I'm almost ready to start mastering my first song. I recently acquired Youlean's LUFS meter and have been experimenting with it. I've read that the digital platforms like youtube, spotify, etc., have standards for loudness (apparently -14 LUFS for the aforementioned) but I'm wondering about levels for mastering a recording that will be released on CD. I read -9 LUFS somewhere, but would appreciate confirmation.
I'd also like to know how reliable it is to import a track from a CD, to measure and make comparisons. If I rip tracks from say McCartney's Band on the Run and import them into my DAW (Reaper) and use the Youlean plugin, would the levels I'd observe here accurately reflect what levels the CD's recording was actually mastered at?
LUFS vs dB, and using reference CD's in mastering.
Re: LUFS vs dB, and using reference CD's in mastering.
Yes, import the album or track into your DAW as a wave file (not an mp3 or similar) and you’ll get the full mastered information.
Just make sure the project file you import it into is set to 16-bit word depth.
You can then run your level information on it and see what LUFS levels it gives.
Note that remastered albums can be mastered at quite different levels to the original. Some remasters have been done with almost no dynamics to them, though some have had the dynamics improved. All you can really go by is if you like the sound of the album and your ears don’t get tired because its all at the same level and probably suffering from inter-peak distortion.
The material determines the LUFS requirements, not the other way round. You’d get a much different LUFS level on a dynamic orchestral recording than a very compressed rock recording. So there’s only really the generic LUFS level guidelines for the style of music you’re making, not one fixed value.
Just make sure the project file you import it into is set to 16-bit word depth.
You can then run your level information on it and see what LUFS levels it gives.
Note that remastered albums can be mastered at quite different levels to the original. Some remasters have been done with almost no dynamics to them, though some have had the dynamics improved. All you can really go by is if you like the sound of the album and your ears don’t get tired because its all at the same level and probably suffering from inter-peak distortion.
The material determines the LUFS requirements, not the other way round. You’d get a much different LUFS level on a dynamic orchestral recording than a very compressed rock recording. So there’s only really the generic LUFS level guidelines for the style of music you’re making, not one fixed value.
Reliably fallible.
Re: LUFS vs dB, and using reference CD's in mastering.
I don't understand this recommendation. A 16 bit wav file ripped from CD will sound and measure identically whether the host project is 16 bit, 24 bit, or 32/64 bit floating point.
Regarding the optimal LUFS target for mastering, it's a case of deciding whether to put the cart before the horse or vice versa!
In other words, do you want to compromise the music to fit the format, or use the format to best show off the music?
Much depends on the natural dynamics of your music and where you see your main audience to be.
You could always master two versions: a squashed version for CD to compare favourably against legacy peak-normalised releases, and a more dynamic one for loudness-normalised streaming.
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Sorry Wonks. 
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- Hugh Robjohns
Moderator -
Posts: 43685 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: LUFS vs dB, and using reference CD's in mastering
It’s not compulsory to set the loudness at -14 for streaming. As long as you understand what’s happening, you can use loudness levels higher or lower than this.
Here’s what Spotify do
https://artists.spotify.com/en/help/ar ... ak)%20max.
There are two factors two consider and, as Hugh says, it’s up to you which you prioritise.
The first is - what suits the music best. This will depend on what kind of music it is and kind of dynamics it has, and your own preferences.
The second is - what’s the norm for your genre of music.
Here’s what Spotify do
https://artists.spotify.com/en/help/ar ... ak)%20max.
There are two factors two consider and, as Hugh says, it’s up to you which you prioritise.
The first is - what suits the music best. This will depend on what kind of music it is and kind of dynamics it has, and your own preferences.
The second is - what’s the norm for your genre of music.