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#734991 10/16/22 05:45 AM
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Is SoundCloud normalizing or adjusting our uploads/streams to -14 LUFS, as described in this video, or not?

-14 LUFS


For my latest project, which I mixed and mastered in Studio One, I aimed for -14 LUFS and was hitting around -13 LUFS, in the Yellow by S1's meters, never in the Red. I set the Ozone 9 Maximizer to -0.5 dB True Peak. Compared to a few other songs I listened to on SoundCloud that were produced by community members, mine 'seemed' lower in volume. I uploaded a 16-bit wav.



This thread from a year ago is also relevant. Bud Merritt mentions mastering to -12 LUFS and using MB compression as well, and of course he's very good at this.

LUFS

Scott


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https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson
https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHOlson

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I was going to suggest that same post. Everything you need for info is in that post.




Steve

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Hi Scott,

The below article from Sage Audio suggests that Soundcloud normalizes all incoming audio files to LUFS = -14 dB

https://www.sageaudio.com/blog/mastering/mastering-your-music-for-soundcloud.php

Hope this helps,
Noel


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The available info is confusing as some sites state that SC is one of the very few sites that does not alter the gain as do the other platforms.

I can listen to Apple Music, Spotify and other platforms with with little gain variation but I ALWAYS turn down the volume before playing a forum song on SC as some would knock the monitors off the shelf. I mean very, very loud. I do realize some of that is due to a lot of compression … but still.

FWIW I master at -14 LUFS via Logic Pro X’s Loudness Meter and check the result at Loudnesspenalty - a great, quick, free with no sign up required site that will tell you to what degree the platforms will alter your specific song.

Bud


Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more.
If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks!
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I participated in this thread from 2019. Oh, how the time goes.

Loudness Penalty

FWIW, the results for my latest mix/master are:

Apple -1.9
Pandora -.7
Deezer -.9

The others, including Spotify are 0 or blank. All very interesting.

Scott


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https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson
https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHOlson

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Originally Posted By: olemon
I participated in this thread from 2019. Oh, how the time goes.

Loudness Penalty

FWIW, the results for my latest mix/master are:

Apple -1.9
Pandora -.7
Deezer -.9

The others, including Spotify are 0 or blank. All very interesting.

Scott


Man does it ever fly by. 2019 seems like yesterday. That much time again and I’ll be 80. Sheesh. Sorry I got repetitive - should’ve read your link in first post!

Bud


Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more.
If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks!
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Oh, gosh, Bud, sorry? No way. No, sir. You just keep on telling it like it is, repeatedly:)

I'm somewhat embarrassed for not remembering I traveled this path before....

Scott


My stuff:
https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson
https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHOlson

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