If you’ve wondered why your track sounds quieter than commercial releases – or why cranking the limiter doesn’t help on Spotify – the answer is LUFS and loudness normalization.
What LUFS means
LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) measures perceived loudness over time, much closer to how we actually hear than peak meters. Integrated LUFS is the average loudness of your whole track – the number that matters most for release.
Why streaming changed the game
Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube normalize playback to a target (commonly around -14 LUFS). Master much louder than that and they simply turn it down – so over-compressing just costs you dynamics and punch without making you louder to the listener.
How loud should your master be?
- Streaming-friendly: roughly -14 LUFS integrated is a safe, common target.
- Genre matters: loud genres often master hotter; acoustic/jazz stay more dynamic.
- Prioritise sound over numbers: a punchy, dynamic master beats a crushed loud one.
Practical takeaway
Use a LUFS meter, aim for a sensible target, and don’t sacrifice dynamics chasing loudness. This is part of the bigger picture in what is mastering, and starts with leaving headroom in your mix.
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