YouTube Loudness Target

Recommended Tools

About this Target

YouTube creates a 'content loudness' reference at -14 LUFS.

YouTube applies loudness normalization to all video content to prevent drastic volume jumps between videos. The reference level is -14 LUFS. Crucially, YouTube typically only attenuates audio that is louder than -14 LUFS; it does not boost audio that is quieter. This means if your content is mastered at -20 LUFS, it will play back at -20 LUFS, effectively sounding quieter than other content on the platform.

Guide: Loudness Leveler

The APU Loudness Leveler is a strong fit when you want to hold a program close to the YouTube 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.

A practical starting point is to load a Leveling - Present or Leveling - Deep preset, then select the YouTube target range preset to initialize the target loudness and limiter ceiling. From there, adjust Target Tolerance to control how tightly the audio is held around -14 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 -1 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 YouTube target by increasing density and "glue" rather than just chopping off peaks.

Workflow:
1. Use the Source Range "Learn" function to automatically detect the dynamic range of your input audio. This function utilizes the LRA algorithm to determine the optimal source range for compression/expansion.
2. Select the YouTube preset in the Target Range. This sets the compressor's target to -14 LUFS and the limiter ceiling to -1 dBTP.

Note: Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click + drag the middle of the target range slider up or down to expand or contract the target range around the center point. Great for maintaining a consistent loudness target while adjusting dynamic range.

Guide: Loudness Limiter

For the most direct path to compliance, the APU Loudness Limiter can be used as a standalone maximizing solution. It simultaneously targets the specific LUFS loudness and True Peak limit required by YouTube.

Simply select the YouTube target range preset. This configures the limiter ceilings to -14 LUFS and -1 dBTP. Drive the input gain until the momentary LUFS meter stabilizes around the target. The limiter's transparent lookahead algorithm ensures the audio never exceeds the allowable True Peak level while also enforcing a soft ceiling on the momentary loudness.

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 YouTube target in one pass.

This tool provides the highest accuracy as it can "see" the entire file before processing. Select the YouTube target range preset to quickly set the target loudness to exactly -14 LUFS and -1 dBTP, and the Optimizer will calculate the precise gain adjustments needed to achieve compliance while maintaining dynamic integrity.

Metering for YouTube

YouTube's 'Stats for Nerds' displays the 'Content Loudness' offset relative to -14 LUFS. To meter this effectively before upload, ensure your Integrated LUFS measurement is at least -14 LUFS. If your integrated measurement is lower (e.g., -18 LUFS), YouTube will not boost it, and your video will lack impact compared to others.

Monitoring both Momentary and Integrated LUFS helps ensure your audio consistently meets the YouTube loudness target. The APU Loudness Meter provides real-time feedback on your audio's loudness levels, allowing you to make informed adjustments during the mastering process.

In the screenshots below, we can see the Momentary LUFS meter hovering around the target of -14 LUFS, indicating compliance with the YouTube target. The statistics panel gives quick access to Integrated LUFS, LRA and other metrics.