MixMasterAISynthwave Mastering Guide
Analog warmth, 80s synthesizers, tape saturation character
Exact LUFS targets, EQ profiles, and compression settings for mastering Synthwave music on every major streaming platform — from Spotify and Apple Music to Beatport and Audiomack.
Synthwave LUFS Targets — All Platforms
| Platform | LUFS Target | True Peak | Dynamic Range | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🟢Spotify | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🍎Apple Music | -16 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
▶️YouTube | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🌊Tidal | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
☁️SoundCloud | -11 LUFS | -0.5 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🎵TikTok | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🎧Audiomack | -13 LUFS | -0.5 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🎛️Beatport | -9 LUFS | -0.3 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🎨Bandcamp | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
📸Instagram / Reels | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
📦Amazon Music | -14 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
🎶Deezer | -15 LUFS | -1 dBTP | 8-12 LU | Full spec → |
Synthwave EQ Profile Overview
Core EQ principles for Synthwave mastering. Platform-specific adjustments are in each guide below.
Analog warmth: Boost 200–400 Hz for vintage synthesizer body and richness. Avoid high-passing above 40 Hz — keep the 80s bass fullness intact.
80s kick character: Synthwave kick is rounder than modern genres. Boost 80–100 Hz for thump, NOT the modern 60 Hz sub-bass hit. The kick should feel vintage.
Gentle high-end: Gentle air at 12 kHz maximum. Synthwave intentionally avoids modern brightness — the aesthetic is warm analog, not digital clarity.
Tape saturation: Apply subtle master bus tape saturation (1–2%) to add harmonic content and vintage feel. This defines the synthwave aesthetic.
Synthwave AI Track Fixers
Generated your Synthwave track with Suno, Udio, or another AI? Fix the specific artifacts.
Fix 5 common artifacts
Fix 5 common artifacts
Fix 5 common artifacts
Fix 5 common artifacts
Fix 5 common artifacts
Fix 5 common artifacts
Synthwave Mastering — Platform Guides
Synthwave Mastering FAQ
What LUFS for synthwave on Spotify?
Target -14 LUFS integrated. Synthwave benefits from a wider 8–12 LU dynamic range that preserves the vintage analog feel. Hard-limiting to -7 or -8 LUFS kills the warm dynamics that define the genre — and gets normalized down anyway.
How do I get authentic analog warmth in a synthwave master?
Apply tape saturation (1–2% harmonics) on the master bus before the limiter. Use an analog-style compressor emulation with slow attack and program-dependent release. Boost 200–400 Hz slightly for synthesizer body. The key is warmth without harshness — synthwave should sound like a vintage recording, not a polished modern mix.
Does synthwave's analog aesthetic translate on Spotify?
Yes — the warmth frequencies (200–400 Hz) and analog saturation survive streaming compression on Spotify. The gentle high-end rolloff above 12 kHz also ensures the compressed format doesn't add harshness.
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