Mastering for streaming platforms is essential to ensure that songs sound consistent and clear across different services. Each provider has unique volume and dynamic requirements, so understanding normalization and loudness standards (LUFS) helps optimize songs for the best streaming experience. This guide explains how to adjust songs for platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, and more.
1. Key Terms for Streaming Mastering
LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale): This unit measures the average perceived loudness of a song, accounting for human sensitivity to different frequencies.
True Peak: A measurement to determine the highest peak of a track to avoid distortion (clipping) that may occur with lossy compression.
Loudness Range (LRA): Indicates the dynamics of a song, i.e., the difference between the loudest and quietest moments. Streaming platforms often prefer controlled dynamics.
2. How to Optimize Your Songs for Different Platforms
Each streaming service has specific loudness targets to set a consistent playback level for listeners. These targets are based on LUFS values to ensure that songs are consistently mixed and listeners don’t have to adjust the volume frequently.
However, as you can only upload a single master file for each song, which is then delivered to all stores, you have to decide whether to use the stores' lower or upper guide values. Depending on which you choose, the stores will subsequently either make the master louder or quieter so that their individual guide values can be adhered to. In some cases, this adjustment can lead to a change in the sound, as dynamics could be lost, for example.
Spotify
Loudness Target: -14 LUFS (normalized); users can also choose -11 or -19 LUFS.
True Peak: Spotify recommends keeping the True Peak below -1 dBTP to avoid clipping.
Normalization: Spotify uses both track and album normalization depending on whether songs are played individually or as an album.
Apple Music
Loudness Target: -16 LUFS (normalized).
True Peak: Recommended to be below -1 dBTP.
Normalization: Track and album normalization are possible. Older devices may use "Sound Check," which can vary in normalization.
YouTube
Loudness Target: -14 LUFS.
True Peak: Recommended to stay below -1 dBTP.
Normalization: Track normalization only. Quieter songs are not turned up, but louder ones are reduced.
Deezer
Loudness Target: -15 LUFS.
True Peak: Below -1 dBTP.
Normalization: Track normalization; no adjustment possible.
Tidal
Loudness Target: -14 LUFS.
True Peak: Below -1 dBTP.
Normalization: Album normalization is always applied, even when songs are in a playlist.
Amazon Music and Pandora
Amazon Music: -14 LUFS, track normalization.
Pandora: No specific LUFS targets, but aims for around -14 LUFS; track normalization.
3. Summary of Mastering Requirements
Platform | Loudness Target (LUFS) | True Peak (dBTP) | Normalization |
Spotify | -14 | < -1 | Track and Album |
Apple Music | -16 | < -1 | Track and Album |
YouTube | -14 | < -1 | Track only |
Deezer | -15 | < -1 | Track only |
Tidal | -14 | < -1 | Album |
Amazon Music | -14 | < -1 | Track only |
Pandora | ~ -14 | < -1 | Track only |
4. Tips for Optimal Mastering
Here are some general guidelines to help you master songs for streaming platforms:
Adjust to Target Loudness: A value of -14 LUFS is a good compromise for most platforms. However, dynamic tracks, like jazz or classical music, may be mastered at a lower volume.
Maintain Dynamics: Aim for moderate dynamics. Tracks with extreme dynamics (high LRA value) may sound quieter than expected, affecting the listening experience.
Mind the True Peak: Keep the True Peak level below -1 dBTP to avoid clipping with lossy formats.
Use Album Normalization: For albums, maintain the balance between tracks. Use album normalization and adjust loudness based on the loudest song.
5. Conclusion
Mastering for streaming means taking platform standards into account without sacrificing artistic intent. Use loudness normalization as a tool to make your song sound its best and keep True Peak levels in the safe range. Ultimately, music should come first – follow these standards, but always let your musical ear guide you.