glossary
Crest factor metering shows the gap between peaks and average level.
Crest factor is the difference between a signal's peak level and its average level. A larger gap usually means more transient punch, while a smaller gap usually means more density.
A crest factor meter helps you see whether loudness is coming from controlled dynamics or from flattening the peaks.
A very low crest factor can make a mix sound loud at first but small, harsh, or tiring over time. It can also make codecs and limiters work harder.
Different genres have different expectations, so the reading should guide listening rather than replace it.
Watch crest factor across drops, choruses, breakdowns, and references. Sudden changes can reveal a bus processor or limiter doing more work than intended.
Meter Core keeps peak and average readings together so density changes are easier to spot.