Our Guide on How to Get Your Podcast Volume Right with LUFs

Quick Summary

We break down what LUFS is and how you can get your podcast volume right. We explore Cleanvoice, the AI-powered podcast editing tool, for automated volume correction and outline a manual workflow in Audacity.

With our practical tips and expert insights, we’ll help you produce professional, listener-friendly audio with minimal effort. Explore our blog to dive deeper into podcast editing.

Can’t Get Your Podcast Volume Right?

Ever made a podcast where you ended up constantly adjusting the volume when playing it? That’s what happens when you don’t get LUFS right.

But what exactly is it?

In this Cleanvoice article, we’ll explain what LUFS is, why it matters, and how to measure and normalize them so your podcast always hits the sweet spot.

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped over 15,000 podcasters improve their shows by removing background noise, providing podcast mixing, and more. Our tools handle everything with precision, from echo removal to LUFS normalization.

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What Is LUFS?

LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) is a standardized measure of how loud a piece of audio feels to our ears over time. It takes our hearing sensitivity into account, especially to midrange frequencies.

There are three main types of LUFS:

  • Integrated LUFS measures the average loudness across the entire track or episode.
  • Short-term LUFS measures loudness over a 3-second rolling window.
  • Momentary LUFS measures loudness over an even shorter window, about 400 milliseconds.

The most widely accepted standard for podcasting is -16 LUFS for stereo and -19 LUFS for mono.

Different podcast platforms use different LUFS targets. For example, Spotify normalizes to -14 LUFS, Apple Podcasts targets -16 LUFS, and YouTube sits between -13 and -14 LUFS.

How to Get Your Podcast Volume Right with LUFS

Method 1: Use Cleanvoice for Automatic Loudness Correction

Step 1: Upload Your Audio

Log in to your Cleanvoice dashboard and click “Upload”. You can drag and drop files directly or browse your computer. Our platform accepts WAV, MP3, M4A, and most common formats.

  • You can either upload a multitrack (e.g., host + guest) or a single-mixed file.
  • Use filenames that help you track speaker or content type.

For multitrack sessions, you can upload separate files per speaker, where we process each one individually to maintain clarity and level balance across speakers.

Pro tip: Upload the raw, unprocessed file for best results. Don’t normalize or compress it beforehand.

After choosing your file, click ‘Upload’.

Step 2: Enable Loudness Normalization

Next, you’ll see a range of editing tools. To create a custom template, click on the option below:

Then, select the following:

  • Remove Breath: Reduces sharp breathing without making your speech sound unnatural.
  • Remove Noise: Targets background noise, hum, hiss, or static noise.
  • Normalize: Balances loudness levels across your entire file to hit podcast-standard targets like -16 LUFS.
  • Studio Sound: Auto-applies EQ. And brightens or smoothens your voice. It also removes reverb. Making you sound studio-recorded.

This step ensures:

  • Your audio is automatically matched to platform targets (like Apple Podcasts’ -16 LUFS).
  • Dynamic range remains intact for natural-sounding voices.
  • You won’t need additional gain staging later in the process.

No need to set LUFS manually, our Audio Enhancer uses AI-driven normalization to automatically balance audio levels across your recording, which gives a consistent loudness between speakers and segments.

This creates a smooth, professional listening experience without manual adjustments.

Once you’re done, create the template to proceed.

Step 3: Process and Preview

Choose your new template and start processing your audio track(s).

Once processed, you’ll get a cleaned-up version of your track.

Here, you can:

  • See waveform changes from the applied enhancements.
  • Solo parts of the episode to check for inconsistencies or remaining artifacts.

Always preview both intro and content-heavy midsections to confirm LUFS consistency throughout.

Step 4: Download or Export to Publish

When satisfied, hit Download or Export your file.

Choose:

  • WAV if you’re planning additional mastering or uploading to platforms like YouTube.
  • MP3 (128 kbps) for ready-to-publish podcast episodes.

You can select these export options when creating your custom template.

Cleanvoice ensures that:

  • LUFS is locked to platform-safe levels.
  • The file is ready for Apple, Spotify, and other podcast hosting platforms.

With Cleanvoice, your podcast volume is optimized automatically, freeing you up to focus on creating more, not editing.

