Podcast Audio Levels Chart
Podcast Gear Hub · podcastgearhub.com · reviewed September 13, 2026
| Average speaking level | aim for roughly -18 to -12 dBFS on your recording meter |
|---|---|
| Peaks | keep the loudest moments below about -6 dBFS. Digital audio cannot exceed 0 dBFS, and anything that hits it is permanently clipped, producing harsh distortion that no editing can fully remove |
| -16 LUFS integrated | the widely used target for stereo podcast files and the loudness Apple Podcasts recommends |
| -19 LUFS integrated | the equivalent target for mono podcast files |
| -14 LUFS | roughly where Spotify normalizes music playback |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. 48 kHz is the video standard and the better choice if the show is ever published to YouTube or cut with video |
| Bit depth | record at 24-bit for the headroom advantage described above |
| Final export | MP3 at 128 kbps is sufficient for mono speech and 192 kbps for stereo or shows with music |
Typical values for general guidance. Always check the manufacturer's specification for your exact product.
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