LUFS and limiting for masters question

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Level 1

8 points

LUFS and limiting for masters question

Hi,

I'm using my new IK Multimedia Lurssen Mastering plug-in. I have a question regarding LUFS in relation to this plug-in, and mastering in general.

This plug-ing uses presets to load a chain of compressors, limiters, Deesers and so on. I can control the threshold and make up gain at the end of the signal. After finalizing all adjustments, the level is coming in around -9 LUFS. This is measuring the song with the LUFS meter on from start to finish (the entire song).

Question #1. I know that streaming services will adjust mixes to around -14 LUFS. This means that they would need to gain down my master by 5 to 6 dbs. Does this mean that I should be targeting my masters for the same -12/-14? Therefore, no adjustment needed. Or, is this irrelevant?

Question #2. If I do need to lower the LUFS, there's a few different methods for doing this. Once is to simply bring the fader of the "Stereo Out" down by 5-6 dbs. The other method is to lower the markup gain on the Lurssen mastering plug in. Is one method better than the other?

Question #3. As you can see in the photo, I'm driving the "stereo out" into the red pretty hard. For this reason I've applied a limiter at the end of my chain, to prevent any potential clipping. I only did this to be conservative. Honestly, I didn't hear any noticeable clipping before applying the limiter, so maybe its not necessary? Please see photos.

Thanks!!

Posted on Jan 30, 2019 8:05 AM

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Answer 1

rzazula

Level 1

96 points

Jan 30, 2019 9:51 AM in response to wgspar2

What is your integrated LUFS reading without the master bus processing? One way to hit a lower target is to apply less gain into the finalizing limiters.

Also, a correction, the streaming services do not drop things to -14 LUFS. A file at that level will not "compete" with what you hear on the radio / streaming (it will sound very quiet). They are asking that things arrive to them at that level so that they can level match across their catalog. If you exceed that level, they will likely turn you down. Whether or not that will sound bad depends on the service...

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Answer 2

rzazula

Level 1

96 points

Jan 30, 2019 9:56 AM in response to wgspar2

And, yes, you will want a limiter as the last plug-in in the chain to protect from overs.

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Answer 3

wgspar2 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2019 10:22 AM in response to rzazula

I’ll have to run the mix without the master bus processing to see what the LUFS is. I can tell you that my mixes are coming in somewhere between -4 and -6 db’s.

By saying that I would apply less gain into the limiter, where would I turn the gain down? On the limiter itself? On the make up gain in the master plug-in? Or some other place?

Thanks for verifying that I need the limiter as the final plug-in on the chain.

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Answer 4

wgspar2 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2019 10:34 AM in response to wgspar2

Oh, I forgot to add one last thing in that previous post. So sounds like I should shoot for -14 LUFS, as you mentioned that they prefer masters are sent to them at that level? So if my current masters or somewhere around -9, sounds like I would need to turn them down to -14?

If my masters are first going through cdbaby, is this a service that they provided before they send them out to the streaming services? In other words, doese cdbaby turned them down to -14?

Also, if my master is going to be available on CDs as well as streaming services, doese it mean I need to have two separate masters at two different LUFS?

sorry for so many questions, and thanks so much for your responses!

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Answer 5

wgspar2 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2019 12:26 PM in response to rzazula

Thanks again so much for the info! This helps a lot!

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Answer 6

rzazula

Level 1

96 points

Jan 30, 2019 11:04 AM in response to wgspar2

I don't have all the answers but I imagine the streaming services receive files of all sorts and work it out in the end.

As a general rule, you increase LUFS by driving the compressor / limiter harder (raising the average level). I'd start with no input gain on the compressor / limiter and raise it until you hit the LUFS point you want.

I would not do an overall volume decrease on the final master - that will just reduce your peak levels and throw away bits.

I've submitted plenty of tracks at -9LUFS to iTunes, Tidal etc. and they sound fine, FWIW.

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LUFS and limiting for masters question

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