YouTube LUFS for Suno uploads: -14 vs -16

-14 LUFS is the usual YouTube conversation number. It is a starting point, not the loudest legal value. For Suno piano and sleep music, -16 LUFS often keeps more retention.

What the number means

Integrated LUFS is average perceived loudness across the whole file. True Peak estimates inter-sample peaks. A -14 LUFS master with -0.1 dBTP can still distort after YouTube’s encode. Leave about -1.0 dBTP.

When to use -14

Pop, trailer energy, and Shorts that must compete with speech-heavy videos. Use the YouTube / Shorts preset, then check that the chorus is not flattened.

When to use -16

Piano, lullaby, rain, and study loops. Viewers leave when overnight audio feels aggressive. Quieter with more transients usually wins session time.

Measure both versions in the browser mastering tool and pick with a phone, not only the meter.

FAQ

Does YouTube normalize everything to -14?

It aims near that range for many videos. A file that is much quieter still sounds quieter in a playlist of louder videos.