MixMasterAIMetal Mastering for Apple Music
-16 LUFS · -1 dBTP true peak · 4-7 LU dynamic range
The exact LUFS target, EQ profile, and compression settings for mastering Metal music specifically for Apple Music — based on Apple Music's normalization algorithm and Metal's sonic character.
How Apple Music Handles Metal Audio
Apple Music targets -16 LUFS (Sound Check). Mastered for iTunes (now Apple Digital Masters) recommends headroom and 24-bit delivery. Avoid harsh limiting.
Metal EQ Profile for Apple Music
Guitar density: Scoop 200–400 Hz slightly to reduce muddiness from heavy downtuned guitars.
Presence: Boost 2–5 kHz for guitar presence and vocal intelligibility through the density.
Kick clarity: High-pass kick at 50 Hz. Boost 60–80 Hz body and 2–4 kHz click for punch.
Bass clarity: Cut 200–300 Hz from bass guitar to separate it from the guitar low-mid density.
Compression & Limiting for Apple Music
Aggressive limiting: Metal tolerates hard limiting for maximum impact. 4-7 LU dynamic range.
Multiband: Control guitar low-mids (200–500 Hz) independently — this is where metal masters get muddy.
Sub control: High-pass at 30–40 Hz. Metal doesn't need sub-bass — it needs aggressive mid-range presence.
Metal LUFS Targets — All Platforms Compared
How Metal mastering specs differ across every major streaming platform.
| Platform | Integrated LUFS | True Peak | Current page |
|---|---|---|---|
| -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | View guide → | |
🍎Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dBTP | You are here |
▶️YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | View guide → |
| -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | View guide → | |
| -11 LUFS | -0.5 dBTP | View guide → | |
| -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | View guide → |
Master your Metal track for Apple Music automatically.
MixMasterAI applies exactly these settings — -16 LUFS, -1 dBTP, genre-optimized EQ — in 60 seconds. Free.
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Metal Mastering FAQ — Apple Music
What LUFS for metal on Apple Music?
-16 LUFS integrated. Metal can push hard — a 4–7 LU dynamic range at -16 LUFS is competitive and powerful. Over-limiting at -8 LUFS will be normalized down anyway.
How do I prevent the mix from sounding muddy in the master?
Cut 200–400 Hz with a multiband compressor or EQ to clear guitar mud. This is the most common metal mastering problem. Also ensure bass guitar has its own frequency space by cutting its 200–300 Hz slightly.
How does heavily compressed metal sound on Apple Music?
Apple Music normalizes to -16 LUFS, so an over-limited -8 LUFS metal master gets turned down to the same volume as a well-mastered -14 LUFS version, while sounding squashed and fatiguing. Master at the target LUFS with maximum 7 LU dynamic range.