What is a true peak and why is it important to limit it on deliverables?

• A. The instantaneous peak that can overshoot digital or analog devices; limit to around -1 dBTP to prevent clipping after encoding.
• B. A long-term average level used for mastering.
• C. The peak of the RMS level used in loudness standards.
• D. The maximum audible frequency.

Answer: (A)

True peak refers to the highest level a signal can reach after it’s reconstructed from its samples, including inter-sample peaks that aren’t visible as a single digital sample. Because reconstruction filters, sample-rate changes, and encoding/decoding can create brief peaks that exceed the measured sample values, a file that meters well can still clip in playback or during encoding. Limiting to about -1 dBTP gives enough headroom to accommodate those inter-sample peaks and encoder/decoder behavior, reducing the chance of clipping on deliverables. The other options describe different ideas—long-term mastering averages, RMS-based loudness peaks, or the maximum audible frequency—and don’t address the instantaneous inter-sample peak issue that true peak is about.