Mastering Music for Streaming Platforms: Spotify, Apple, Amazon & more
Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other music streaming platforms use loudness normalization to ensure a consistent listening experience for their users.
While the core concept is the same for all services, their specific target loudness levels, codecs, and handling of dynamic range differ, which influences how the masters for each platform are handled.
In this post you’ll see the guidelines each streaming platform has for uploading masters, learn how these rules make your music sound better, and how a professional online mastering service like Studio Edison can help add a perfect polish for every platform to your music.
The main audio streaming services musicians post music to
Before we get too deep into things there are few key concepts we need to define: Target Loudness Levels (or LUFS), Codecs, True Peak, and last but not least, the “One Master Fits All” philosophy.
what are Target Loudness Levels (LUFS)?
Target Loudness Levels, measured in LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale), are an internationally standardized way to measure the perceived loudness of audio. Unlike a traditional dB (decibel) meter, which measures the raw electrical amplitude of a signal, LUFS takes into account how the human ear perceives loudness across different frequencies.
Why LUFS Matters
The rise of streaming services has made LUFS an essential concept in music production. To provide a consistent listening experience for their users, platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music use loudness normalization. This process automatically adjusts the playback volume of every track to a specific target LUFS level.
Consistency: This prevents the jarring experience of having to constantly adjust your volume when one song on a playlist is significantly louder than the next.
The End of the Loudness War: Loudness normalization effectively discourages engineers from mastering tracks to extreme loudness levels (the so-called "loudness war"). If a track is mastered too loud, the streaming service will simply turn it down to their target, negating any perceived advantage. In fact, an overly loud, heavily compressed track will often sound lifeless and flat after being turned down, whereas a master with good dynamics will retain its punch and clarity.
LUFS is an integrated measurement, meaning it measures the average loudness of an entire track from beginning to end, as opposed to short-term or momentary measurements that analyze brief sections.
Streaming services have their own specific target LUFS levels:
Spotify: -14 LUFS
Apple Music: -16 LUFS
Amazon Music: -14 LUFS
YouTube: -14 LUFS
These different targets mean a master optimized for one service may not be ideal for the other. A track mastered to Spotify's -14 LUFS will be turned down by 2 dB on Apple Music. A track mastered to Apple Music's -16 LUFS will be turned up by 2 dB on Spotify.
A professional mastering engineer uses specialized meters to ensure a track's loudness and dynamic range are optimized to work within this system, delivering a master that sounds powerful and clear on any platform.
What are Codecs?
The word "codec" is a portmanteau of coder/decoder. In simple terms, it's an algorithm that takes a large audio file and shrinks it down for storage or transmission. When the file is played back by the listener, the decoder reverses the process, decompressing the file so it can be heard.
In the context of mastering, codecs are the digital encoders and decoders that compress your high-quality audio file for streaming and distribution. While you master your music using an uncompressed format (like a WAV or AIFF file), streaming platforms must convert that file into a smaller, compressed format for efficient playback. This is where codecs come into play, and they have a significant impact on how your final master sounds.
There are two main types of codecs that are relevant to mastering:
Lossless Codecs: These codecs compress the audio file without permanently losing any data. The decompressed file is a perfect, bit-for-bit replica of the original. Examples include FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec). These are typically used for high-quality downloads and high-fidelity streaming tiers.
Lossy Codecs: These codecs reduce file size by permanently discarding data that is deemed psychoacoustically "inaudible" to the human ear. This allows for much smaller file sizes, which is ideal for streaming, but it also means there is some loss of audio quality. Examples include MP3, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), and Ogg Vorbis.
The Role of Codecs in Mastering
A professional mastering engineer must be aware of how different codecs will treat their master. The conversion process from a high-quality WAV file to a lossy streaming codec can introduce unwanted artifacts if the master is not prepared correctly.
Inter-sample Peaks: One of the most common issues is "inter-sample peaks." These are peaks in the audio waveform that occur between the digital samples and can be missed by standard meters. When a file with these peaks is converted by a lossy codec, it can cause digital clipping and distortion, even if the file's peak level is below 0 dB. Mastering engineers use specialized "true peak" meters to prevent this from happening.
