> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.descript.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Auto-leveling

> Descript's auto-leveling feature keeps loudness consistent across your composition.

Auto-leveling nudges every clip's loudness to a consistent target (around –16 dB) so your composition sounds balanced without you touching a volume slider. It's on by default.

## Enable or disable auto-leveling

You can toggle auto-leveling for all projects from [**App settings**](/account-and-app-settings/app-settings), or for a single project from **Project settings**.

### All projects (App settings)

To toggle auto-leveling for all future projects:

1. Open [App Settings](/account-and-app-settings/app-settings), keyboard shortcut `Command/Control + , (comma)`
2. Select the **General** tab in the left pane.
3. Under **App settings**, toggle **Automatic volume levels**.

[Clicking this link will also take you to your App Settings in Descript for Web](https://web.descript.com/view/settings/account?active=general)

<Frame caption="Toggle automatic volume levels for all projects in App settings.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx/images/external/descript-39101232908045-3dce0466f0.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx&q=85&s=50e95051a275023e27babb434c435879" alt="App settings in Descript showing the toggle for Automatic volume levels. Press Esc to close." width="1286" height="839" data-path="images/external/descript-39101232908045-3dce0466f0.png" />
</Frame>

### Single project (Project settings)

To apply auto-leveling to all clips in one specific project:

1. Open the project in the editor.
2. Click the **File** menu in the top-left corner.
3. Select **Project settings**.
4. Toggle **Perform automatic leveling on clips**.

<Frame caption="Toggle automatic leveling for all clips in a specific project from Project settings.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx/images/external/descript-39101232909325-c0a255d90f.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx&q=85&s=eece37d18aeaaca9310f24c11268cbb7" alt="Project settings in Descript showing the toggle for Perform automatic leveling on clips. Press Esc to close." width="1419" height="763" data-path="images/external/descript-39101232909325-c0a255d90f.png" />
</Frame>

## Individual clips

To apply auto-leveling to a single clip in your composition:

1. Select the clip in the **timeline** or **script** panel.
2. In the **Properties panel** on the right, open the **Audio** section.
3. Toggle **Auto-level** to turn it on or off for just that clip.

You can also apply auto-leveling to a clip within a sequence via the **Sequence Editor**.

<Frame caption="Apply auto-leveling to an individual clip from the right-click menu.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/descript-5bf56f3f/3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx/images/external/descript-39101232910861-c71dbdd4e5.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3j47b3XLm5VXH3bx&q=85&s=5c82f6e388d5fd9b4aaad66a56ea9672" alt="Properties panel in Descript showing the Auto-level option for an individual clip. Press Esc to close." width="1672" height="911" data-path="images/external/descript-39101232910861-c71dbdd4e5.png" />
</Frame>

## Troubleshooting: Why a clip may not level

If a clip doesn’t get louder where expected, check for brief peaks (like a sneeze or sudden noise). Large spikes can throw off leveling for that section.

**To fix it:**

* Use the [Blade tool](/timeline/timeline-tools) to split the clip before and after the spike.
* Re-run auto-leveling on the quieter portion.