# EBU R128 Broadcast Loudness Validator Validate audio against EBU R128: integrated programme loudness at -23.0 LUFS with EBU Mode gating, oversampled true peak at -1.0 dBTP, loudness range (Tech 3342) and momentary / short-term maxima, with a per-file timeline chart. > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-broadcast-ebur128-validator - **Category:** Media - **Keywords:** ebu r128, lufs, loudness, bs.1770, true peak, dbtp, loudness range, lra, ebu mode, gating, broadcast, television, radio, loudness normalisation, -23 lufs ## Overview EBU R128 (v5.0) normalises programmes to an average loudness of -23.0 LUFS. This validator measures each file the way an EBU-Mode meter does: ITU-R BS.1770-4 K-weighted blocks with the two-stage gate (an absolute gate at -70 LUFS discards silence, then a relative gate 10 LU below the ungated level discards quiet passages), so long pauses no longer drag the reading down. Produced programmes must land within ± 0.5 LU of target; a wider ± 1.0 LU is the informative tolerance for live broadcasts. The Maximum True Peak limit is -1.0 dBTP, measured oversampled — a sample-peak meter can read -1.0 dBFS while inter-sample peaks sit above the limit. Loudness range (LRA, EBU Tech 3342: the span between the 10th and 95th percentiles of gated 3-second blocks) is reported as a descriptor: R128 itself sets no limit, individual broadcasters bolt their own on top. The R128 s1 short-form profile (ads, promos, trailers) keeps the same loudness target and true-peak limit but does not apply the LRA descriptor. Momentary (400 ms) and short-term (3 s) maxima plus a short-term timeline chart show whether the programme lives inside the target band or only averages there. FFmpeg's ebur128 filter performs the measurement; files are only read, never modified. ## Inputs - **Programme audio (files or ZIP)** (file) - **Validation profile** (select) ## When to use - Before submitting broadcast masters to European television networks or streaming platforms requiring EBU R128 compliance. - When checking commercials, promos, or trailers against the R128 s1 short-form profile limits. - During quality control to diagnose inter-sample peaks or excessive dynamic swings across programme timelines. ## How it works - Upload standalone audio files or a ZIP bundle and choose the appropriate target profile (produced programme, live broadcast, or short-form). - The validator processes the audio using ITU-R BS.1770-4 K-weighting with absolute (-70 LUFS) and relative (-10 LU) gating to calculate integrated loudness. - It computes oversampled Maximum True Peak (dBTP), Loudness Range (Tech 3342), and momentary / short-term maxima, rendering a visual compliance report and timeline graph. ## Use cases - Broadcaster delivery validation to catch true-peak overshoots and integrated loudness deviations on television episodes. - Commercial and trailer QC to ensure advertising masters adhere to R128 s1 specifications. - Post-production dynamic range audits using Loudness Range (LRA) and short-term timeline charts to balance dialogue and effects. ## Frequently asked questions ### What are the pass/fail criteria for standard produced programmes under EBU R128? A produced programme passes when its integrated loudness measures -23.0 LUFS within a ±0.5 LU tolerance and its Maximum True Peak remains at or below -1.0 dBTP. ### How does EBU Mode gating handle silent passages or long pauses? It applies a two-stage gate: an absolute gate at -70 LUFS discards silence, followed by a relative gate 10 LU below the ungated level to prevent low-level passages from skewing the integrated measurement. ### Why is oversampled true peak measurement necessary instead of sample peak? Sample-peak meters only read discrete digital samples, missing inter-sample peaks generated during digital-to-analog conversion that can exceed -1.0 dBTP and cause distortion. ### What is the difference between the standard profile and the R128 s1 profile? The standard profile enforces target tolerances and tracks Loudness Range (LRA), whereas the R128 s1 profile is tailored for short-form content like ads and trailers where LRA is not evaluated. ### Does this tool modify or normalize my original audio files? No. The validator only inspects audio streams to produce diagnostic metrics and compliance reports; source files are never altered. ## Related tools - [ATSC A/85 Broadcast Loudness Validator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-atsc-a85-validator): Validate audio against ATSC A/85 (CALM Act): -24 LKFS ± 2 LU program loudness per ITU-R BS.1770-4, -2.0 dBTP oversampled true peak, 48 kHz delivery check and a dialnorm cross-check, with a per-file short-term timeline chart. - [CALM Act Commercial Loudness Checker](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-calm-act-checker): Check whether a commercial is louder than the programme it accompanies, per the FCC CALM Act rules and ATSC A/85: compare average loudness, grade the excess on the A/85 listener comfort scale, and flag loud-opening “gaming” with momentary-loudness diagnostics. - [Audio Gapless Album Validator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-gapless-album-validator): Validate an album for gapless playback: inter-track seam gaps, pre-roll and tail silence, encoder delay metadata, and sample-format consistency across every track. - [Normalization History Card](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-normalization-history-card): Generate a shareable before/after report card for any loudness change: gain applied, LUFS, true peak, sample peak, loudness range, waveforms and third-octave spectral deltas. - [Podcast RSS Enclosure Checker](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-podcast-rss-enclosure-checker): Validate podcast episode audio against hosting expectations and cross-check it with your RSS feed: enclosure URL / length / type attributes, itunes:duration, GUID uniqueness, RFC 2822 dates, platform codecs and bitrates — byte-exact enclosure lengths included. - [Streaming Loudness Preview](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-streaming-loudness-preview): Measure your master once, then see the playback gain every major platform will apply — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal, Amazon, Deezer and more. - [Audio Audiobook ACX Validator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-audiobook-acx-validator): Validate an audiobook chapter or full file against ACX/Audible submission requirements: RMS, peak, noise floor, duration, format, and chapters. - [Audio Concat Validator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-concat-validator): Validate concatenated audio files for errors and inconsistencies ## Samples - [Copyright-Free FLAC Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/flac-samples): Lossless FLAC audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [Copyright-Free MP3 Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/mp3-samples): Collection of royalty-free audio samples for testing and development purposes including nature sounds, meditation music, and ambient audio - [Copyright-Free WAV Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/wav-samples): Uncompressed PCM WAV audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [Copyright-Free Raw PCM Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pcm-samples): Raw PCM s16le audio samples featuring nature ambience and relaxing music for waveform, playback, and conversion workflows