Understanding Loudness: Hitting -21 LUFS Without a Meter

In sound production, we don’t always have the luxury of checking a LUFS meter while recording or mixing. Sometimes, we’re working on the fly, relying on experience and best practices rather than real-time measurements. But that doesn’t mean we have an excuse to miss loudness targets. This is something I learned 15 years ago at Rogers TV, and it has been an integral part of my mixing ever since. Whether you’re mixing for broadcast, film, or online content, understanding how to approximate -21 LUFS without constant monitoring can help maintain consistency and meet industry standards.

The Importance of Mixing in LUFS for Live Sound

When mixing live sound, it’s easy to think that what we do at the board doesn’t really matter, because if it sounds good in the room, then it sounds good. However, it’s still important to mix with loudness targets in mind. We may have members of the media who expect us to be within a certain loudness range, and keeping dynamics in check ensures a better experience for the average listener. Even if a LUFS meter isn’t directly in use, following best practices in gain staging and compression will lead to a more balanced mix.

The Relationship Between Peaks, Bulk Levels, and LUFS

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) measures perceived loudness over time, factoring in the way humans hear different frequencies. While -23 LUFS is the broadcast standard (EBU R128), many productions, especially in film and streaming, target -21 LUFS for a balanced and dynamic mix.

A good rule of thumb:

• Keep peaks around -12 dBFS to prevent distortion and ensure transient clarity.
• Maintain the bulk of your mix around -20 dBFS, which helps the overall loudness land near -21 LUFS.

By following these general levels, your mix should be close to the LUFS target, even if you can’t check it in real time.

Achieving LUFS Targets with Compression and Gain Staging

Technically, achieving -21 LUFS involves proper gain staging and compression. While we won’t go into too much detail here (as this will be covered in a future post), here are some key principles:

• Gain Staging: Ensure a consistent input level across your signal chain to avoid unnecessary noise or distortion.
• Compression: Use transparent compression to even out peaks and maintain a controlled dynamic range.
• Output Leveling: Adjust final output levels carefully to maintain clarity while staying within loudness targets.

Setting Up an LUFS Meter and Audio Gear Calibration

If you do have access to an LUFS meter, setting it up properly is crucial:

• Use a 1kHz tone at -20 dBFS to calibrate your system, ensuring your gear is properly referenced.
• Choose the correct LUFS measurement mode (integrated, short-term, or momentary) depending on your needs.
• Regularly reference a loudness meter to confirm your levels stay within target range.

Conclusion

Even when working without a LUFS meter, disciplined level management can help you stay close to professional loudness targets. By keeping peaks at -12 dBFS and bulk levels near -20 dBFS, you can confidently mix toward -21 LUFS while ensuring clarity and consistency. And when you do get access to a meter, you’ll likely find that your instincts were right on track.

Want to learn more about mixing techniques and audio best practices? Stay tuned for more insights on our blog!