File failed QC: Max True Peak

If your QC report shows Max True Peak 1 (dBTP) or Max True Peak 2 (dBTP) in red, the true peak level of your audio is above the maximum allowed.

Max True Peak – reading the QC report

• The value next to Max True Peak 1 (dBTP) or Max True Peak 2 (dBTP) is the highest true peak found in the uploaded file, not the limit. For example, 0.700 means the audio's true peak reaches +0.7 dBTP.
• 1 and 2 are the two audio channels (left and right).
• The true peak must not go above 0.0 dBTP, unless View Specs for your ad shows a lower limit.

Max True Peak – what it means

Digital audio is stored as samples, taken at points along the sound wave. The real top of the wave, the true peak, can fall between two samples and be higher than either of them. So a file can pass Max Peak, which only looks at samples, and still fail Max True Peak.

If the true peak goes above the limit, the audio can clip (distort) when it's played out.

Max True Peak – likely cause

This is usually a file fault. Common causes:

• The mix was limited using a sample-peak limiter rather than a true-peak limiter.
• The level was raised (for example to hit the loudness target) after limiting.
• A loud transient (music hit, sound effect) overshoots between samples.

Max True Peak – fix

1. Click View Specs on your ad to see the true-peak limit for your file.
2. Use a true-peak limiter (set a little below the limit), or lower the level of the loudest section or the whole mix.
3. Check that Audio Loudness is still on target, re-export using the matching Export Guide, and upload the file again.

Max True Peak – when to contact Customer Success

• You’ve exported the file using the specification shown by the View Specs link for the ad in your campaign, but it still fails this check.