Audio Loudness Standards for Streaming Platforms

Why Loudness Standards Matter

Streaming platforms normalize audio to consistent loudness levels. If your audio is louder than the target, it gets turned down — and any distortion from over-limiting remains. If it's too quiet, it gets turned up — but noise and dynamic range issues become more apparent. Mastering to the correct target ensures your audio sounds as intended.

Platform Targets

Spotify normalizes to -14 LUFS (integrated), YouTube to -14 LUFS, Apple Music to -16 LUFS, and Tidal to -14 LUFS. Podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify should target -16 LUFS with a -1 dB true peak ceiling. Broadcast standards (EBU R128) target -23 LUFS.

Measuring Loudness

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) measures perceived loudness over time. Integrated LUFS averages the entire file. Short-term LUFS measures 3-second windows. Momentary LUFS uses 400ms windows. Use a loudness meter plugin during mastering — most DAWs include one, or use the free Youlean Loudness Meter.

Mastering Workflow

First, mix your audio without worrying about loudness. Then, apply a limiter with the ceiling at -1 dB true peak. Gradually increase the limiter's input gain until the integrated LUFS reads your target. If you need more than 3-4 dB of limiting to reach the target, go back and adjust your mix levels rather than pushing the limiter harder.

Common Pitfalls

The loudness war mentality of making everything as loud as possible is counterproductive on streaming platforms — louder masters just get turned down more. Mono compatibility issues become apparent at lower playback levels. Always check your master in mono and at low volumes. True peak limiting is essential — inter-sample peaks can cause clipping in lossy codec conversion.