Mastering a Podcast for Apple Podcasts (−16 LUFS)
Published · updated · by Loopin
Spoken-word audio has its own loudness target: about −16 LUFS integrated for Apple Podcasts, with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling. That’s a little quieter than music’s −14 because loudness metering reads dense music as louder than speech. The goal is consistent, clear dialogue — not maximum loudness — and you can hit it free in Loopin’s browser tool.
The target for Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts targets spoken-word loudness at about −16 LUFS integrated, with a maximum −1 dBTP true peak. That’s the number to aim your episode at.
It’s intentionally quieter than the ~−14 LUFS used for music. The reason is metering, not preference — more on that next.
- Integrated loudness: ~−16 LUFS for Apple Podcasts
- True peak: −1 dBTP ceiling
- Mono podcasts: commonly targeted around −16 to −19 LUFS
- Priority: consistent dialogue and clarity, not maximum loudness
Why speech is quieter than music
Loudness is measured with BS.1770 metering, which reads dense, continuous music as louder than speech at the same fader level. Music fills the whole time with sound; speech is full of natural gaps between words and sentences.
Because those gaps pull the integrated reading down, hitting −16 LUFS on speech lands at a comfortable, natural perceived level — whereas −14 on speech would feel pushed. That’s the whole reason the spoken-word target sits a couple of LU lower than music.
- BS.1770 metering reads dense music as louder than speech at matched levels
- Speech has gaps; those gaps lower the integrated LUFS reading
- So −16 LUFS suits spoken word, while music sits around −14
Integrated loudness is a whole-episode number
It’s worth understanding what “−16 LUFS integrated” actually measures: it’s the loudness averaged across the entire episode, not the peak of any one moment. A single loud laugh or a quiet aside doesn’t move it much — the whole runtime does.
That’s why you can’t hit the target by riding a fader in real time. You set an even dialogue level through editing and gentle compression, then let the mastering stage measure the full episode and land the integrated loudness on −16. Music beds, stings, and intros count toward that average too, so keep them tucked under the voice rather than jumping out.
- Integrated loudness averages the whole episode, not single peaks
- Set even dialogue first, then let mastering hit the target
- Keep music beds and stings under the voice so they don’t skew the average
Mono podcasts and the −16 to −19 range
Plenty of podcasts are effectively mono — a single host, or voices summed to one channel. Mono spoken-word content is commonly targeted around −16 to −19 LUFS, a slightly wider window than a music master.
If your show is a solo mono voice, landing anywhere in that range is normal; −16 LUFS keeps you aligned with Apple’s target while staying comfortably clear.
- Solo or mono podcasts commonly sit around −16 to −19 LUFS
- −16 LUFS keeps you aligned with Apple’s spoken-word target
- Consistency episode to episode matters more than the exact decimal
Consistency and clarity beat loudness
For a podcast, the enemy isn’t quietness — it’s uneven dialogue. Listeners in cars, on earbuds, and in noisy rooms need a voice that stays at a steady, intelligible level so they’re not constantly reaching for the volume.
Chasing maximum loudness on speech just introduces pumping and fatigue. Aim for even level and clarity, hit −16 LUFS, and stop there.
Consistency also pays off across a whole show. When every episode lands at the same target, a listener who sets their volume once never has to touch it again, whether they’re on episode three or thirty. That reliability is a quiet part of why a feed feels professional.
- Keep dialogue loudness even across the whole episode
- Prioritize intelligibility — the voice should stay clear over noise
- Don’t push for loudness; it causes pumping and listener fatigue
- Match level episode to episode so your feed is consistent
How to master a podcast episode
The fast, free path from a rough edit to a delivery-ready episode.
- Export your edited episode to WAV with headroom — no brick-wall limiter on the mix.
- Open Loopin’s free mastering and drop it in — it runs entirely in your browser, nothing uploaded.
- Target about −16 LUFS integrated with the −1 dBTP limiter.
- Listen for even dialogue level from start to finish; the voice should never dip or spike.
- A/B against your source to confirm you gained consistency, not just volume.
- Download the WAV and publish — then reuse the same target for every future episode.
Common mistakes
- Mastering a podcast to −14 LUFS like music — speech at that level feels pushed; aim for ~−16 LUFS.
- Chasing maximum loudness — it causes pumping and fatigue; consistency and clarity are the goal.
- Skipping the −1 dBTP ceiling — true-peak overs clip on lossy playback.
- Inconsistent episode levels — pick a target and hit it every time so your feed sounds even.
- Ignoring uneven dialogue — a voice that drifts in level makes listeners ride the volume knob.
Master it free
Loopin’s online mastering runs entirely in your browser with a two-pass loudness stage and a −1 dBTP true-peak limiter — free, no signup, nothing uploaded. Aim the loudness at about −16 LUFS, keep the dialogue even, and download a WAV that’s ready to publish.
Once you’ve found the setting that lands your voice at −16 LUFS with clear, consistent level, reuse it for every episode. That’s how a feed ends up sounding professional — the same target, hit every time, so listeners set their volume once and forget it.
Frequently asked questions
What LUFS should a podcast be for Apple Podcasts?
About −16 LUFS integrated, with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling. That’s the spoken-word target — a little quieter than music’s −14 LUFS.
Why is the podcast target quieter than music?
BS.1770 loudness metering reads dense, continuous music as louder than speech at the same level. Speech has natural gaps that lower the integrated reading, so −16 LUFS on a podcast lands at a comfortable, natural perceived loudness.
What LUFS should a mono podcast be?
Mono podcasts are commonly targeted around −16 to −19 LUFS. Aiming for about −16 LUFS keeps you aligned with Apple Podcasts’ spoken-word target while staying clear.
Should I make my podcast as loud as possible?
No. The priority is consistent dialogue loudness and clarity, not maximum loudness. Pushing for loudness on speech causes pumping and listener fatigue — aim for even level at ~−16 LUFS and stop there.
What true peak should a podcast use?
A −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling. That headroom keeps the lossy encodes used for podcast delivery from clipping on playback.