Reference
Audio terms, made useful.
Concise definitions connected to the decisions they affect in real sessions.
LUFS
LUFS is a standardized estimate of perceived loudness. Integrated LUFS describes a whole program, short-term and momentary readings show changing sections, and true peak estimates inter-sample peaks. It is a delivery measurement, not a mix-quality score.
dBFS
On a dBFS meter, 0 dBFS is the sample ceiling and normal levels are shown as negative numbers. A peak at −12 dBFS is lower than −3 dBFS. dBFS does not directly tell you perceived loudness or analog voltage.
Headroom
Headroom is margin. During recording it protects unexpected peaks; during mixing it keeps buses and processors predictable; during mastering it leaves space for the final dynamics and delivery decisions.
Dynamic range
Dynamic range can describe equipment capability, a recording’s noise-to-peak span, or the musical contrast within a performance. Always identify which meaning a specification or meter is using.
VST3, AU, AAX & CLAP
Choose the format your DAW officially supports on your operating system. VST3 is broadly cross-platform, AU is Apple’s plugin architecture, AAX is the Pro Tools format, and CLAP is an open plugin interface with growing host support.
Audio latency
Lower buffer sizes usually reduce monitoring delay but increase CPU pressure. Track with a stable low buffer or direct monitoring; mix with a larger buffer when the session needs more processing.