Integrated Loudness -16 LUFS
True Peak Max -1 dBTP

About this Target

TikTok and Instagram do not publish -16 LUFS as a universal delivery requirement; this is a conservative production convention.

Short-form social platforms transcode audio and can change playback behavior over time. Their public creator guidance does not establish one universal numeric upload target. A -16 LUFS Integrated and -1 dBTP reference is a conservative starting point for intelligible mobile playback and codec headroom, not a promise of normalization behavior or acceptance.

Reference type: Working production convention

Guide: Loudness Leveler

Load the Creator - Social Media Short Form (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn over the complete program to lock the final correction.

Adjust Target Tolerance for the amount of movement you want around -16 LUFS, then use the built-in limiter for the -1 dBTP ceiling.

APU Loudness Leveler showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -16 LUFS
Fig 1. Real-time Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target tracking using APU Loudness Leveler.

Guide: Loudness Compressor

Workflow:
1. Load the Creator - Social Media Short Form (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category.
2. To have the compression range follow your material, use Source Range Learn while playing the complete program.
3. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn in the Limiter tab over the complete program.

APU Loudness Compressor showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -16 LUFS
Fig 2. Real-time Social Media (TikTok/Reels) LUFS targeting using APU Loudness Compressor.
APU Loudness Compressor showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -1 dBTP
Fig 3. Real-time Social Media (TikTok/Reels) dBTP targeting using APU Loudness Compressor.

Guide: Loudness Limiter

Load the Creator - Social Media Short Form Ceiling (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. It configures both ceilings. After the other settings are final, run Compensation Learn over the complete program.

APU Loudness Limiter showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -16 LUFS
Fig 4. Real-time Social Media (TikTok/Reels) LUFS and dBTP targeting using APU Loudness Limiter.

Guide: Dynamics Optimizer

Load the Creator - Social Media Short Form (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category, open the complete file, then analyze and optimize it. Review the result, then measure the exported file before delivery.

APU Dynamics Optimizer showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -16 LUFS
Fig 5. Offline Social Media (TikTok/Reels) LUFS and dBTP targeting using APU Dynamics Optimizer.

Metering for Social Media (TikTok/Reels)

Measure the complete short-form mix with Integrated LUFS and linked Maximum True Peak. Also audition on representative mobile playback and inspect the uploaded result because platform processing and content context can dominate the final experience.

Load the QC - Social Media Short Form (Stereo) preset from the Purpose category. It configures the target range, True Peak threshold, Short-term history, and Integrated output for this reference.

APU Loudness Meter showing Social Media (TikTok/Reels) target at -16 LUFS
Fig 6. Real-time metering of the Social Media (TikTok/Reels) reference using APU Loudness Meter.

Sources

Platform behavior and delivery requirements can change. Check the linked source and the destination's current specification before final delivery.