Originally Posted By: rayc
I did some research Re Souncloud requirements:
"We recommend you to upload in a lossless format like WAV, FLAC, AIFF, or ALAC. If you can, the bit depth and sample rate should be 16 bit and 48 kHz respectively.
When you upload a track on SoundCloud, we optimize it for streaming. As part of that process, we resample and transcode it to a high-performance codec. These codecs are highly optimized, but they can increase peak levels, which can cause clipping. We recommend that you leave between -0.5 and -1 dBFS of headroom to prevent artifacts like clipping during transcoding. Make sure to check the resulting stream in the rare case where more headroom is required."
and
Platform Peak Loudness Dynamic Range

Youtube -1.0 dBTP -13 to -15 LUFS >9DR


Soundcloud -1.0 dBTP  -8 to -13 LUFS  >9DR

Reaper and other DAWs have a LUFS meter in the rendering display at the very least.

M.E. suggest getting as close to the LUFS level as possible as the codec used to RAISE level does more damage than that used to reduce a little.


I appreciate you going down the rabbit hole with me on this one. The poor sound quality from SC is really surprizing me.

Followed this as much as possible. Re-rendered to .wav, LUFS -13, 16 bit and 48 kHz. Mixed in Neutron 4, Mastered in Ozone 9 Elements. Sound quality at the DAW - as good as it gets, but once placed on SoundCloud - crap (distortion, wabble, highs are gone). This song just seems to bring the worst out of SoundCloud. I will make a YT video .. still hearing some "artifacts" but I think this is better sound quality. But the artifacts tell me something is wrong. I don't hear them from my DAW, only the recording.


Last edited by MusicStudent; 12/20/22 10:53 AM.
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.