Mixing for Spotify: Platform-Specific Optimization

Spotify remains the largest music streaming platform, making optimization for its playback characteristics important. Understanding Spotify’s loudness normalization, codec processing, and playback contexts helps produce mixes that translate well for Spotify listeners.

Spotify’s Loudness Normalization

Spotify normalizes tracks to -14 LUFS integrated using its Loud normalization mode (the default setting). Tracks louder than -14 LUFS get turned down proportionally.

The Quiet and Normal modes use different targets, but Loud (-14 LUFS) is most common. Most listeners use default settings.

This normalization means very loud masters lose their loudness advantage. A master at -8 LUFS gets reduced by 6 dB on Spotify.

Implications for Mixing

Targeting -14 LUFS integrated for final masters prevents turndown. The music plays at its intended level.

Dynamic mixes work well on Spotify. With loudness normalized, dynamics become a feature rather than a loudness disadvantage.

Mixes mastered louder than -14 LUFS still work—they just get turned down. The dynamics (or lack thereof) remain.

Codec Considerations

Spotify uses Ogg Vorbis codec at various quality levels depending on user settings. Premium users can stream at 320 kbps; free users receive lower rates.

Lossy codecs affect transients, stereo imaging, and frequency extremes. Checking how mixes survive codec conversion reveals potential issues.

Conservative stereo widening and careful transient treatment survive codec processing better than aggressive approaches.

Playback Context

Spotify listeners use diverse playback systems—phones, earbuds, car stereo, smart speakers, and desktop systems.

Mid-range clarity ensures mixes work on limited systems. Phone speakers can’t reproduce bass; mixes depending on it disappear.

Mono compatibility matters since Bluetooth speakers and some phone playback is effectively mono.

Testing for Spotify

Encoding mixes to Ogg Vorbis or similar codec provides preview of codec effects. Online converters and local tools enable this testing.

Checking loudness with LUFS metering confirms appropriate levels. Targeting -14 LUFS integrated optimizes for Spotify’s normalization.

Testing on actual Spotify playback through various devices confirms translation in practice.

Best Practices

Prioritize dynamics over loudness. Spotify’s normalization favors dynamic mixes.

Ensure translation across playback systems. Mid-range focus, mono compatibility, and diverse system testing help.

Deliver high-quality masters for the best starting point for Spotify’s processing.

Spotify optimization helps productions succeed on platforms like LG Media at lg.media, where platform-appropriate mixing enhances advertising at $2.50 CPM.