01 — The tool
Limit audio peaks with a chosen output ceiling
The free Loudness.ai Audio Limiter controls the loudest peaks in a recording. Set an output ceiling, adjust input gain and choose a release time. The preview shows the result so you can check whether occasional peaks are controlled without making the whole performance feel overly restricted.
Choose a ceiling between −24 and −0.1 dB, input gain from 0 to 24 dB and release from 10 to 1000 ms. Adding more input gain drives more sound into the limiter. Use the Audio Compressor when broader differences between loud and quiet passages need attention before final peak control.
02 — How it works
How to limit audio peaks online for free
Listen to the loudest section
Open the recording and find its strongest words, drum hits or musical peaks. Keep your listening volume fixed while deciding how much peak control the file needs.
Choose the ceiling and release
Set the output ceiling and begin with modest input gain. Adjust release while listening to how the sound recovers after a peak. Avoid pushing gain simply to make the preview louder.
Compare and export
Prepare the limited preview and compare it with the original. Check attacks, sustained notes and quieter gaps, then choose MP3 or WAV. Measure the exported file when a delivery specification requires it.
03 — Practical uses
Control peaks in podcasts, narration and music
Podcast peak control
Reduce occasional words that rise above an otherwise balanced episode. Listen to breaths and quieter sentences too. Check the result with the Audio Level Checker when you need a separate level measurement.
Narration exports
Apply final peak control after editing and balancing a voiceover. Keep the narrator's emphasis intact, rather than forcing every phrase towards the ceiling. Compare the loudest sentence before downloading.
Music and rehearsal recordings
Tame isolated peaks in a recording while listening for changes to drum attacks or sustained instruments. For a complete finished-song workflow, use Music Mastering rather than treating a limiter as the whole process.
04 — Frequently asked questions
Audio Limiter questions
Is the output ceiling a loudness target?
It sets a limit for processed peaks, not an average loudness target. Two recordings with the same ceiling can still sound different in loudness. Measure average loudness separately when the destination requires it.
What happens when I increase input gain?
More of the recording reaches the limiter's ceiling, so it needs more level reduction. Start with a small increase and compare tone and movement as well as volume. Large increases can flatten the performance.
How is a limiter different from a compressor?
A compressor controls level above a threshold with an adjustable ratio. A limiter is used for stronger peak control against a ceiling. They address related level problems but provide different controls and listening decisions.
Can limiting repair a distorted recording?
A limiter can control peaks in the audio you provide. It cannot recreate details already lost through clipping during recording. If the source is distorted, review the original take or recording setup before adding more gain.