Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator
Pick your delivery codec and bitrate class — get the safe true-peak ceiling so the lossy encode doesn't clip, plus your current margin.
Lossy encoders reshape the waveform, pushing inter-sample peaks 0.5–1.5 dB above the PCM master's true peak — worse at low bitrates. EBU R 128 and Apple's mastering guidance both land on −1 dBTP for good encodes and −2 dBTP when low-bitrate transcodes are in the chain.
Rule / Formula
Pick your delivery codec and bitrate class — get the safe true-peak ceiling so the lossy encode doesn't clip, plus your current margin.
About Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator
Pick your delivery codec and bitrate class — get the safe true-peak ceiling so the lossy encode doesn't clip, plus your current margin. Lossy encoders reshape the waveform, pushing inter-sample peaks 0.5–1.5 dB above the PCM master's true peak — worse at low bitrates. EBU R 128 and Apple's mastering guidance both land on −1 dBTP for good encodes and −2 dBTP when low-bitrate transcodes are in the chain.
How to use Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator
- 1Enter your values into the fields in Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator.
- 2The result and any pass/fail verdict update instantly as you type — no button to press.
- 3Check the substituted formula and worked example to see exactly how the result was derived.
- 4Copy or note the result for your spec, delivery or planning.
Why use Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator?
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser with instant, private results — no data leaves your device.
- ✓Built on a published reference: EBU R 128 (−1 dBTP); EBU Tech 3344.
- ✓Shows the governing formula and a worked example, so you can trust and check every result.
- ✓100% free with no sign-up, no watermark and no usage limits.
- ✓Works on any device — desktop, tablet or phone — and keeps working offline once loaded.
Frequently asked questions
What does Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator do?+
Pick your delivery codec and bitrate class — get the safe true-peak ceiling so the lossy encode doesn't clip, plus your current margin. Lossy encoders reshape the waveform, pushing inter-sample peaks 0.5–1.5 dB above the PCM master's true peak — worse at low bitrates.
Is my data private?+
Yes. Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator runs entirely in your browser — your inputs are never uploaded, stored or logged.
What standard or source is Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator based on?+
It follows EBU R 128 (−1 dBTP); EBU Tech 3344; Apple Digital Masters technology brief. Always confirm against the current official document, as specifications and rates can change.
What formula does it use?+
Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator uses: margin = ceiling(codec) − current dBTP (ceilings: lossless −0.1, high-bitrate −1, low-bitrate −2 dBTP). The tool shows this formula with your own numbers substituted so you can verify the result.
Is Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator free to use?+
Yes — it is completely free with no account, no sign-up and no usage limits. There is no watermark and no paywall.
Embed Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator on your website
Want Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculatoron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/codec-true-peak-headroom-calculator" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Codec True-Peak Headroom Calculator — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related Broadcast tools
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