# Mastering for DistroKid: What to Upload > A specific, practical checklist for exactly what to prepare and upload to DistroKid, based on what the platform actually processes. [All guides](/blog) # Mastering for DistroKid: What to Upload Published 24 September 2026, 04:00 UTC · updated 31 August 2026, 13:06 UTC · by Loopin DistroKid processes your uploaded file into every major streaming platform's format, so what you deliver to them matters more than what any single downstream platform requires directly. ## Format: highest quality WAV available Upload the highest-resolution WAV file your production allows, typically 24-bit — DistroKid handles conversion to whatever format each destination platform needs, so starting from the best available source gives every downstream conversion the most to work with. Don't pre-compress or convert to a lossy format before uploading — that only removes information DistroKid's own pipeline could otherwise use to produce the best possible result for each platform. ## Loudness: target -14 LUFS integrated This matches what most major platforms DistroKid distributes to will normalise playback to, giving your file the most predictable, consistent translation across the whole distribution network rather than optimizing for just one specific destination. DistroKid itself doesn't enforce a specific loudness requirement for acceptance, but targeting this number gives the best real-world listening result once your track reaches actual streaming platforms. ## True peak: -1 dBTP ceiling, non-negotiable This is the number that actually protects your file during DistroKid's format conversion process — a file with less headroom risks clipping during that conversion even if it played back cleanly on your own system before upload. Verify this specifically with a true-peak meter, not just a standard peak meter, before uploading — the two measure genuinely different things and only true peak reliably predicts conversion safety. ## Metadata: consistent and complete before you start Have your artist name, track title, and any collaborator credits finalized and spelled consistently before beginning the upload process — changes after submission can trigger review delays or complications depending on what's being changed and how far along the release already is. Double-check spelling and capitalization specifically — small inconsistencies here are a common, avoidable source of catalogue organization problems later. ## Do a final listen on the actual file you're about to upload Before clicking submit, play through the exact file you're uploading, start to finish, on at least one device other than what you mastered on — confirming it's genuinely your intended final version and that it holds up on a different playback system. This final check catches both technical issues and the surprisingly common mistake of uploading the wrong file version entirely. ## Frequently asked questions ### What audio format should I upload to DistroKid? The highest-resolution WAV your production allows, typically 24-bit. DistroKid handles conversion to whatever each destination platform needs, so starting from the best source gives every downstream conversion the most to work with. ### What loudness should I target before uploading to DistroKid? Around -14 LUFS integrated with a -1 dBTP true-peak ceiling. This matches what most major platforms DistroKid distributes to will normalise playback to, giving the most consistent result across the network. ### Does DistroKid enforce a specific loudness requirement? No, DistroKid itself doesn't enforce a specific loudness target for acceptance, but targeting roughly -14 LUFS integrated gives the best real-world listening result once your track reaches actual streaming platforms. ## Related reads - [Master your track free](/mastering) - [Do you need to master before uploading to DistroKid?](/blog/do-you-need-to-master-before-distrokid) - [How much LUFS headroom does DistroKid actually want?](/blog/how-much-lufs-headroom-does-distrokid-want) --- Source: https://onloopin.com/blog/mastering-for-distrokid