Frequency and Dynamic Range: Different codecs handle frequencies and dynamic range in their own unique ways. For instance, some codecs may struggle with extremely wide stereo information or very aggressive high-frequency content, which can lead to a "warbly" or "washed out" sound.
Platform-Specific Codecs: Major streaming platforms use different codecs, which is a key reason why mastering for each is a unique task:
Spotify: Uses Ogg Vorbis
Apple Music: Uses AAC
YouTube: Uses AAC and Opus
Amazon Music: Uses both lossy codecs for standard streaming and lossless codecs for its HD and Ultra HD tiers.
In the mastering process, the engineer will often use a "codec preview" to simulate the sound of their master after it has been encoded by a specific codec. This allows them to make subtle adjustments to the audio to ensure it sounds its best on every platform, regardless of the codec used. It is this expertise in understanding and mitigating the effects of codecs that makes a professional mastering service invaluable.
What is true peak?
In audio mastering, true peak is a crucial measurement that represents the actual peak level of an audio signal, including any peaks that may occur between the digital samples. It is a more accurate measurement than a standard digital peak meter, which only measures the peak level at a fixed sample rate.
What’s the Difference Between True Peak & Standard Peak?
Standard Peak Meter: A standard digital peak meter measures the maximum value of the digital samples themselves. For example, in a 44.1 kHz file, it would only measure the loudest point at each of the 44,100 samples per second. It does not account for the continuous analog waveform.
True Peak Meter: A true peak meter, on the other hand, uses a process called oversampling to "recreate" the continuous analog waveform between the digital samples. This allows it to find the highest point of the waveform, which is often higher than any of the individual digital samples. These peaks that occur between samples are known as inter-sample peaks.
Why True Peak is Critical
The concept of true peak has become essential due to the nature of digital audio conversion and streaming. When a high-resolution, uncompressed audio file is converted into a compressed, lossy format for streaming (e.g., a WAV to an MP3), these inter-sample peaks can become even more pronounced.
If the true peak of a master exceeds 0 dBFS (decibels relative to full scale), it can cause digital clipping and distortion. This is particularly problematic in streaming, as the encoding process can introduce artifacts that are difficult to predict.
How Mastering Engineers Manage True Peak
Professional mastering engineers use specialized meters to monitor true peak levels. To prevent any distortion, they will often apply a limiter with a true peak ceiling to ensure the master's true peak does not exceed a certain level.
Most streaming platforms recommend a maximum true peak of -1 dBTP (decibels true peak).
For masters that are very loud or have a lot of high-frequency content, a true peak of -2 dBTP may be used to provide an extra safety buffer against any potential distortion during the encoding process.
By controlling the true peak, a mastering engineer ensures that the final audio will sound clean, clear, and free of distortion, no matter where it is being played.
Mastering music for Spotify
how to master Music for spotify
Unique Spotify Loudness Target & Normalization
Spotify's main distinction is its target loudness level of -14 LUFS (Integrated). This is the volume to which Spotify's algorithm will adjust your track.
Loud Masters: If you submit a track mastered louder than -14 LUFS, Spotify will simply turn its volume down to meet the target. This is a clean process that doesn't add distortion or compression.
Quiet Masters: If your track is mastered quieter than -14 LUFS, Spotify will turn its volume up. It's important to note that Spotify's system may apply a limiter to prevent clipping if the quiet track is turned up significantly. This can be less sonically desirable than controlling your own limiting during the mastering process.
This system effectively puts an end to the "loudness wars" on the platform. Pushing your master to an extreme loudness level (e.g., -8 LUFS) will not make it sound louder than a master at -14 LUFS. In fact, it can have the opposite effect, as the excessive compression from the loud master can make the track sound flat and less dynamic after normalization.
Spotify Recommended True Peak & Transcoding
Another unique factor is Spotify's use of the Ogg Vorbis codec for its streaming. This is a "lossy" compression format that can introduce inter-sample peaks, which are peaks that occur between the digital samples and can cause clipping or distortion.
