diff --git a/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts b/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
index 1226691..3399a80 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
+++ b/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
@@ -64,14 +64,16 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
       const dataArray = new Uint8Array(analyser.frequencyBinCount);
       analyser.getByteTimeDomainData(dataArray);
 
-      // Calculate RMS level
-      let sum = 0;
+      // Calculate peak level (more responsive than RMS for visual meters)
+      let peak = 0;
       for (let i = 0; i < dataArray.length; i++) {
-        const normalized = (dataArray[i] - 128) / 128;
-        sum += normalized * normalized;
+        const normalized = Math.abs((dataArray[i] - 128) / 128);
+        if (normalized > peak) {
+          peak = normalized;
+        }
       }
-      const rms = Math.sqrt(sum / dataArray.length);
-      levels[track.id] = rms;
+
+      levels[track.id] = peak;
     });
 
     setTrackLevels(levels);
diff --git a/lib/hooks/useRecording.ts b/lib/hooks/useRecording.ts
index b94f11d..606a98d 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/useRecording.ts
+++ b/lib/hooks/useRecording.ts
@@ -78,15 +78,16 @@ export function useRecording(): UseRecordingReturn {
 
       analyser.getByteTimeDomainData(dataArray);
 
-      // Calculate RMS level
-      let sum = 0;
+      // Calculate peak level (more responsive than RMS for visual meters)
+      let peak = 0;
       for (let i = 0; i < dataArray.length; i++) {
-        const normalized = (dataArray[i] - 128) / 128;
-        sum += normalized * normalized;
+        const normalized = Math.abs((dataArray[i] - 128) / 128);
+        if (normalized > peak) {
+          peak = normalized;
+        }
       }
-      const rms = Math.sqrt(sum / dataArray.length);
 
-      setState((prev) => ({ ...prev, inputLevel: rms }));
+      setState((prev) => ({ ...prev, inputLevel: peak }));
 
       animationFrameRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(updateLevel);
     };