How to Master for SoundCloud (It Doesn't Normalize Loudness)
Updated July 2026 · by Loopin
SoundCloud is the one big platform that doesn’t normalize loudness — whatever level you upload is roughly what listeners hear. That changes how you master for it. Here’s the right loudness and true-peak target, why it’s different from Spotify, and how to master for SoundCloud free.
Why SoundCloud is different
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and TikTok all apply loudness normalization: they turn everything toward a reference level (around −14 LUFS for music) so tracks play back at a consistent volume. Master too loud for those and the gain just gets turned back down.
SoundCloud generally does not do this on standard playback. Your uploaded level is the perceived level, so a quieter master really will sound quieter next to a louder one in a playlist or on a profile.
The target to use
Because there’s no normalization to protect you, you can — and often should — master a touch louder for SoundCloud than for Spotify, without going into the distortion zone. A sensible target:
- Integrated loudness: around −9 to −12 LUFS for competitive SoundCloud loudness (vs ~−14 for normalized platforms)
- True peak: keep the −1 dBTP ceiling so the lossy transcode doesn’t clip
- Don’t overdo it: past a point, louder just means flatter and more distorted — loudness without dynamics is not a win
One master, two goals
Most people don’t want to keep separate masters for every platform, and you don’t have to. A master at around −14 LUFS still sounds perfectly good on SoundCloud — it just won’t be the loudest thing in a playlist. If SoundCloud is your main platform and loudness parity matters, master a little hotter; if you’re uploading the same file everywhere, a −14 LUFS master is the safe universal choice.
Either way, the −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling stays the same — that’s about preventing clipping in the encoder, not loudness.
How to master for SoundCloud
- Bounce your mix to WAV with headroom (peaks near −6 dB, no mix-bus limiter).
- Open Loopin’s free mastering and drop it in.
- Pick a feel; for a hotter SoundCloud master, choose a punchier setting and A/B against the original.
- Confirm the true peak sits at −1 dBTP, then download the WAV.
- Upload the WAV to SoundCloud (it transcodes to Opus/MP3 on their side — give it the best source).
Common mistakes
- Uploading a quiet, −14 LUFS master and wondering why it sounds soft next to louder tracks — on SoundCloud, that’s expected; master hotter if it matters.
- Chasing loudness past −9 LUFS and crushing all the life out of the track.
- Ignoring true peak — SoundCloud transcodes to a lossy format, and no headroom means audible clipping.
- Uploading an MP3 — upload a WAV and let SoundCloud do the one lossy conversion.
Master it free
Loopin’s online mastering targets streaming loudness with a −1 dBTP true-peak ceiling and runs entirely in your browser — free, no signup, nothing uploaded. Master your track, A/B it, and upload the WAV to SoundCloud with confidence that it’ll hold up next to anything in the feed.
Frequently asked questions
Does SoundCloud normalize loudness?
No. Unlike Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, SoundCloud generally plays back your track at the level you uploaded it, without normalizing toward a reference loudness. So your master’s loudness is what listeners actually hear.
What LUFS should I master for SoundCloud?
Because there’s no normalization, you can master hotter than for Spotify — roughly −9 to −12 LUFS integrated for competitive loudness, while keeping the true peak at −1 dBTP. A −14 LUFS master still sounds fine, just quieter next to louder uploads.
Should I make a louder master just for SoundCloud?
Only if SoundCloud is your main platform and loudness parity matters to you. If you upload the same file everywhere, a −14 LUFS master is the safe universal choice; make a hotter version specifically for SoundCloud if you want maximum loudness there.
What true peak should I use for SoundCloud?
Keep −1 dBTP. SoundCloud transcodes uploads to a lossy format, and leaving a decibel of true-peak headroom prevents the encoder from clipping.
Can I master for SoundCloud for free?
Yes. Loopin’s free browser mastering hits streaming loudness with a −1 dBTP ceiling, with nothing uploaded and no account. Choose a punchier feel for a hotter SoundCloud master and download the WAV.