To prevent this, Spotify officially recommends that masters have a maximum true peak of -1 dBTP (decibels true peak). For tracks mastered louder than -14 LUFS, a true peak of -2 dBTP is advised to provide extra headroom and avoid potential distortion when the track is turned down and transcoded.
A professional mastering engineer will ensure your track meets these true peak standards using specialized metering tools that can detect these inter-sample peaks, preventing any unwanted digital artifacts.
Learn more about how Spotify uses loudness normalization.
Mastering music for Apple Music
how to master Music for apple music
Mastering music for Apple Music has several unique characteristics that a professional mastering engineer must consider. While the general principles of mastering remain the same, Apple's specific technical requirements and philosophy on loudness and quality make it distinct from platforms like Spotify.
APPLE’s Louder, More Dynamic Target
Apple Music's primary distinction is its loudness target of -16 LUFS (integrated loudness) for music. This is a crucial difference from Spotify's -14 LUFS target.
Quieter is Better: Because Apple's target is quieter, it values a greater dynamic range. A master with well-preserved dynamics will be treated favorably by Apple's "Sound Check" normalization system, as it will be turned up less (or not at all) to meet the target.
No Upward Limiting: Unlike some other streaming platforms that might apply limiting to boost quieter tracks to their loudness target, Apple's system does not apply any additional processing to make tracks louder. It only turns down tracks that are too loud, respecting the dynamic range of the quieter masters. This is why a master with good dynamics sounds excellent on Apple Music.
Apple Digital Masters (ADM) & High-Resolution Files
Apple Music has a unique program called Apple Digital Masters (formerly Mastered for iTunes). This program is a collaborative effort with top mastering engineers to ensure the highest quality audio on their platform.
Higher Resolution Source: The ADM process is based on the idea that the better the source file, the better the final stream. Instead of starting with a standard 16-bit, 44.1 kHz file, ADM-certified engineers submit a high-resolution master, typically at 24-bit, 48 kHz or 96 kHz.
Specialized Encoder: Apple's proprietary AAC encoder is a key part of this process. It is highly efficient and designed to handle high-resolution files gracefully, minimizing loss during compression. The result is a 256 kbps AAC file that is virtually indistinguishable from the original high-res master.
Exclusivity: Only mastering engineers who are certified by Apple can submit masters for the ADM program, which can also provide artists with a special badge on the platform.
AAC Codec & Apple Music Recommended True Peak
Apple Music uses the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) codec for its streaming, which handles high frequencies and complex waveforms more gracefully than codecs like Ogg Vorbis (used by Spotify).
While the general recommendation for true peak is -1 dBTP, Apple's encoding process can still introduce inter-sample peaks. To be safe, many engineers recommend a true peak of -2 dBTP for tracks that are highly dynamic and have a lot of high-frequency content. This provides a safety net to prevent any clipping that might occur during the conversion process.
Mastering music for Amazon Music
how to master for amazon music
Similarly, Amazon Music, has its own guidelines for loudness normalization, yet it's also the most straightforward platform for mastering. Amazon Music uses a normalization system to ensure a consistent volume across all its content, from standard quality to its high-resolution tiers.
Loudness Normalization
Target Loudness: Amazon Music's loudness target is -14 LUFS (Integrated), which is the same as Spotify and YouTube. This means that if you submit a track mastered louder than -14 LUFS, Amazon will turn it down.
Normalization Type: Amazon Music employs a system similar to Spotify, where it will turn down tracks that are too loud to meet the -14 LUFS target. If a track is quieter than the target, Amazon Music will turn it up, but it is best practice to manage this yourself in the mastering stage.
Amazon Music Recommended True Peak
Amazon Music recommends a maximum true peak of -1 dBTP to prevent clipping and distortion, especially in the compressed versions of your audio.
amazon HD & Ultra HD Tiers
The most notable difference with Amazon Music is its support for high-resolution audio. Unlike streaming platforms that use a high-res file for encoding but stream a compressed version, Amazon Music allows subscribers to listen to the actual high-resolution master directly, provided their equipment supports it.
HD (High Definition): This tier streams lossless CD-quality audio at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz.
Ultra HD (Ultra High Definition): This tier streams high-resolution audio up to 24-bit, 192 kHz.
