# What is true peak?

> True peak is the highest level your audio reaches, including between samples. See the -1 dBTP limit, a worked example and where to set a limiter.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-09
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/true-peak

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True peak is the highest level your audio reaches, measured in dBTP, including the sound wave between the stored samples. The usual limit is -1 dBTP.

## Peak versus true peak

A normal peak meter reads only the stored samples. True peak estimates the wave between them, so it can read higher. The method is set out in ITU-R BS.1770. Full scale is 0 dBTP, and above it the sound clips.

| Source | Maximum true peak | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EBU R 128 | -1 dBTP | Broadcast programmes |
| [EBU R 128 s1](https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/r/r128s1.pdf) | -1 dBTP | Short adverts and promos, up to about 2 minutes |
| Spotify | Below -1 dB TP | Below -2 dB if the master is louder than -14 LUFS |

Meta, YouTube and LinkedIn publish no loudness figure on their ad spec pages (checked 3 Nov 2026). These limits come from broadcast and music rules.

## The formula

Reduction needed (dB) = measured true peak − limit

## A worked example

Say your mix peaks at -0.3 dBTP and you want to stay under -1 dBTP.

-0.3 − (-1) = **0.7 dB**

Bring the peaks down by at least 0.7 dB. A limiter does this by turning down only the loudest moments. It is not [audio ducking](/glossary/audio-ducking), which lowers music only while someone speaks. Then check your [LUFS](/glossary/lufs) again, because the average can shift a little.

## Where to set a limiter

- **Adobe Media Encoder:** in Export Settings, open the Effects tab, tick Loudness Normalization, then choose "Configure True Peak Limiter". Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere) hands a job over with "Send to Media Encoder".
- **Marxx:** export can be loudness-normalised with a true-peak limiter. Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) offers -14 LUFS for social or -23 LUFS for broadcast. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### Is true peak the same as peak?

No. Peak reads the stored samples. True peak also estimates the wave between them, so it can be higher.

### What does dBTP mean?

Decibels, true peak. 0 dBTP is the digital maximum.

### Why -1 and not 0?

EBU R 128 and Spotify both leave 1 dB of room. Spotify asks for -2 when a master is louder than -14 LUFS.

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