Why a louder master does not necessarily sound louder on streaming

There is no universal LUFS target

Contrary to a very widespread idea, there is no universal LUFS level at which all music should be mastered. Platforms apply their own normalisation systems, and their rules can change.

What normalisation does on playback

Spotify currently states that it uses normalisation around −14 dB LUFS in its normal setting. A louder master can therefore be turned down on playback. Pushing the master level hard does not necessarily deliver more perceived volume.

That increase does have a cost, however. It may well have been obtained at the price of reduced dynamics and transients. In other words: what you gain is cancelled on playback, what you lose does not come back.

True Peak, and transcoding

Spotify also gives specific recommendations regarding True Peak, in order to limit the risk of distortion during transcoding. A master that grazes zero can play cleanly on direct listening and degrade once encoded.

Our approach

We therefore do not chase a fixed LUFS target across all tracks. The final level depends on the musical style, the dynamics being sought, the transients, the content and the artistic intent.

Mastering should above all seek the best balance between level, dynamics and sound quality, rather than the highest possible LUFS figure.

This is also why we prefer to receive a less limited version when the limiter only serves to raise the level: see what to send to a mastering studio.