LUFS

Term from Audio Book Production industry explained for recruiters

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is a standard way to measure how loud audio sounds to human ears. In audiobook production, it's like a volume measurement tool that helps ensure all audio books have consistent loudness levels, so listeners don't need to keep adjusting their volume. Think of it as a quality control tool that helps audio professionals deliver properly balanced sound that meets industry standards, similar to how food products must meet standard measurement requirements. When you see this term in resumes, it indicates that the person understands how to deliver audio at the correct volume levels for platforms like Audible or other audiobook distributors.

Examples in Resumes

Mastered over 100 audiobooks to meet LUFS requirements for Audible ACX

Developed standardized workflow ensuring consistent LUFS measurements across all productions

Quality checked and adjusted LUFS levels for library of 500+ audio files

Typical job title: "Audio Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Audio Book Producer Sound Engineer Audio Editor Mastering Engineer Audio Production Specialist Audio Quality Control Specialist

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle projects with different LUFS requirements for various platforms?

Expected Answer: A senior audio engineer should explain how they create multiple masters of the same audio to meet different platform requirements (like -23 LUFS for Audible vs -16 LUFS for other platforms) and how they maintain quality across versions.

Q: How do you train junior staff on proper loudness measurement?

Expected Answer: Should discuss creating clear workflows, explaining the importance of consistent measurement, and methods for checking work to ensure standards are met across the team.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What tools do you use to measure LUFS, and how do you ensure accuracy?

Expected Answer: Should be able to name common audio measurement tools and explain their basic process for checking and adjusting audio levels to meet required standards.

Q: How do you handle audio that doesn't meet the required LUFS standards?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process for adjusting audio levels while maintaining quality and not introducing distortion or other audio problems.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is LUFS and why is it important in audiobook production?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that LUFS measures perceived loudness and why consistent loudness is important for listener experience.

Q: What are the standard LUFS requirements for major audiobook platforms?

Expected Answer: Should know basic platform requirements, such as Audible's -23 LUFS standard, and understand why these standards exist.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of audio loudness measurement
  • Ability to use loudness meters
  • Knowledge of platform requirements
  • Basic audio editing skills

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Efficient loudness correction techniques
  • Multiple platform delivery experience
  • Quality control procedures
  • Batch processing abilities

Senior (5+ years)

  • Advanced loudness management across projects
  • Workflow optimization
  • Team training and supervision
  • Troubleshooting complex audio issues

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unfamiliarity with industry standard LUFS requirements
  • No experience with professional audio editing software
  • Lack of knowledge about different platform specifications
  • No understanding of basic audio terminology