.
The APU Loudness Meter provides real-time feedback on your audio's loudness levels, allowing you to make informed adjustments
during the mastering process.
The statistics panel gives quick access to Integrated LUFS, LRA, and other useful measurements.
