Scan the audio you intend to keep
- Open a video and allow indexing to finish. Use Tools > Select Streams to choose the audio tracks; the scan uses the first selected audio track.
- Choose Tools > Run LKFS Scan. It is also available inside Adjust Audio.
- Choose Kept scenes to measure the edited sequence, Entire source to measure the original recording, or Marked selection for a valid In/Out range. Marked selection appears only when that range exists.
- Choose Run Scan and wait for the results. Cancel Scan stops the measurement without applying an adjustment. If you change the scope, run the scan again.
The scan measures source audio before gain, fades and sync changes. It does not change the recording or your export settings.
Read the measurements
- Integrated loudness is the overall measured level in LKFS / LUFS. LKFS and LUFS have the same numerical scale, so -23 LKFS and -23 LUFS represent the same level.
- Loudness range, in LU, describes variation in loudness across the measured audio.
- Sample peak, in dBFS, is the highest sample level. True peak, in dBTP, estimates peaks between samples and is useful when allowing headroom.
- Silence and clips shorter than 400 ms do not provide a useful integrated measurement. Loudness range is not reported for clips shorter than three seconds. Not measurable is not a zero-loudness result.
Calculate and apply an adjustment
- Choose Target loudness for your intended delivery. The dialog starts at -23 LUFS; this is a starting value, not a requirement for every recording.
- Leave Limit calculated gain to -1 dBTP peak headroom enabled to reduce the suggested gain when the measured peaks need more headroom. You can turn it off when you intentionally want the uncapped calculation.
- Choose Use Gain to open Adjust Audio with the proposed Output gain and project override enabled. Review the gain and audio format, audition a marked passage with Repeat Selection, and choose OK to keep the settings.
- Export the clip, then open and scan the exported file if you need to verify an exact final loudness target.
What peak headroom does
The calculation applies one fixed gain to the whole selected audio track. Peak headroom reduces that gain when necessary; it does not compress or limit individual peaks. The target may therefore remain out of reach, and the dialog explains when peak headroom or the allowed gain range prevents it.
Re-encoding, fades and timing edits can change the final loudness and peak level. The -1 dBTP setting is calculated from the measured source, not a guarantee about the encoded output. Listen and measure the exported file when delivery requirements matter.
Changing gain re-encodes audio while video follows the selected export mode. The main playback volume slider remains independent of output gain.