Method 2: Manual Loudness Hacking in Audacity

Step 1: Set a LUFS Target

Start by analyzing your episode with a LUFS meter plugin like Youlean Loudness Meter (or you can get one via Effect > Plugin Manager…).

Play through your episode and observe the relative gate value, it typically hovers around -23 LUFS (a common default in LUFS meters but not a strict industry standard). This gate determines what audio contributes to the integrated LUFS score.

Ignore anything quieter than the gate.

Step 2: Identify Which Parts to Make Quieter

Focus on the parts of your podcast that don’t need to be loud, like:

  • Intro/outro music
  • Long ambient pauses
  • Guest transitions
  • Back-and-forth banter without key information

Use the Selection Tool (F1) and mark these using Tracks > Add New > Label Track for easier access later.

Step 3: Calculate How Much to Reduce

Use your LUFS meter to check the average LUFS of the quieter sections (e.g., small talk or transitions).

Let’s say they sit around -14 LUFS, and the relative gate is at -22 LUFS. Reduce these sections by 8 dB: Effect > Amplify > Enter -8 dB

Make sure you don’t lower them so much they fall below the relative gate. If they do, they won’t count toward your LUFS total anymore, and your score won't move.

Step 4: Recheck and Adjust

After you’ve applied the changes:

  • Re-analyze your project with the LUFS plugin.
  • Go back and reduce your quiet sections a bit more if needed.

This trial-and-error loop lets you raise the integrated LUFS score without touching the main parts that include your voice.

Step 5: Bounce and Analyze Final Output

Export your final mix (File > Export Audio…) as WAV or MP3 format, and double-check the LUFS with your plugin.

  • Aim for the correct LUFS target based on your distribution platform: -14 LUFS for Spotify, -16 LUFS for Apple Podcasts, and -13 to -14 LUFS for YouTube.
  • Make sure your true peak stays below -1.0 dBTP to avoid encoding distortion

Best Practices for Getting Your Podcast Volume Right with LUFS

Check LUFS Early and Often

Don’t wait until the final export. Use a loudness meter during editing so you can make real-time decisions and avoid surprises. 

This also helps catch volume inconsistencies between segments, reduces rework, and ensures smoother transitions—especially in multi-speaker or interviews.

Consistent monitoring makes final mastering faster and more predictable.

Don’t Just Rely on Peak Levels

A file peaking at -1 dB doesn’t mean it’s the right loudness. LUFS accounts for perceived volume, which is what actually matters to listeners.

Two tracks can have similar peaks but sound dramatically different in loudness. Focusing on LUFS ensures your mix sounds balanced across platforms and devices, without jarring shifts that can frustrate your listeners.

Use Compression Before Limiting

Gentle compression tames dynamic range without crushing the voice. This creates a smoother base for limiting, which should only catch final peaks.

Over-relying on limiting can introduce distortion and reduce vocal clarity, especially in dialogue-heavy content.

Watch Out for Over-Normalization

Normalizing everything to the same LUFS level can sound unnatural. Always listen back and adjust contextually.

Some parts of your episode, like music beds, transitions, or emotional dialogue, might need dynamic variation. Over-normalizing flattens these contrasts, making your podcast feel lifeless.

Leave Headroom for Encoding

Keep peaks below -1 dBTP to avoid distortion during MP3 or AAC conversion. Lossy formats can introduce artifacts or unexpected clipping if peaks are too close to 0 dB.

Leave headroom so that your audio stays clean and distortion-free across platforms, especially when streamed or re-encoded by podcast hosts.

Balance Loudness with Intelligibility

Don’t sacrifice clarity just to hit LUFS. If your voice sounds dull or muffled, adjust EQ or de-esser settings instead of raising gain.

Over-amplifying unclear audio can also make issues like sibilance, room noise, or vocal fatigue way worse. Prioritize a clean, natural tone first.

Perfect Your Podcast Volume with Cleanvoice

In a nutshell, getting your podcast volume right with LUFS means delivering a smooth, consistent listening experience.

At Cleanvoice, we make your podcast loudness easier to manage with our automated volume correction and audio cleanup, so your episodes meet platform standards and sound great, without extra effort.

Ready to sound your best? Try Cleanvoice today and streamline your audio workflow.