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Audio normalization

This tutorial will demonstrate how to normalize the audio level in your videos.

Contents of this guide

Understanding audio normalization

At HeapStream, we define audio normalization specifically as loudness normalization. This process adjusts a recording based on its perceived loudness.

LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) measures the loudness of an entire audio stream. It is the standard metric in our normalization process. The primary aim of normalization is to adjust the gain so that the average loudness matches a predetermined standard, or "norm."

When to use audio normalization

Audio normalization equalizes the perceived loudness across your videos. It helps most when your library mixes content from different sources or recording setups — for example, some videos with quiet dialogue next to others with loud music. Like any audio processing, it alters the original sound, so leave it off when your content is already consistently mastered.

Activating audio normalization

Audio normalization can currently only be enabled when uploading a video.

Enable Normalize Audio checkbox in the Video Upload page under the "Advanced Options" section.

Set normalize_audio field to true (default false) when uploading ⧉ or fetching ⧉ a video.

Target loudness

Our standard loudness level for audio normalization in our video stack is -23 LUFS.