How is this different from turning the volume up?
Raising volume scales everything, including a single loud peak that limits how far you can go. Loudness normalisation targets perceived average level, which is what listeners actually notice.
All free toolsAudio tool · 100% free
Normalize Audio
Even out perceived loudness so a recording plays back at a consistent level. This uses broadcast loudness measurement rather than simply amplifying peaks, which is why the result sounds even rather than merely louder. It is free, needs no account, and adds no watermark to your result.
Built for: normalize audio
Deleted as soon as you download itFree · fair-use only
Drop audio files hereWAV · MP3 output · up to 100 files
Included in this tool
EBU loudness normalizationPeak controlConsistent volumeBatch processing
When you need this
What people use it for.
Levelling podcast episodes recorded at different times or on different gear
Fixing an interview where one speaker is much quieter than the other
Preparing audio to meet a platform loudness target before upload
How it works
What happens to your file.
FFmpeg's loudnorm filter measures integrated loudness to the EBU R128 standard and applies the gain needed to reach the target, rather than just scaling to the loudest peak.
Where it stops: Normalisation adjusts level, not quality. Background hiss gets louder along with the voice, so clean up noise first if the recording is poor.
What this tool includes
Everything you need, without a paywall.
EBU loudness normalization
Peak control
Consistent volume
Batch processing
Questions
Common questions.
Will it remove background noise?
No, and it will make existing noise more audible. Denoise first if the recording has hiss or hum.
What target should I use for podcasts?
Around -16 LUFS is the common target for stereo podcast distribution, with streaming platforms typically nearer -14.
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