How to make audio louder
- Add the quiet file. The tool measures its current peak level straight away.
- Choose how much louder. Drag the slider (up to +24 dB), or press Normalize to −1 dB to make it as loud as possible without any limiting.
- Keep the limiter on. It automatically controls peaks that would otherwise go over the maximum level and crackle.
- Download. Press Apply volume, preview, and save as MP3 or WAV.
How loud is +6 dB?
Volume is measured in decibels (dB), a logarithmic scale. Here's what each change means in practice:
| Change | Signal level | How it sounds |
|---|---|---|
| +3 dB | 1.4× | A small but noticeable increase |
| +6 dB | 2× | Clearly louder |
| +10 dB | 3.2× | About twice as loud to the ear |
| +20 dB | 10× | Much louder; very quiet recordings need this |
Why a limiter matters
Digital audio has a hard ceiling at 0 dBFS. If you simply multiply the volume, the loudest peaks hit that ceiling and get "clipped" flat, which you hear as crackling and harsh distortion. The limiter looks 5 milliseconds ahead and smoothly turns down only the few moments that would clip, then releases. Everything else gets the full boost. The result is louder without distortion.
Normalize is the gentlest option: it raises the whole file until its single loudest peak reaches −1 dB, so no limiting is needed at all. If the file is still too quiet after normalizing, add a few more dB and let the limiter do the rest.
Common uses
- Quiet phone or Zoom recordings where the speaker was far from the microphone.
- Voice memos and interviews that are hard to hear on a phone speaker.
- Songs or ringtones that play much quieter than the rest of your library.
- Turning down audio that is uncomfortably loud, using negative values.
A volume boost also raises background noise, so a noisy recording will stay noisy, just louder. For the cleanest result, remove silent stretches first with the Audio Trimmer.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I increase the volume?
Up to +24 dB, which is about 16 times the signal level. With the limiter on, peaks are kept under control so the result doesn't distort.
What does "normalize" mean?
Normalizing raises the volume of the whole file by the same amount, until the loudest point reaches −1 dB. It's the loudest you can go without changing the dynamics.
Can I make audio quieter too?
Yes. Drag the slider below 0 dB to reduce the volume by up to 12 dB.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The volume change is applied in your browser on your own device.