The right export settings ensure your music sounds its best and won't be rejected at distribution.
Lossless formats are preferred by all major distributors. FLAC is also accepted.
The CD standard. 48 kHz is fine for sync/film but unnecessary for streaming.
24-bit preserves more dynamic range from your session. 16-bit is fine for streaming.
Mono files are accepted but will be upconverted by most DSPs.
Distributors require lossless source files. Never submit MP3 or AAC as masters.
If your DAW project is at 48 kHz or 96 kHz, export at that rate and let the mastering process (or your distributor) handle sample-rate conversion. Avoid converting yourself unless your mastering engineer has instructed it.
Streaming platforms normalise playback loudness. Mastering too loud wastes dynamic range and won't give you an advantage — it will be turned down.
Normalises to −14 LUFS integrated. Louder masters are turned down.
Uses Sound Check normalisation. Lossless tier displays dynamic range.
Consistent with Spotify target.
Masters at −14 LUFS integrated.
Keep true peak under −1 dBTP to prevent inter-sample clipping after encoding.
For most release types, master to −14 LUFS integrated with a true peak of −1 dBTP. This is the sweet spot for streaming. Classical and jazz benefit from a slightly lower target (−16 to −18 LUFS) to preserve dynamic range.
Most distributors accept any filename, but it's good practice to use consistent naming:
01_TrackTitle.wav)Questions about a specific export? support@beatcheck.app