Music and sound production

True peak headroom planner calculator

Adds linear gain in decibels to an externally measured true peak. This does not analyse audio, limit peaks, or predict extra peaks introduced by later processing or encoding.

Your numbers

Use the units shown. Results update as you change valid inputs.

YOUR RESULT

Adds linear gain in decibels to an externally measured true peak. This does not analyse audio, limit peaks, or predict extra peaks introduced by later processing or encoding.

THE NUMBERS, EXPLAINED

How to use this calculator.

Adds linear gain in decibels to an externally measured true peak. This does not analyse audio, limit peaks, or predict extra peaks introduced by later processing or encoding.

Start with your inputs

Enter measured true peak (dbtp), desired ceiling (dbtp), proposed gain (db). Keep amounts in the units shown on each field. The example is a starting point, not a recommended value.

InputExample value
Measured true peak (dBTP)-3
Desired ceiling (dBTP)-1
Proposed gain (dB)1

A worked example

With the example inputs above, projected true peak (dbtp) is -2. Change the inputs to explore your own scenario.

Putting the example numbers into the formula

Projected true peak (dBTP)
(-3)+(1) = -2

Remaining headroom (dB)
(-1)-(-3)-(1) = 1

Required attenuation (dB)
max(0,(-3)+(1)-(-1)) = 0

All results for the example inputs above
ResultExample answer
Projected true peak (dBTP)-2
Remaining headroom (dB)1
Required attenuation (dB)0

How this is calculated

Projected true peak (dBTP)

a+c

Remaining headroom (dB)

b-a-c

Required attenuation (dB)

max(0,a+c-b)

Symbols and units
a
Measured true peak (dBTP)
b
Desired ceiling (dBTP)
c
Proposed gain (dB)

Use the units shown. A list keeps the order in which you enter its values. The symbol ^ means “raised to the power of”.

Calculation steps and notation

max(x, y, …) selects the largest value.

Assumptions and limits

Adds linear gain in decibels to an externally measured true peak. This does not analyse audio, limit peaks, or predict extra peaks introduced by later processing or encoding.

Calculations use the values you enter. Blank or invalid inputs show an error instead of silently substituting zero. Results are displayed to useful precision; calculations retain the underlying numeric precision.

Questions about this tool

What does the result tell me?

Projected true peak (dBTP); Remaining headroom (dB); Required attenuation (dB). The result applies to the method and inputs described above. Check the units and assumptions before using it in a decision.

Why might another calculator differ?

Differences in units, rounding, timing or model definitions can produce different answers. Compare the input definitions and the method, rather than only the final number. For this tool: Adds linear gain in decibels to an externally measured true peak. This does not analyse audio, limit peaks, or predict extra peaks introduced by later processing or encoding.

Are my inputs stored or sent to AI?

Calculations on this page happen in your browser. The separate AI question finder sends its submitted conversation to OpenAI; these calculator fields are not sent. Favourites and recent tool names are stored locally. A shared link contains the inputs you choose to include.

Further reading

OpenStax: algebra and proportional reasoning ↗

Background reading; this does not imply endorsement or independent review of SumFizz.

Review status

Software example and browser checks are recorded in our quality report. No external expert review is claimed. Created with coding assistance; calculations run as ordinary browser code.

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