True peak explained: dBTP, inter-sample peaks and why −1 dBTP matters
A file can show a peak of −0.1 dBFS in your DAW and still distort on Spotify. The reason is true peak: the level of the analogue waveform between the samples, which is what a converter or a codec actually reproduces. Here is the short version, with the numbers we measured.
· 5 min read
Sample peak vs true peak
A digital file stores samples. The signal that comes out of a DAC is a smooth curve through those samples, and that curve can rise above the highest sample, especially on sharp transients and bright material. A true-peak meter reconstructs the curve (by oversampling, typically 4× or more) and reports the real maximum in dBTP.
Typical overshoot is 0.3–1 dB on dense pop and EDM, more on very bright or clipped material. So a master limited to 0 dBFS sample peak often has a true peak of +0.5 dBTP.
Why codecs make it worse
MP3, AAC and Ogg Vorbis encoding changes the waveform slightly, and the decoded signal can overshoot again by 0.5–1.5 dB. Streaming platforms decode into a fixed-point pipeline, so anything above 0 dBTP after decoding is clipped. That is the fizz on the loudest chorus of an otherwise clean master.
The fix is to leave headroom before the encode. Spotify and Apple both recommend a −1 dBTP ceiling; −2 dBTP is safer for very bright tracks.
Where AI tracks stand
In our measurements of 20 Suno WAVs the true peaks averaged −4.2 dBTP, with zero clipped samples. Codec overshoot is not a problem for the raw files. It becomes a problem the moment someone raises the gain to 0 dBFS to 'make it louder', which is exactly what a peak normaliser does.
Our engine verifies the final master's true peak at 32× oversampling and re-renders if the ceiling is exceeded, because a limiter's internal estimate at 4× can be a few tenths of a dB optimistic.
FAQ
Is −1 dBTP the same as −1 dBFS?
No. dBFS is the sample value; dBTP is the reconstructed analogue peak, which can be higher. Set the limiter ceiling in dBTP if it has a true-peak mode.
Do I lose loudness with a −1 dBTP ceiling?
About 1 dB of peak level, which is a fraction of a dB of loudness. Streaming normalisation makes that irrelevant.
Try it on your own track
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