What loudness should you target for SoundCloud?
SoundCloud applies loudness normalisation as tracks are played, so the level you upload is not always the level listeners hear. SoundCloud’s own advice is to master near -14 LUFS integrated with true peak below -1 dBTP, and below -2 dBTP if your master is louder, because it streams in lossy formats (Ogg Vorbis and AAC) and louder tracks distort more easily when they are transcoded.
When you export from Quantara targeting SoundCloud, the engine measures your master's integrated loudness (ITU-R BS.1770 / EBU R128), normalises it toward the -14.0 LUFS reference, and holds inter-sample (true) peaks under -1 dBTP. It will not slam a quiet, dynamic track up to a loud number just to hit a target — and since the major streaming platforms normalise playback anyway, sitting near the reference is what actually matters. You stay in control: tweak the chain, A/B against the original, and export when it sounds right.
SoundCloud’s own mastering advice
Normalisation: SoundCloud applies loudness normalisation to your tracks as they are played to listeners.
Loudness: master near -14 LUFS integrated, which SoundCloud says gives the best results.
True peak: below -1 dBTP, so no extra distortion is added when SoundCloud transcodes to the lossy formats it uses (Ogg Vorbis and AAC); if your master is louder than -14 LUFS, below -2 dBTP, because louder tracks are more likely to pick up extra distortion in transcoding.
Source: Will SoundCloud play my track at the level it’s mastered?, SoundCloud Help Center.
Uploading to SoundCloud
Upload the highest-quality file you have. SoundCloud makes its streaming files from your upload, so a lossy upload is encoded twice and loses more detail.
If you release the same track as a louder club version, keep that version for DJs and give SoundCloud the streaming master: on SoundCloud the extra loudness is normalised away and only the distortion risk remains.
How to master your track for SoundCloud
Upload your mix
Create an account (no card needed), then drag and drop your WAV, FLAC or MP3 file into Quantara Studio. Supports files up to 500MB.
Select SoundCloud preset
Click the SoundCloud target. The mastering chain starts from a -14.0 LUFS reference with tone, dynamics and stereo width tuned for this target.
A/B compare and export
Press Play and flip between Before and After to hear the difference. When you're happy, click Export to download your SoundCloud master in the format your plan includes (WAV, FLAC or MP3), normalised toward -14.0 LUFS with true-peak limiting at -1 dBTP.
Genres to pair with SoundCloud
Genre starting points to pair with the SoundCloud target: Electronic, Hip-Hop, Trap, House, Techno. Each genre has its own frequency balance and dynamics, so treat the preset as a starting point and fine-tune by ear.
Why master SoundCloud with Quantara?
A mastering engineer brings trained ears to a release. Quantara gives you a fast, transparent mastering chain tuned for SoundCloud: try it with a free account (1 export with a watermark), then unlimited on the Pro plan at €8.99/month. It is a strong, measurable starting point, not a replacement for a trained engineer's ears on a critical release.
Quantara Music masters with its own engine — no AI model. The SoundCloud starting point is fully adjustable in real time, and every change shows on real LUFS, true-peak and gain-reduction meters, so you can verify what it does.
Quantara Music gives you full control: adjust every control in real time, hear the difference with A/B bypass, and export when you're satisfied. Mastering runs entirely in your browser: your files are not uploaded for mastering.
FAQ — SoundCloud mastering
Yes — master and preview in the studio; a free account includes 1 export with a watermark, no credit card. Exports without a watermark come with Pay Per Track, Pro or Studio. Unlimited exports are available on the Pro plan.
Use -14.0 LUFS integrated as a reference and keep true peak under -1 dBTP. Master for the song first; most streaming platforms normalise playback, so the reference matters more than chasing a loud number.
Upload WAV, FLAC or MP3 up to 500MB. Export WAV, FLAC or MP3, depending on your plan, normalised toward the SoundCloud reference with true-peak-safe limiting.
Yes. SoundCloud applies loudness normalisation to tracks as they are played, so your track is not always played at the level it was mastered.
A master near -14 LUFS integrated, with true peak below -1 dBTP. If your master is louder than -14 LUFS, SoundCloud recommends true peak below -2 dBTP.
SoundCloud streams in lossy formats (Ogg Vorbis and AAC), and loud masters with little true-peak headroom pick up extra distortion when they are transcoded. Lower the true-peak ceiling or the loudness.
Ready to master your track for SoundCloud?
Free account: 1 export with a watermark — no credit card required
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