Glossary → Audio engineering
Audio engineering

True peak

True peak measures the actual analog waveform maximum after digital-to-analog conversion, which can exceed the highest stored sample — measured in dBTP.

Inter-sample peaks can clip converters and lossy encoders even when samples stay under 0 dBFS, which is why delivery specs cap true peak (commonly −1 or −2 dBTP) rather than sample peak.

Related terms

LUFSLUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) measures perceived loudness — integrating level over time with an… LimiterA limiter is a compressor with an effectively absolute ceiling, guaranteeing audio never exceeds a set peak le… ClippingClipping is the distortion that occurs when a signal exceeds the maximum level a system can represent — the wa…

Frequently asked

What is True peak?

True peak measures the actual analog waveform maximum after digital-to-analog conversion, which can exceed the highest stored sample — measured in dBTP.

Why does True peak matter?

Inter-sample peaks can clip converters and lossy encoders even when samples stay under 0 dBFS, which is why delivery specs cap true peak (commonly −1 or −2 dBTP) rather than sample peak.

What terms are related to True peak?

Closely related concepts: LUFS, Limiter, Clipping — each has its own entry in this glossary.