Client Wants It Louder? What to Say, and What to Send Back
Published · by Loopin
Do not argue loudness in the abstract. Level-match your master against their reference, send one louder alternative, and let them pick on equal volume.
Ask what they compared it to
“Louder” usually means “quieter than the song I just played”. Ask for the reference track, then measure both in LUFS. If your master reads −14 LUFS and their reference reads −8, the number explains the complaint in one line.
Reply with: “Your reference is about 6 dB hotter than this master. I can send a louder version too; here is what you gain and what you lose.” It keeps it factual and gets you to the next step. Write it in the same email thread so the decision is on record.
Level-match before anyone judges
The louder file always wins an unmatched comparison. That is why free online mastering offers a loudness-matched Original vs Mastered A/B: you hear tone and punch at equal volume, not loudness. Do the same when you compare your master with theirs, by turning the louder one down until they match.
If, matched, your master still sounds smaller than their reference, the issue is balance or the mix, not level. Say so, and offer to look at the mix instead. A quick test: turn the loud version down by the difference and listen again. If it no longer sounds bigger, it was only louder.
Send a second version about 3 LU hotter
Give them a choice: the streaming master at about −14 LUFS and a hotter alternative. In Loopin, the Punchy feel lands about −11 LUFS and Club about −10, both with a −1 dBTP ceiling. Downloads are capped at 1 per rolling 24 hours with no account or 2 with a free account, so make both exports in the same sitting.
Label the files clearly (_streaming and _loud) and ask them to compare at equal volume. Many clients pick the louder one at first listen and the quieter one after an hour. Another route: master the track free with the Punchy feel and send that as the loud option, so you are not hand-tuning a limiter at midnight.
Explain streaming in two sentences
Spotify’s artist page says louder masters get negative gain so playback sits at −14 LUFS, which lowers the volume compared with the master. So a track mastered at −8 is simply played back quieter, with less punch than it started with.
Send the page, not an essay. Our how to make a master louder post has the full picture if they want it. Keep the tone friendly: you are not refusing, you are showing the trade. If the client still wants it louder after that, that is their call; note it in the thread and deliver what they approved.
Know where the limit is, and when to send it out
If a loud version distorts the kick, flattens the snare or makes the vocal gritty, send the clean one as your recommendation and say why. A louder master cannot repair a mix with a crowded low end. Keep the quieter, cleaner version in the folder too, so you can show the difference in a call.
Automatic mastering gives you a fast first pass and takes no creative direction. If the client wants a specific hot club master and is paying for it, a human mastering engineer will make better decisions at that loudness.
Frequently asked questions
How loud should I master for a client?
For streaming, about -14 LUFS with a -1 dBTP ceiling. For a hotter option, about -11 LUFS (Loopin's Punchy feel) or -10 (Club).
What do I say when a client says the master is too quiet?
Ask for the reference, measure both in LUFS, level-match the comparison and offer a louder alternative about 3 LU hotter.
Does a louder master sound better on Spotify?
Not necessarily. Spotify applies negative gain to louder masters so playback sits at -14 LUFS, so very loud masters are turned down and lose their loudness advantage.
Is there a free way to make a louder version?
Yes. Mastering and previews are free and unlimited; downloads are capped at 1 per 24 hours with no account or 2 with a free account.
Should I charge for a loud revision?
A second loudness version of the same mix is a reasonable add-on. Set the rule before the job, such as one included alternative and a fee for more.
What is a good script for a client who wants it louder?
Ask for the reference, measure both in LUFS, and reply with the gap in dB. Offer a streaming master at about -14 LUFS and a louder alternative at about -11, and ask them to compare at equal volume.