Most streaming platforms adjust the volume of songs so listeners do not have to reach for the volume knob between tracks. That one fact changes how you should think about loudness. Making your master as loud as possible no longer wins you anything, and it can cost you punch and clarity.
What LUFS actually measures
LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale. Unlike a peak meter, which only shows the highest point of the waveform, a LUFS meter tries to measure how loud the music feels to a human ear. It weighs frequencies roughly the way we hear them and averages over time.
You will usually see three readings:
- Integrated, the average loudness of the whole song from start to finish. This is the number platforms care about.
- Short-term, measured over a few seconds, useful for comparing a verse with a chorus.
- Momentary, a very fast reading that jumps around with every hit.
LUFS values are negative. A song at -8 LUFS integrated is louder than one at -14.
What normalization does to your song
When a platform normalizes, it measures your track and moves its playback volume toward a reference level. If your song is louder than that reference, it gets turned down. If it is quieter, some platforms turn it up, some only partly, and some leave it alone.
The reference levels differ between services and change from time to time. Spotify and YouTube are commonly quoted at around -14 LUFS, and Apple Music a little lower. Listeners can also switch normalization off on some apps. Treat these numbers as background knowledge, not as targets, and check each platform's current documentation if you need the exact figure.
Why crushing the master backfires
Here is the practical consequence. Say Mira Vale masters her track "Glass Rooms" to be extremely loud by pushing a limiter hard. On a normalizing platform the song gets turned down to roughly the same perceived level as everything else. What remains is a master with flattened drums, less contrast between sections and sometimes audible distortion.
Meanwhile, a more dynamic master in the same playlist gets turned down less, or not at all. Its kick still hits, its chorus still lifts. Next to it, the crushed version sounds smaller, even though it was "louder" in the studio.
This does not mean every song should be quiet. It means loudness should be a creative choice for the genre, not a race.
True peak: the headroom people forget
A sample peak meter checks the digital samples. A true peak meter estimates the actual analog waveform between those samples, which can go above 0 dB even when the samples do not. These overs become a problem when your WAV is converted to the compressed formats platforms stream, because encoding can add a little extra peak level and cause distortion.
A common recommendation is to keep the true peak at or below about -1 dBTP, and a bit lower for very loud masters. Most modern limiters have a true peak mode; switch it on and set the ceiling there. Read the meter in dBTP, not only in dBFS.
Practical targets without chasing a number
Instead of aiming for one LUFS value, use this order:
- Master the song so it sounds right for its genre. A quiet acoustic piece and a club track should not land at the same loudness.
- Compare it with two or three released songs you like, matched by ear or with a loudness meter. If yours sounds flat and squashed next to them, back off the limiter.
- Check the integrated LUFS of the whole song, not just the loudest chorus.
- Set the limiter's true peak ceiling with some headroom.
- Listen once more at low volume and on a phone speaker. Over-compression is often easier to hear there.
For an EP or album, keep the relationship between songs. If the intro is meant to be soft, do not push it up to match the loudest single. Some platforms keep the album's relative levels when it is played as an album, so your choices still matter.
Quick questions
Should I master to -14 LUFS exactly?
You can, but you do not have to. Many released masters, especially in rap and electronic music, are well above that and sound great. What matters is that the song is not damaged by limiting to get there.
My song sounds quieter than others on the platform. Why?
Usually it is not the integrated number. A thin mix, weak low end or harsh top can make a song feel quieter at the same LUFS. Compare at matched loudness and look at the mix first.
Do I need an expensive meter?
No. There are free loudness meters that show integrated LUFS and true peak. Use one consistently and you will learn more from it than from any single target.