SoundCloud Loudness Explained
No fixed streaming LUFS adjustment is calculated for SoundCloud here.
SoundCloud has no fixed LUFS target in this checker. Unlike a -14 LUFS estimate, this page does not calculate a platform gain adjustment; playback and encoding may still affect what listeners hear.
For a direct upload, compare your track with a reference using the same playback settings. A louder file can seem louder next to quieter tracks, but a high LUFS reading is not a quality score.
If you also distribute the same file to Spotify, its Normal setting may apply gain reduction. Measure integrated loudness here, then use the Spotify comparison for that separate playback scenario.
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Open the Loudness Penalty CheckerCommon questions
Does SoundCloud turn loud tracks down?
No. SoundCloud has no loudness normalisation, so loud masters really do play louder.
Should I master louder for SoundCloud?
Many electronic artists do, but remember the same file gets normalised everywhere else. A loud master on SoundCloud still gets turned down on Spotify.
What about SoundCloud's transcoding?
SoundCloud transcodes uploads for playback. Check the current upload guidance and listen to the streamed result before sharing it.