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#005 - Master to -1 dBTP, Not -0.1 dBFS
When streaming platforms compress your WAV into AAC or MP3 for delivery, the encoding process can push true peaks above your sample peak ceiling by 1-2 dB.
A master that peaks at -0.1 dBFS sample peak can clip the consumer's DAC after streaming encoding, even though your file looks clean in your DAW.
Setting your ceiling to -1 dBTP (true peak) instead of -0.1 dBFS (sample peak) protects the master against the encoding margin without any audible loudness penalty.
The technique
- Use a true peak limiter at the end of your mastering chain - FabFilter Pro-L 2, iZotope Ozone Maximizer, Fruity Limiter and most modern limiters all support this
- Set the ceiling to -1 dBTP (true peak), not -0.1 dBFS
- Enable true peak metering on the output
- Target -8 to -10 LUFS integrated for streaming-bound DnB
- Verify on a separate true peak meter (Youlean Loudness Meter is free)
Apple's mastered-for-iTunes guidelines actually require -1 dBTP. The 0.9 dB of additional headroom is inaudible against the loudness benefit of being encoding-safe across every streaming platform - Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL all benefit.
This is a one-time setup change that protects every release going forward. If you're still mastering to -0.1 dBFS in 2026, you're shipping masters that distort on a percentage of consumer playback.
Switch the ceiling once and the problem disappears across your whole catalogue from this point on.
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