Optimal dynamic range in mastering: how much to compress

"Louder" does not mean "better". Since platforms normalise loudness, a crushed master no longer sounds louder than the rest: it just sounds flatter. The measure that tells you how much a track breathes is dynamic range.

Dynamic range and loudness range

Dynamic range is the distance between the loud and quiet passages of a track. In mastering it is mostly read through loudness range (LRA), in LU: you take the perceived loudness of many short sections and look at how far the loudest are from the quietest, discarding the extremes.

What values to expect

There is no single right number for every genre, but there are guidelines:

• Below 3 LU: heavily compressed. Typical of some dense electronic and pop; if it is not a choice, a limiter was pushed too hard.
• Between 4 and 8 LU: where most modern pop and rock sits.
• Above 10 LU: very dynamic. Normal for acoustic, film scores and classical; on a dance track it may sound weak.

The best reference is a track in the same genre that you like: measure it and compare.

How MakerMusic measures it

In the Analyze your song lab, loudness range is calculated from the track's perceived-loudness blocks (the same used for integrated LUFS, per ITU-R BS.1770), as the distance between loud and quiet passages. It is an estimate meant for orientation, not an EBU R128 certification.

Next to it you see integrated LUFS, true peak and clipping: if loudness range is very low and true peak hits zero, the master is probably crushed.

In short

• Dynamic range is the gap between loud and quiet passages; in mastering, read it as loudness range.
• Below 3 LU: heavily compressed. 4-8 LU: modern pop and rock. Above 10 LU: very dynamic.
• Always compare with a reference track in the same genre.
• In MakerMusic you see it in Analyze your song.