The actual maximum peak level of a digital audio signal, including inter-sample peaks that standard sample-level metering misses.
True Peak measures the highest instantaneous level an audio signal will reach after digital-to-analog conversion, including peaks that occur between individual sample points (inter-sample peaks). Standard sample-level meters can underestimate these peaks, meaning a file that reads at -1 dBFS on a peak meter may still clip during playback on a DAC or streaming platform.
Why it matters
Streaming platforms and broadcast standards specify True Peak ceilings (commonly -1 dBTP or -2 dBTP) precisely because inter-sample peaks cause audible distortion on consumer playback devices. A DJ submitting a mix for broadcast, podcast, or streaming distribution needs to respect the True Peak limit, not just the sample peak, to avoid clipping artifacts in the delivered file.
In practice
When exporting a recorded mix, set your True Peak ceiling to -1 dBTP or lower in your limiter or mastering chain. A True Peak-compliant limiter (available in most modern DAWs) catches inter-sample overshoots that a standard brickwall limiter will miss.
