How to Export Audio for Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Updated October 2026
Streaming platforms re-encode your file, so the export matters. Export a clean, high-quality master, check its loudness and true peak, and upload that file.
The short version
- Export a high-quality file (WAV or a high-bitrate MP3) as the master you keep.
- Check the loudness and the true peak of the final file, not the project.
- Keep the true peak at or below -1 dBTP so the platform re-encoding does not distort it.
- Check each platform’s current guidance before you upload, because it changes.
Keep a master
Export a lossless or high-quality master, usually WAV at the project sample rate, and keep it. Every MP3 is a copy made from the master, and the master lets you re-export if a platform asks for something different.
Choose the upload format
Most podcast hosts and streaming services accept WAV or MP3. A high-bitrate MP3 is a common upload format and works well. Check the format and bit rate the platform recommends, because the rules change.
Set the loudness
Measure the loudness of the whole episode or track, not a short part, and set it to the target you want. The loudness guide lists the targets people use and why they differ between platforms.
Check the true peak
Re-encoding can raise the peaks. Keep the true peak at or below -1 dBTP so the file does not distort when the platform converts it. If it is higher, lower the level or use a true-peak limiter at -1 dBTP.
Listen to the exported file
Play the exported file, not the project. Listen on a phone and on headphones, and check the start, the end and any music bed. A file that sounds right in the editor can still sound different after conversion.
Tunedzy
Tunedzy exports the mix at a loudness target with the true peak checked, and keeps the master. Use the free LUFS meter on this site to check a file you did not make in Tunedzy.
Export the master and the upload
Tunedzy exports at a loudness target with the true peak checked, and keeps the master for re-exports.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Should I upload WAV or MP3?
Check the platform. Many accept both. Keep the WAV master and upload the format the platform recommends.
Why does my upload sound louder or quieter than my export?
The platform normalises loudness and re-encodes the file. Measure the export and check its true peak before you upload.
Is there one correct loudness?
No. Targets differ by platform and change over time. Check the current guidance for each one.
Keep going
Loudness for YouTube, Podcasts and Spotify
What Is True Peak (dBTP)?How to Make a Podcast Sound Professional on a BudgetAll guides and comparisons · Tunedzy Go on your phone · Pricing