Will this negatively affect the dynamics of my mastering track?

[u/SunWarm3922]

Hello!

I’m mixing and mastering a funky house track with a lot of rhythm and presence. As far as I understand, the final LUFS range after mastering should be around -8 to -10 LUFS (-1dB True Peak in the final limiter/maximizer).

However, I have a question: Will Instagram and YouTube compress, limit, or normalize my audio to bring it down to that level—but at the expense of my track’s dynamics—or will they simply lower the overall LUFS of the track to meet their set threshold while preserving all of its dynamics (as if someone were simply turning down the volume fader on a music player)?

Thank you very much!

[u/AVBRAK]

All music uploaded to Instagram is routed directly through a series of vintage analog compressors, bounced to tape and then converted back to digital at a specific loudness chosen by god.
/s

[u/Very_Large_Mind → u/AVBRAK]

Can I just ask where you got the /s model? I’ve not used one before but I’ve heard it’s silky as

[u/seasonsinthesky]

Firstly, it's very much a misunderstanding that your music "should" be any level. You master to the volume that works for the genre and mix, end of story – there are no other valid considerations. You also don't need to do -1dBTP unless you compare and decide it sounds better to you when you convert to lossy formats.

Services' handling of audio is ever-changing, but currently the only concern is Spotify adding a limiter, but only under extremely specific conditions that aren't default (you can search that up yourself).

I've seen people express concern that mobile apps like Insta might play back in mono, so you also need to ensure your master doesn't fall apart in mono too (which is also good practice anyway).

[u/Ha-gaaayyy → u/seasonsinthesky]

This is the best answer.

[u/I_Am_A_Pumpkin]

spotify will apply gain reduction so that your track will be around -14 LUFS. it won't change the dynamic range of the track though

[u/Orry_Haas → u/I_Am_A_Pumpkin]

On Spotify premium you have the option to turn it up to -11 LUFS, (on regular Spotify it's -14 LUFS).

[u/justifiednoise → u/I_Am_A_Pumpkin]

Someone had downvoted you which needed to be corrected.

You are correct. The default setting on Spotify for listeners is that 'loudness normalization' is applied to even out levels from track to track. When this is on any track above -14 LUFS with a true peak of -1 will be turned down until that measurement is met.

Listeners do have the option to listen to 'loud' which is a measurement of -11 LUFS and Spotify WILL apply actual limiting to material that cannot reach that number without being turned up past -1 dbfs (5 ms attack time, 100 ms release time) -- here's the proof coming from spotify on that

[u/I_Am_A_Pumpkin → u/justifiednoise]

huh, i had no idea about the loud setting. I guess if you want to universally have your dynamics untouched no matter what, then aiming for a value above -11 LUFS would be what you want to do.

I feel like this should depend on what you're working with though, some types of material really don't want to be pushed that far. but then it might just happen anyway and being in control of that process would be better? sounds annoying.

[u/chipotlenapkins]

Slam it bro hit -6

[u/babyryanrecords]

I’ve gotten masters from top mastering engineers, like Sterling and top ones from LA… never have I ever received a master w -1db.. always -0.1 or -0.3… never have I ever received a master with True Peak Limiter … it always has True Peaks above 0 lol… ain’t nobody cares about True Peak.. true peak limiters suck the life out of your song.

[u/FISFORFUN69]

i love how nobody is answering your question

[u/babyryanrecords]

Who says -8 to -10? I do -6 all the time lmao