SowndHaus
SowndHaus

Audio Quality Guide

Ensuring high audio quality is crucial for a great listening experience on SowndHaus. Follow these guidelines to optimize your tracks for streaming.

1. Recommended File Formats

For the best possible sound reproduction, we recommend uploading your tracks in lossless formats:

  • **WAV (.wav):** Uncompressed, high-fidelity audio. Ideal for masters.
  • **FLAC (.flac):** Lossless compression, smaller file size than WAV but retains all audio data.
  • **MP3 (.mp3):** Acceptable for convenience, but ensure a high bitrate (e.g., 320 kbps).

Avoid uploading highly compressed MP3s or files with low bitrates, as this will result in noticeable quality degradation.

2. Bit Depth and Sample Rate

We recommend the following settings for your audio files:

  • **Bit Depth:** 24-bit (preferred) or 16-bit.
  • **Sample Rate:** 44.1 kHz (standard CD quality) or 48 kHz.

Higher sample rates (e.g., 96 kHz) are generally not necessary for streaming and will result in larger file sizes without significant audible benefits for most listeners.

3. Mastering for Streaming

Proper mastering is key to a professional sound. Here are some tips:

  • **Loudness:** Aim for a loudness level (LUFS) appropriate for streaming platforms. Typically, -14 LUFS is a good target, but avoid over-compressing or brickwall limiting.
  • **True Peak:** Keep your true peak levels below -1 dBTP to prevent inter-sample peaks and distortion during encoding.
  • **Dynamic Range:** Preserve some dynamic range. Over-compressed tracks can sound fatiguing.

4. File Size Considerations

While we encourage high quality, be mindful of file size, especially for standard accounts. Pro accounts offer increased upload limits.

If you're uploading a very long track, consider using FLAC over WAV to save space without losing quality.

By adhering to these guidelines, your music will sound its best on SowndHaus, providing an optimal experience for your listeners.