This unique feature means that the quality of your original master file matters more than ever. A well-prepared, high-resolution master will be delivered to the listener in its uncompressed form, preserving all the detail and dynamic range you intended.
Mastering music for Tidal
How to Master Music for Tidal
Mastering music for Tidal has a unique set of guidelines, as the platform's focus on high-fidelity audio sets it apart from other streaming platforms.
Here are the key guidelines for mastering for Tidal:
1. Loudness Normalization
Target Loudness: Tidal's target loudness is -14 LUFS (Integrated), placing it in line with Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Tracks mastered louder than this will be turned down by the platform.
Album Normalization: A unique feature of Tidal is its focus on album normalization. When you listen to a full album, the tracks are normalized to the loudness of the entire album, preserving the artist's intended dynamic flow between songs. This is different from track normalization, where each song is treated as a separate entity.
2. Tidal’s High-Fidelity Audio Tiers
Tidal's most important distinction is its commitment to high-resolution audio, which directly impacts the mastering process.
Tidal Max: For a track to qualify for the "Max" badge, the master must be a high-resolution, lossless file. The recommended format is a 24-bit, 48 kHz or higher FLAC file. This tier allows listeners to hear the music in the highest possible quality, making the quality of your original master file paramount.
Tidal HiFi: This tier streams CD-quality audio, which is a lossless 16-bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC file.
Tidal Lossy: For standard streaming, Tidal uses a lossy AAC format, similar to other platforms.
3. Tidal Recommended True Peak & Codecs
To ensure the best sound across all of Tidal's tiers, a mastering engineer must be careful about true peak levels.
Recommended True Peak: The recommended true peak for your master is -1 dBTP (decibels true peak). This prevents any distortion or clipping that could be introduced during the encoding of the lossy versions of your file. Since Tidal uses both lossless and lossy codecs, a clean true peak is essential for a consistent listening experience.
Interested in having a multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated online mastering engineer tackle your loudness levels & true peaks?
Rob Kleiner at Studio Edison has mastered chart-toppers (Labrinth, Sia, James Blake, David Guetta, and many more) and show-stopping soundtracks (Avatar, Hunger Games, Death Stranding 2, and more).
Tell us about your music mastering project below and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Mastering music for Soundcloud
How to Master Music for Soundcloud
Mastering music for SoundCloud has a unique set of guidelines, as the platform's focus has evolved to include both a community for DJs and a more streamlined platform for artists.
Here are the key guidelines for mastering music for SoundCloud:
1. Loudness Normalization
SoundCloud's mastering service and its platform for listeners both use loudness normalization.
Target Loudness: SoundCloud's target loudness is -14 LUFS (Integrated).
Normalization Type: SoundCloud's system will turn down tracks that are louder than -14 LUFS. It will also turn up tracks that are quieter, but this can risk applying a limiter and affecting your dynamic range.
This puts SoundCloud in the same category as Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music, making the "one master fits all" philosophy a strong choice.
2. Soundcloud File Format & Quality
SoundCloud is very flexible with file formats, but for the best results, you should always upload the highest quality file possible.
Recommended Formats: The best file formats for upload are uncompressed, lossless files like WAV, FLAC, or AIFF. This ensures the highest quality source for SoundCloud's transcoding process.
Transcoding: SoundCloud transcodes all uploaded tracks into lossy formats for streaming, including 128 kbps MP3 and 64 kbps Opus. For SoundCloud Go+ subscribers, a higher quality 256 kbps AAC format is available.
3. Soundcloud Recommended True Peak
To avoid distortion during SoundCloud's transcoding process, it's essential to manage your true peak levels.
It is generally recommended to keep your true peak below -1 dBTP (decibels true peak). For tracks that are mastered louder than -14 LUFS, a true peak of -2 dBTP is a safer bet to prevent any clipping from the transcoding process.
Mastering music for Bandcamp
What about mastering music for bandcamp?
Bandcamp requires a that audio files be at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz lossless files (WAV, AIFF, or FLAC), in stereo (no mono- or multi-channel audio), but according to Bandcamp's official help center, their encoding process leaves the audio of your uploaded file "unchanged."
