Hello im a bit confused! as i upload music to some music sites with there -14 LUFS rules! But they come out lower volume or the wav looks smaller visually! But when i purchase a different track it's like -9LUFS !& the preview looks good! So is it best just to ignore the -14 LUFS rules??

 

No idea, but maybe worth looking into: Different services have different true peak targets. Some put true peak at -0.1 db, some at -1 db and some at -2 db.

 

First, it's -14 LUFS *integrated*, meaning it's an average loudness for your whole track, with all the quietest and the loudest parts. If you just measured the loudest segment and got -14 LUFS then you definitely undersold it.
Second, there's also a true peak requirement, which comes before LUFS. If your track has -14 LUFS at the loudest point and true peak of 0 dB, it's going to get additionally attenuated by 1 dB so it conforms to -1 dBTP requirement.
Third, when you buy and download the track, you download it *as it is*, with no normalisation applied.

So in short, excessive dynamic range is indeed not beneficial to your music if you plan to put it on streaming services. -14 LUFS should be, in fact, considered a *minimum* integrated loudness you can go for, in this case. Your best bet is to mix your track to the loudness/dynamic range you feel befits it the most, as long as it results in integrated loudness above -14 LUFS.

 

So like i said! Best to ignore the -14 LUFS, because thats just a minimum! & go louder say up to -9 LUFS

 

Yes, just make sure your mix holds up at whatever loudness you're going for.