Is your track loud enough for Spotify, or so crushed that normalization will just turn it down? Upload a finished master and an AI mastering engineer estimates its integrated loudness in LUFS and compares it with common targets for streaming, radio and CD. A single number is only the start. The report looks at how much dynamic range survived your limiter, whether the low end or the harsh upper mids stand out, how wide and mono-compatible the stereo image is, and whether you can hear pumping or clipping from over-compression. It closes with specific mastering changes and suggestions for each release format. Because the loudness figure is an AI estimate from listening, use it as a second opinion next to a metering plugin, not as a certified measurement.
Example result
Input
A 3-minute indie pop master exported at 24-bit WAV, intended for Spotify and Apple Music.
Output
Loudness: estimated around -9 LUFS integrated, well above the -14 LUFS level most streaming services normalize to. Expect it to be turned down about 5 dB on playback, losing punch without gaining perceived volume. Dynamic range: narrow. Chorus and verse sit at almost the same level, and the snare transients are rounded off by the limiter. Frequency balance: solid low end; a build-up around 2 to 4 kHz makes the vocal and cymbals edgy at high volume. Stereo image: wide and mostly mono-safe; the pad reverb collapses slightly in mono. Compression and limiting: audible pumping on the kick in the final chorus. Recommendations: back off the limiter by 3 to 4 dB, aim for a true peak ceiling of -1 dBTP, and try a gentle dynamic cut in the upper mids.
Scores
How it works
How Audio Mastering Check works
- 01
Upload the bounce
With an account and a plan, open the tool and upload your master as WAV or a high-bitrate file, then choose which AI model reviews it.
- 02
Loudness and dynamics
The AI estimates integrated loudness and how it relates to platform targets, then judges how much punch and contrast remain between quiet and loud passages.
- 03
Tone, width and processing
It describes the frequency balance from sub bass to air, the stereo spread and any phase concerns, and listens for the side effects of heavy compression and limiting.
- 04
Release readiness
Finally it compares the master with commercial references in the genre and lists concrete fixes, plus how to adjust for streaming, radio or CD.
Use cases
Who it is for
Producers mastering their own music
Get a fresh set of ears on a self-mastered track when you have been listening to it for hours and can no longer tell if the top end is too bright.
Artists before distribution
Check that a single is ready for streaming platforms before you submit it to a distributor, since you cannot swap the audio easily once it is live.
Comparing two masters
Run a mastering engineer's version and your own through the tool and compare the loudness, dynamics and balance notes side by side.
Podcasters and video creators
Confirm your episode or soundtrack is in a sensible loudness range for the platform, and that music beds are not louder than the voice.
Tips
Get better results
- Upload the exact file you plan to release, not an MP3 preview. Lossy encoding changes peaks and highs.
- Include the whole song. Loudness is integrated over the full track, and a quiet intro changes the result.
- Read the loudness advice with your genre in mind; a metal master and an acoustic ballad rarely share one loudness goal.
- Confirm the LUFS figure with a dedicated loudness meter plugin before you finalize.
- After making the suggested changes, re-check the new bounce to see whether the scores moved.
Limitations
What it can't tell you
The loudness, peak and dynamic range values come from an AI model listening to the audio, not from an ITU-R BS.1770 metering algorithm, so treat them as estimates that can be off by a few dB. For delivery specs that require an exact reading, such as broadcast at -23 or -24 LUFS, measure with a compliant meter. Taste also matters: some genres are mastered loud on purpose, and the tool's recommendations are suggestions, not rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Audio Mastering Check questions
What LUFS should I master to for streaming?
Many streaming services normalize playback to around -14 LUFS integrated, and Apple Music is closer to -16. You do not have to hit these exactly, but mastering far louder only means the platform turns you down. Keeping true peaks at about -1 dBTP leaves room for lossy encoding.
Is this an exact LUFS meter online?
No. It is an AI review that estimates loudness by listening and puts the number in context with dynamics, tone and stereo notes. A meter plugin such as a BS.1770 loudness meter gives the precise integrated, short-term and true peak values. The two work well together: the meter gives you the number, and this review tells you what to change.
Why does my song sound quieter than others on Spotify?
After normalization, a heavily limited master and a dynamic one play at similar loudness, but the dynamic one often sounds bigger because its drums still hit. If yours sounds small, the report may point to lost transients, a thin low end or harsh mids rather than a low LUFS figure.
What does the mastering checker look at besides loudness?
It reviews dynamic range, the balance across the frequency spectrum, stereo width and mono compatibility, and the character of the compression and limiting. It then rates how ready the master is for commercial release and gives format-specific advice for streaming, radio and CD.
Can it fix my master?
It does not process audio. It tells you what to change, for example lowering the limiter gain, taming a resonance around a named frequency range or narrowing a wide reverb, so you can make the adjustment in your own DAW or pass the notes to your mastering engineer.
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Audio Mastering Check uses credits from a paid LindaleAI plan. See pricing