I've been uploading to SoundCloud regularly, and I've noticed a quirk that I'm hoping someone can help me understand. In my DAW (Ableton), I master using a combination of mix gel, multiband compression, overall EQ, and a limiter (Fab Filter Pro L).
I aim to have Fab Filter Pro L hit an RMS peak level of about -10db. When I play it in Ableton and even export the audio to .WAV, it sounds fine. No clipping or distortion.
However, once I upload the .WAV to SoundCloud, it's a whole other story. I get that SoundCloud has to compress the file for streaming purposes - as I understand SoundCloud turns it into MP3 format at 128kb/s, but I still don't get why it sounds like it's clipping aggressively near the loud parts of the track.
Are there any suggestions other than the obvious suggestion of not limiting so high (maybe aim for an RMS peak of -12dB) before uploading to SoundCloud?
As an aside, when I upload to YouTube, i still the get a similar effect, but it's not nearly as bad as SoundCloud.
Submitted December 19, 2017 at 05:41PM by AY_Sound https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/7kw35n/soundcloud_clipping_my_track/?utm_source=ifttt