LUFS targets for submissions

[Vlad]

Hi Folks,

I know we’ve discussed loudness before and I did read the threads at MLR that I thought addressed this topic, but I feel like they are possibly a little dated (unless I missed some threads).

Any thoughts on LUFS when submitting to what is perceived to be a really good tier library?

I know Art had previously mentioned 11 LUFS as a volume target, and I do feel comfortable hitting that. (Obviously all of this is genre dependent, etc). Part of me is afraid that I’m not pushing mixes hard enough volume-wise, thus losing the battle to other tracks.

Anyone pushing their submissions to commercial volume levels or somewhere in between?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[Art Munson]

I’m pushing mine to 9 now.

[MM_Musicworks]

Mine is 9 too.

[Vlad]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. Looks like I will be shooting for 9 now!

[LAwriter]

-14 LUFS here.

[John]

Do you guys mean -9 integrated lufs or just for the loud parts?

[DavidSharp]

-14 LUFS for me

[Alan]

I’m a -14.
I was surprised to see -9’s here. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but I would like to hear some justification for that. If our target ears are A&R directors and post production folks, why slam it like that (unless the genre calls for it)?

[Art Munson]

I took my tip from a longtime friend composer/mastering engineer, of many decades.

[Vlad]

Hi Art, did your buddy articulate the exact reasons why? (To be competitive, etc.)

Despite my post above, shooting for 9 just isn’t feeling right for my music (on most tracks). I think I’m settling in between 11-10 (although I’d prefer 14, since that feels much more dynamic to me).

[Art Munson]

He did but I don’t remember. I know that one of his clients is a library. Let me modify my original comment: he shoots between 9-10 LUFS

[Vlad]

Hi Art,

Okay, fair enough!

[MM_Musicworks]

-9 for the loud parts for me.

[echoflex]

Not sure if it’s different in other areas of post, but as a video editor of 25 years, we are not looking at LUFS. We drop the track in and immediately turn it down at least 10dB and see how it sounds with the VO (I do mostly ads and promos).

[Alan]

Great info, echoflex. Thanks for sharing. Do you choose the music, or is that someone else’s job? I would love to hear from someone who auditions potential music for a spot.

[Author]

Posts