This means that your master's loudness and dynamics will be presented exactly as you uploaded them.
This makes Bandcamp unique for a few key reasons:
No Loudness Normalization: Your music will not be turned up or down to match other songs. This means your track's perceived loudness is entirely up to you.
Optimal Dynamic Range: Because there is no loudness war, you are free to master your music with a focus on preserving its dynamic range, giving the music more punch and clarity without the need for heavy limiting.
The Power of the Download: When a listener purchases your music on Bandcamp, they receive the original high-quality file you uploaded (e.g., WAV, FLAC). This means a well-mastered, high-resolution file will be delivered directly to the fan in its purest form.
While Bandcamp doesn't have a specific target, many professional mastering engineers recommend mastering for the most common platforms (like Spotify's -14 LUFS) and using that same master for Bandcamp. This ensures your music is loud enough to sound great and dynamic on the site while being perfectly compatible with other platforms.
how Other Streaming Platforms handle lUFS?
The vast majority of other streaming services also use loudness normalization, with most following a similar standard to Spotify.
YouTube: YouTube's target is -14 LUFS.
Deezer: Deezer uses a target of -15 LUFS.
The key takeaway is that most platforms normalize around the -14 LUFS to -16 LUFS range. Instead of mastering a separate version for each platform, the best practice is to create a single master that works well for all of them. A "one-master-fits-all" approach is generally recommended. Mastering to a target of around -14 LUFS with a true peak of -1 dBTP provides a good balance, as it will be turned down slightly by Apple Music but will be perfectly at home on Spotify and most other services.
Ultimately, this approach focuses on dynamic range and audio quality rather than winning the "loudness war," ensuring that your music sounds great and translates consistently across all platforms.
Yes, there are unique considerations when mastering music for optimal performance on streaming platforms , primarily due to specific loudness normalization systems and codecs. While the goal of a great master is always to sound fantastic, understanding the technical requirements on mastering music for each streaming service is key to ensuring your music is heard exactly as you intend.
What is The "One Master Fits All" philosophy?
The "One Master Fits All" philosophy is a modern approach to music mastering that has emerged in response to the rise of streaming platforms and loudness normalization. Instead of creating multiple, platform-specific masters, the goal is to produce a single, high-quality master that sounds excellent and translates consistently across all major streaming platforms, as well as on downloads and CDs.
The core principle behind this philosophy is that with loudness normalization, the "loudness war" is obsolete. Since platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music will turn your track up or down to their respective loudness targets, creating an extremely loud master to "win" a listening competition is no longer necessary. In fact, it's counterproductive, as a heavily compressed and limited master may sound lifeless and fat after being turned down by the normalization algorithm.
How Does The "One Master Fits All" philosophy Work?
A professional mastering engineer implementing this philosophy will focus on several key areas to ensure the single master is versatile:
Optimal Loudness: The engineer will master the track to a loudness level that provides a good balance between punch and dynamic range. A common target is around -14 LUFS (Integrated), with some engineers opting for a slightly louder or quieter target depending on the genre. This level is a sweet spot because it matches the target for most major platforms (Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube) and is close enough to others (Apple Music at -16 LUFS) that the subtle adjustments by the platforms' algorithms won't negatively impact the sound.
Controlled True Peaks: To prevent distortion during the compression and encoding processes of streaming, the mastering engineer will ensure the track's true peak does not exceed -1 dBTP. This provides a safety net against inter-sample clipping that can occur when a high-resolution file is converted into a lossy format for streaming.
Dynamic Range is King: Rather than focusing on making the track as loud as possible, the emphasis is on preserving dynamic range and transient punch. The engineer will prioritize clarity, tonal balance, and a powerful, impactful sound that will hold up well after normalization.
High-Resolution Delivery: The master is delivered as a high-resolution file (e.g., 24-bit, 48kHz WAV or AIFF), which provides the highest quality source for all platforms. This ensures that even on services that support high-resolution audio (like Amazon Music HD), your track is delivered in its purest form.
By following the "One Master Fits All" philosophy, artists and labels can simplify their distribution process and be confident that their music will sound the best it can, regardless of where or how it is being streamed.
