A song may sound loud enough in your DAW but seem quiet after export when compared with a commercial release or online video. Simply raising the master fader can cause clipping.
First, determine whether “too quiet” means that a particular instrument is buried or that the finished song as a whole lacks sufficient loudness.
Separate Mix Problems from Mastering Problems
Problems such as an inaudible vocal or bass that feels weak next to the kick are primarily addressed in the mix. Revisit each track’s fader, EQ, compression, and panning to balance the elements within the song.
If the overall balance is good but the finished track lacks loudness, use mastering to set the final level and peaks. Mastering is not a process for hiding a poor mix.
Check Whether Peaks Exceed 0 dBFS
In digital audio, signals that exceed the maximum level produce clipping, which causes distortion. If the master track is already peaking near the limit, there is no headroom to raise the fader further.
To increase loudness, you can control isolated peaks with a limiter and raise the overall level by the amount of gain you recover. Excessive limiting, however, removes the impact of the drums and the sense of depth.
Use LUFS to Check Perceived Loudness
Momentary peaks alone do not indicate how loud an entire song will feel. LUFS is used as a reference for average perceived loudness.
Even with the same peak value, a dense song that plays continuously and a song with long quiet passages will have different LUFS readings. Instead of forcing the track to a target number, bring it into a range appropriate for its use while preserving its musical character.
Leave Headroom for True Peak
True Peak estimates the peaks that can occur when digital samples are reconstructed for playback. A signal that stays below 0 dBFS at each sample can still exceed the limit after encoding or during playback.
For songs intended for streaming or video, leaving a little headroom at the final stage helps prevent distortion when converting to MP3 or AAC.
Check and Adjust Loudness with Tadaoto
Load a finished WAV, MP3, or M4A file into the loudness optimizer to check its current LUFS and estimated True Peak, then bring it to a comfortable listening level while controlling clipping.
Choose a gentle setting that blends well with speech and ambient sound, a standard setting, or a more forward setting. Preview the audio before and after processing, and look beyond the numbers to ensure that the kick, snare, low end, and reverb tails have not been unnaturally crushed.
Also Compare Before and After at Matched Levels
Louder audio tends to sound better simply because it is louder. When comparing versions, match their playback levels and listen for changes in tone and dynamics.
If the limiter frequently applies heavy gain reduction, the low end pumps, or the vocal jumps out, returning to the mix will usually produce a more natural result than applying more aggressive mastering.
Basic Checks After Exporting
- Is the master clipping?
- Are the beginning, ending, and reverb tails intact?
- Can you hear the main element at low playback volume?
- Is the low end excessive on either headphones or speakers?
- Have you played the exported WAV in another player?
For checks during recording and mixing, see the related article What to Check When Your DAW Audio Is Too Quiet or Clips. Judge the finished track’s loudness by combining peak, LUFS, and True Peak readings with what you actually hear.
