Loudness Normalization
Apply this normalization effect to set the target loudness required by podcast platforms, television/radio programmes and some websites
Audacity provides you with two different built-in normalization effects available through the Effect -> Volume and Compression menu:
- Loudness Normalization
- Normalize
Normalize is a peak normalization effect which apply gain or reduction to the selected audio so the level of the peak is changed to the desired level. You set the desired level of the peak (in dBFS) before applying the effect. This effect does not take into account the perceived loudness of the selected audio only the desired peak level.
Use the Normalize peak amplitude to field to set the desired level.
Audio track normalized to -3dB. Note that the peak level of the audio track is -3dB
By comparison Loudness Normalization will calculate the perceived loudness of the selected audio and then apply gain or reduction to the audio so a desired loudness level is reached. You set the desired loudness (in LUFS, Loudness Units relative to Full Scale).
To apply Loudness Normalization:
- Select the region containing the audio that you want to normalize. It could be an audio clip or the entire track.
- Click Effect -> Volume and compression -> Loudness Normalization... to open the Loudness Normalization window
Loudness Normalization effect window
- Set the target loudness in LUFS units using the Normalize perceived loudness to field.
- Keep Normalize stereo channels independently disabled If you are normalizing a stereo track (Left and Right channels) with the audio levels already balanced as this mode will preserve its original stereo balance.
- Disable Treat mono as dual-mono (recommended) if you are normalizing a mono track.
Same audio track with loudness normalization applied, -23LUFS
Best practice: Adjusting the audio's amplitude with this effect is normally best performed as a final editing step prior to export of the production audio.