Navigate LUFS, True Peak and platform requirements to ensure your music sounds perfect everywhere.
Mastering for streaming requires precision. If your track is too loud, Spotify will turn it down and squash its dynamics. If it's too quiet, it will sound weak on playlists. Mixify simplifies streaming mastering by providing exact LUFS targeting and strict True Peak limiting. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about preparing your audio for digital release in 2026.
Guaranteed compliance with Spotify, Apple Music and more.
Streaming platforms use loudness normalization to ensure users don't have to constantly adjust their volume between songs. Understanding this is essential for streaming mastering.
Every major platform has distinct technical requirements. Here are the current targets you need to hit when mastering for streaming.
| Platform | LUFS Target | True Peak | Sample Rate | Bitrate | Format Preferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP (-2 for loud tracks) | 44.1kHz+ | 320 kbps | 24-bit WAV / FLAC |
| Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 44.1kHz+ | 256 kbps AAC | 24-bit WAV / ALAC |
| YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 44.1kHz+ | 256 kbps AAC | 24-bit WAV |
| Tidal | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 44.1kHz+ | Lossless / Hi-Res | 24-bit FLAC / MQA |
| Amazon Music | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 44.1kHz+ | Lossless / Hi-Res | 24-bit FLAC |
| SoundCloud | No normalization | -1 dBTP (essential) | 44.1kHz+ | 256 kbps AAC | 24-bit WAV |
| TikTok | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 44.1kHz+ | Variable | WAV |
One of the most confusing aspects of mastering for streaming is deciding how loud to push your master.
Mastering exactly to -14 LUFS preserves maximum dynamic range and punch. It's ideal for acoustic, jazz and dynamic pop music. However, it may sound quieter if the user turns off normalization.
Many top engineers master electronic and hip-hop tracks to -9 or -8 LUFS. While streaming platforms will turn the volume down, the track retains the dense, aggressive energy expected in those genres. Mixify lets you choose exactly what you need.
Tracks generated by Suno and Udio present unique challenges when distributed to streaming services.
Get your tracks properly leveled and technically compliant with Mixify.
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