Updated October 2026 · Using the free tools
To check a podcast episode’s loudness online, export the finished episode, drop it into the LUFS Meter and read the integrated loudness, true peak and loudness range. Compare the integrated figure with your target, reduce the level if the true peak is too close to zero, and confirm the result by listening on a phone before publishing.
A podcast episode is judged on its loudness as much as on its content. An episode that is quieter than the rest of a listener’s playlist will be turned up, and the next louder episode will feel uncomfortable. An episode that clips on playback sounds harsh. A quick loudness check on the exported file catches both problems before the episode reaches listeners.
This guide explains how to run the check with the LUFS Meter, what each figure means for a speech episode and how to act on the result.
Export the episode in the format you will publish, not from the editing project. The export can change the level and the peaks, so the file you measure should be the one listeners will hear. Check that it plays from start to end, with the intro, the outro and the music in place.
Drop the exported file into the LUFS Meter in your browser. The tool reports the integrated loudness, the true peak and the loudness range, along with what the major streaming services would do to the file on playback. Read each figure before changing anything.
The integrated figure is the average loudness of the whole episode. Compare it with the target you set for your show, and with the platform guidance you are delivering to. Speech often sits in a particular range, and a consistent target from episode to episode helps your show sound the same to listeners.
The true peak tells you whether the episode is likely to clip on playback. If it is above zero, or very close to it, reduce the level or the limiting until there is headroom. Clipping on a voice is harsh and distracting, and it is one of the faults listeners notice most.
For speech, the loudness range shows how much the level varies. A very wide range can mean quiet passages that are hard to hear on a phone in a noisy place. A very narrow range can mean a squashed, tiring voice. Choose a balance that keeps the words clear without flattening the natural expression of the speakers.
Check each part of the episode, not only the whole file. An intro with music, a host-read advert and an interview segment can each sit at a different level, even when the total seems right. Export the segments separately if you can, or check the full episode and listen closely at the joins. A loud advert after a quiet interview is one of the most common complaints listeners notice.
Music under speech needs its own check. Play the bed at the level you intend, then listen to the voice on top. If the voice has to strain to be heard, lower the music rather than raising the voice until it clips.
Keep a short log of the integrated loudness and the true peak for each episode. The numbers help you see drift, such as a guest who was recorded quietly, or an edit that added a louder section. A log lets you set a target for the series and check new episodes against it, rather than judging each one from memory. Use the numbers as a guide and your ear as the final check.
Play the finished episode on a phone and, if you can, in a car, and listen for places where the speech is hard to follow. A level that works on studio headphones can sound thin or harsh on a small speaker. Use these device checks to decide whether the speech needs more presence, not only whether the loudness number is correct.
The meter reports measurements, and it cannot judge the warmth, clarity or pacing of the episode. Platform behaviour can change, so check the current guidance before publishing. Use the figures as a guide, and trust the listening check on the devices your listeners use.
Run the check on your next export before publishing. The LUFS Meter is free and runs in your browser. For the voice itself, the Vocal Checker shows clipping, noise, rumble and level problems, and the guide to podcast export settings covers the export.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Set a steady target for your show and check the platform guidance you deliver to.
The export can change the level and peaks, so it is the file listeners will hear.
The true peak, to avoid clipping, and the integrated loudness, to keep episodes consistent.
Every episode, before publishing, so the show stays consistent over a season.
