Dynamic Range

Definition

Dynamic range in audio refers to the difference between the quietest and loudest levels in a recording or audio signal, measured in decibels (dB). A high dynamic range means there is a large gap between the softest whisper and the loudest peak — common in film scores, podcasts with natural speech variation, and live event recordings. A compressed dynamic range means the loud and quiet parts are brought closer together, which can make dialogue easier to understand in noisy environments like a commute or gym, but can also make audio sound flat or over-processed if taken too far. For video creators, managing dynamic range is a balancing act: too wide and your content is hard to hear on mobile devices; too narrow and it sounds lifeless. Dynamic range compression — applied using a compressor or limiter — is the primary tool for controlling this. In the context of streaming platforms and loudness standards, content with extremely wide dynamic range can create problems: the integrated LUFS level may be technically within a platform's target, but individual loud peaks (measured as True Peak) might cause distortion during playback. The EBU R128 broadcast standard and ATSC A/85 both specify both integrated loudness targets (in LUFS) and true peak limits (typically -1 dBTP) to address this. For short-form video clips repurposed for social media, a moderate dynamic range with controlled peaks is ideal — keeping speech clear and punchy without distortion.