Try the concept
Peak versus RMS
Why can a high transient have a low RMS?
Example signal
- Sample Peak
- -6.02 dBFS
- RMS
- -9.03 dBFS
- Peak − RMS difference
- 3.01 dB
A steady sine has RMS = Peak / √2, or 3.01 dB below Peak. Extending the window by whole periods does not change its RMS.
Peak and RMS use the same digital reference. A single 2 ms pulse: a longer window lowers RMS, while Peak stays the same. This is not a true-peak meter or the native band algorithm.
How to read this experiment
The lab does not claim to reproduce the native 20-band algorithm. Peak and RMS are not loudness or THD.