Loudness Penalty Analyzer

Q: What is Loudness Penalty?

Loudness Penalty occurs when streaming services turn down the volume of your track because it's louder than their standard target level (e.g., -14 LUFS).

Q: What is the best LUFS for Spotify?

Spotify currently targets -14 LUFS. Mastering louder than this will result in volume reduction.

Find out if Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Music will turn down your music.
Check your Integrated LUFS and see the penalty instantly.

Penalty Checker

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Supported: MPEG, MP3, WAV, X-WAV, AAC, M4A, MP4, OGG, FLAC, WEBM

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Loudness Penalty?

Loudness Penalty occurs when streaming services (like Spotify or YouTube) turn down the volume of your track because it's louder than their standard target level (e.g., -14 LUFS). This ensures all songs play at a consistent volume for listeners.

What is the best LUFS for Spotify?

Spotify currently targets -14 LUFS. If your track is louder (e.g., -9 LUFS), it will be turned down by roughly 5 dB. If it's quieter, it might be turned up, but usually only until the peak hits a limit (-1 dBTP).

How can I avoid Loudness Penalty?

Master your track closer to the target level (around -14 LUFS) if you want to preserve your dynamics. However, many genres (EDM, Pop) are still mastered louder (-9 to -6 LUFS) for "club impact," accepting the streaming penalty as a trade-off.

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