How to Know If Your Song Is Mastered

Updated August 2026 · by Loopin

You can tell a song is mastered by four signs: it sits near streaming loudness around −14 LUFS integrated, its true peaks are controlled around −1 dBTP, it sounds polished and cohesive, and it holds up at a similar volume to released songs. An unmastered mix is usually noticeably quieter, more dynamically uneven and less “finished.” The surest way to check is a LUFS and true-peak meter.

The quick checklist

If you’re not sure whether a bounce has been mastered, run through these four signs. A finished master hits all of them; an unmastered mix usually misses most.

None of these require expensive gear — just careful listening and a free meter.

Loudness — sits near −14 LUFS integrated, not far below.
Peaks — true peaks controlled around −1 dBTP, not slamming 0.
Polish — sounds cohesive and finished, not raw.
Comparison — holds its own at similar volume to released tracks.

Sign 1: it’s near streaming loudness

A mastered track usually sits close to −14 LUFS integrated — the ballpark streaming platforms normalize toward. An unmastered mix is often several LUFS quieter, because nothing has brought it up to a competitive level yet.

Note that this is integrated loudness — measured across the whole song, not a single peak. A track can have a loud chorus and still read quiet overall if the verses and intro pull the average down, which is exactly what an unmastered mix tends to do.

The easy tell: play your song, then play a commercial reference at the same system volume. If yours is clearly quieter and needs a volume bump to match, it probably hasn’t been mastered.

Mastered tracks land near −14 LUFS integrated.
Unmastered mixes are often noticeably quieter.
A/B against a reference at the same volume to feel the gap.

Sign 2: true peaks are controlled

A mastered file has a true-peak ceiling — typically around −1 dBTP — so it leaves a safe margin and won’t clip when streaming re-encodes it. An unmastered mix often peaks right up at 0 dBFS with no limiter in place.

This one you really need a meter for. A true-peak reading hovering near −1 dBTP is a strong sign a limiter did its job; peaks pinned at 0 (or over) suggest the file was never mastered.

Mastered files sit around −1 dBTP with headroom to spare.
Unmastered mixes often peak at 0 dBFS with no ceiling.
A true-peak meter makes this obvious in seconds.

Sign 3: it sounds polished and cohesive

Mastering adds a finished quality that’s hard to miss once you know it. The track feels fuller and more solid, the tonal balance is even, harsh spots are smoothed, and it holds together as one cohesive whole rather than a collection of parts.

An unmastered mix tends to sound more dynamically uneven — some sections jump out, others feel thin — and generally less “done.” The low end may wander, the top may feel dull or spiky, and the whole thing sits back rather than leaning forward. It’s not necessarily bad; it’s just not finished.

Mastered: full, balanced, cohesive, finished-sounding.
Unmastered: more dynamically uneven and less polished.
Trust your ears here — the finished feel is real.

Sign 4: it holds up next to released songs

The ultimate test is comparison. Line your track up against a professionally released song in a similar style and play them back to back at the same volume.

A mastered track holds its own — comparable loudness, comparable polish. An unmastered mix usually falls short: quieter, less dense, less finished. If yours needs a big volume boost just to feel in the same league, it likely isn’t mastered yet.

Pick a commercial reference in the same genre.
Play both at the same system volume, back to back.
Mastered tracks stay competitive; unmastered ones fall behind.

How to actually check with a meter

Listening tells you a lot, but a LUFS and true-peak meter removes the guesswork. Load your bounce into any loudness meter and look at two numbers.

Integrated LUFS near −14 and true peak around −1 dBTP is the signature of a mastered file. A reading of, say, −20 LUFS with peaks at 0 dBFS is a mix that hasn’t been mastered.

Load your bounce into a LUFS / true-peak meter.
Play the whole song and read the integrated LUFS — near −14 suggests mastered.
Check true peak — around −1 dBTP suggests a limiter was applied.
Far below −14 LUFS with peaks at 0 dBFS? It’s an unmastered mix.
If it’s not mastered, run it through Loopin’s free mastering to hit those targets.
Re-check the numbers on the exported WAV to confirm.

Not sure? Just master it

If you’ve checked and your track is sitting quiet with uncontrolled peaks, it isn’t mastered — and that’s an easy fix. You don’t need a studio or a subscription.

Loopin’s free online mastering runs a full chain in your browser and targets around −14 LUFS with a −1 dBTP ceiling. It’s free, no signup, no watermark, and nothing is uploaded — your unreleased track never leaves your device. You download a full-quality WAV that passes every sign above.

Free, no signup, no watermark.
In-browser with nothing uploaded — your track stays private.
Targets −14 LUFS and a −1 dBTP ceiling automatically.

The bottom line

To know if your song is mastered, check four things: is it near −14 LUFS, are true peaks around −1 dBTP, does it sound polished and cohesive, and does it hold up next to released music? Hit all four and it’s mastered.

The fastest confirmation is a LUFS and true-peak meter. And if the answer is no, Loopin’s free mastering gets you there in a minute — free, private, and ready to release.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my song is mastered?

Check four signs: it sits near −14 LUFS integrated, true peaks are controlled around −1 dBTP, it sounds polished and cohesive, and it holds up at a similar volume to released songs. A LUFS and true-peak meter confirms it fastest.

What does an unmastered mix sound like?

Usually noticeably quieter than commercial tracks, more dynamically uneven — some parts jump out, others feel thin — and less finished overall. It often needs a big volume boost just to match released music.

What LUFS should a mastered song be?

For streaming, a mastered track typically sits near −14 LUFS integrated, with true peaks controlled around −1 dBTP. Far below −14 LUFS with peaks at 0 dBFS usually means the file hasn’t been mastered.

How can I check if a track is mastered?

Load it into a LUFS and true-peak meter. Integrated LUFS near −14 and true peak around −1 dBTP point to a mastered file; a much quieter reading with peaks pinned at 0 dBFS points to an unmastered mix.

My song is quiet — does that mean it’s not mastered?

Often, yes. Unmastered mixes are typically several LUFS below streaming loudness. If yours needs a big volume bump to match released songs and its peaks aren’t controlled near −1 dBTP, it likely needs mastering.