Sample peak vs true peak
A sample peak is the highest value in the digital samples of your audio. A true peak is the highest value of the actual analog waveform reconstructed between those samples — which can be higher than any single sample. These in-between overshoots are called inter-sample peaks.
A normal limiter only sees sample peaks, so a master that reads -0.1 dBFS on a sample meter can still have true peaks above 0 dBFS. When a lossy codec (MP3, AAC, Ogg) reconstructs the waveform, those hidden peaks clip and distort.
Why -1.0 dBTP is the standard
-1.0 dBTP is a widely used true-peak ceiling for streaming delivery, and Spotify for Artists recommends keeping true peak below -1 dB (below -2 dB for masters louder than -14 LUFS). It leaves roughly 1 dB of headroom so that when Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube re-encode your file, the codec's inter-sample overshoots stay below the clipping point.
For lossy formats, some engineers go slightly lower (-1.5 dBTP) for safety; for lossless club or CD masters where no re-encoding happens, -0.5 dBTP is common. The key is measuring the true peak, not just the sample peak.
How true-peak limiting works in practice
A true-peak limiter oversamples the signal (typically 4x) to detect inter-sample peaks that a normal limiter would miss, then attenuates only enough to hold the ceiling — transparently, without pumping. Quantara's export holds a true-peak-safe ceiling, -1 dBTP by default.
The result is a master that stays clean after the platform encodes it — no surprise distortion on the listener's end.
Frequently asked questions
True-peak limiting holds the reconstructed analog peak of your audio below a ceiling (usually -1 dBTP), catching inter-sample peaks that a normal sample-peak limiter misses. It prevents clipping when streaming platforms encode your master to lossy formats.
It leaves about 1 dB of headroom so lossy codecs (MP3, AAC, Ogg) can reconstruct the waveform without their inter-sample overshoots clipping. Spotify for Artists recommends keeping true peak below -1 dB, and below -2 dB for masters louder than -14 LUFS.
A sample peak is the highest digital sample value; a true peak is the highest point of the analog waveform reconstructed between samples, which can be higher. Lossy encoders clip on true peaks that a sample meter never showed.
Yes. Quantara measures true peak per ITU-R BS.1770 and holds -1 dBTP by default — so your master stays clean after streaming platforms re-encode it.
Sources
ITU-R BS.1770: Algorithms to measure audio programme loudness and true-peak audio level — International Telecommunication Union
Loudness normalization on Spotify — Spotify for Artists