MixMasterAIR&B / Soul Mastering for Apple Music
-16 LUFS · -1 dBTP true peak · 8-12 LU dynamic range
The exact LUFS target, EQ profile, and compression settings for mastering R&B / Soul music specifically for Apple Music — based on Apple Music's normalization algorithm and R&B / Soul's sonic character.
How Apple Music Handles R&B / Soul Audio
Apple Music targets -16 LUFS (Sound Check). Mastered for iTunes (now Apple Digital Masters) recommends headroom and 24-bit delivery. Avoid harsh limiting.
R&B / Soul EQ Profile for Apple Music
Vocal warmth: Gentle boost at 200–300 Hz for chest voice warmth. Avoid cutting this range.
Low-end: Tight high-pass at 35–40 Hz. Keep 80–100 Hz full for bass guitar warmth.
Presence: Gentle 3–5 kHz boost for vocal intelligibility without harshness.
Apple Music: R&B benefits from Apple's high-res formats — use 24-bit masters for nuanced dynamics.
Compression & Limiting for Apple Music
Gentle glue: Very light master bus compression (ratio 1.5:1 to 2:1). R&B needs natural dynamics.
Smooth limiting: Use lookahead limiting (5–10ms) to avoid transient clipping. Preserve vocal peaks.
Low-mid management: If 250–400 Hz is muddy, apply gentle surgical reduction to clarify the vocal.
R&B / Soul LUFS Targets — All Platforms Compared
How R&B / Soul 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 R&B / Soul 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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R&B / Soul Mastering FAQ — Apple Music
What LUFS for R&B on Apple Music?
-16 LUFS integrated. R&B benefits from being slightly less compressed than EDM — a 10-14 LU dynamic range gives the vocals and instruments natural breathing room.
How do I preserve vocal warmth in R&B mastering?
Boost 200–300 Hz gently rather than cutting. Avoid aggressive mid-cut EQ that removes chest voice character. Use gentle multiband compression in the vocal range to control peaks without squashing dynamics.
Does R&B translate well on Apple Music?
Yes. Apple Music's 24-bit lossless with Dolby Atmos is increasingly important for R&B — consider spatial audio mixing.