Glad I could help ya! I’d personally still aim for -14 LUFS for any other social media platform, it’s the perfect target for mobile. This moreso changes quite a bit more with music as a producer when you’re uploading your audio to UA-cam, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc. Each requires a slightly different LUFS, which is more important to accommodate to when your content is audio only. That said, I found these references with a quick google search, so they may work as a rule of thumb. Realistically if you’re actually using a limiter for IG or TikTok content you’re doing more than 95% of content creators and you’ll be fine even with minor changes if it sounds good to ear: -Facebook: -16 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) -Instagram: -14 LUFS -Snapchat: -13 LU -UA-cam: -14 LUFS -Spotify & Tidal: -14 LUFS -SoundCloud: -11 LUFS -iTunes: -16 LUFS When checking the masters of music I’d produced in the past I used to use www.loudnesspenalty.com/ before they created VSTs to do the same, super helpful.
Thanks buddy, the best answer I can give is to use what you know and compare your audio levels and mix to a reference video on the platform you’re publishing to. Once you become familiar enough it’ll be come second nature. Headphones are best for frequencies above 150-200hz or so but won’t give you a picture of what’s happening on the lowest end, most monitors won’t either if they’re under 7-8” or so. Headphones also offer far better spatial representation of stereo audio. Monitors can be fantastic in an acoustically treated room, but can cause a buildup of certain frequencies which may cause you to become too clinical in scooping out areas in your eq curve. In the cases where you can’t hear sub frequencies above, visual aids of the low end are what you’ll need to rely upon. Luckily videos for UA-cam and most areas outside of broadcast or cinema videos are published don’t have heavy reliance on low end output (I think your iPhone can put out 200hz at most ballpark). It’s most important you’re happy with how your audio sounds when played back on the MOST LIKELY place people are watching your video (iPhone, UA-cam on the TV? Laptop, etc), this is one reason DJs will mix their music differently for radio, club, etc to optimize frequency bands. if I’m producing / mastering music I’m switching between headphones I know like the back of my hand with a flat frequency response and monitors which push out low end, then I’ll do a listen through of the track on my car (a frequency map I’m familiar with) and my phone. Obviously music alone intentionally occupies the entire frequency band 20hz-20,000hz to have a well rounded track, videos for UA-cam it’s a little less important if it’s not a short film, music video, cinematic sequence, or it isn’t important to you as the producer. Personally I still want to make sure everything is well rounded, and sounds as good as it can on all playback devices.
You're not only a creative genius but also very technically adept. Very impressive. Subbed!
Really appreciate man, means a lot. Thank you!
Beautiful tutorial
Thanks man! Glad it could help.
This was very helpful, so wonderful that I subbed! thank you! Would the overall loudness be the same for social media?
Glad I could help ya! I’d personally still aim for -14 LUFS for any other social media platform, it’s the perfect target for mobile. This moreso changes quite a bit more with music as a producer when you’re uploading your audio to UA-cam, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc. Each requires a slightly different LUFS, which is more important to accommodate to when your content is audio only.
That said, I found these references with a quick google search, so they may work as a rule of thumb. Realistically if you’re actually using a limiter for IG or TikTok content you’re doing more than 95% of content creators and you’ll be fine even with minor changes if it sounds good to ear:
-Facebook: -16 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale)
-Instagram: -14 LUFS
-Snapchat: -13 LU
-UA-cam: -14 LUFS
-Spotify & Tidal: -14 LUFS
-SoundCloud: -11 LUFS
-iTunes: -16 LUFS
When checking the masters of music I’d produced in the past I used to use www.loudnesspenalty.com/ before they created VSTs to do the same, super helpful.
@@DevMcLaughlin thank you so much!
Great video! What are your thought on headphones vs monitors when adjusting audio levels?
Thanks buddy, the best answer I can give is to use what you know and compare your audio levels and mix to a reference video on the platform you’re publishing to. Once you become familiar enough it’ll be come second nature.
Headphones are best for frequencies above 150-200hz or so but won’t give you a picture of what’s happening on the lowest end, most monitors won’t either if they’re under 7-8” or so. Headphones also offer far better spatial representation of stereo audio. Monitors can be fantastic in an acoustically treated room, but can cause a buildup of certain frequencies which may cause you to become too clinical in scooping out areas in your eq curve.
In the cases where you can’t hear sub frequencies above, visual aids of the low end are what you’ll need to rely upon. Luckily videos for UA-cam and most areas outside of broadcast or cinema videos are published don’t have heavy reliance on low end output (I think your iPhone can put out 200hz at most ballpark). It’s most important you’re happy with how your audio sounds when played back on the MOST LIKELY place people are watching your video (iPhone, UA-cam on the TV? Laptop, etc), this is one reason DJs will mix their music differently for radio, club, etc to optimize frequency bands.
if I’m producing / mastering music I’m switching between headphones I know like the back of my hand with a flat frequency response and monitors which push out low end, then I’ll do a listen through of the track on my car (a frequency map I’m familiar with) and my phone. Obviously music alone intentionally occupies the entire frequency band 20hz-20,000hz to have a well rounded track, videos for UA-cam it’s a little less important if it’s not a short film, music video, cinematic sequence, or it isn’t important to you as the producer. Personally I still want to make sure everything is well rounded, and sounds as good as it can on all playback devices.