Audio basics
Why does your audio sound quiet, and how can you fix it?
October 31, 2026 • 3 min read
Peak level and loudness
Peak level is the highest point in your audio. Loudness is how loud it sounds overall. A recording can reach a high peak and still sound quiet if most of it is much lower.
How to improve it
Compression reduces the gap between loud and quiet parts, so you can raise the overall level. A limiter then helps stop the highest peaks from distorting.
Check your target
Platforms often have their own loudness recommendations, so check the guidance for the service you publish on. Always listen to the result, because too much processing can sound harsh.