Mastering for VK Music, Yandex Music and Zvuk
One master for every Russian platform at once: a −14 LUFS target and True Peak ≤ −1 dBTP, so the track isn't turned down by normalization and sits evenly next to label releases. Online, no DAW.
Master a track →One loudness target — all platforms at once
VK Music, Yandex Music and Zvuk normalize loudness on playback but, unlike Apple and Spotify, don't publish an official target LUFS. A safe reference is −14 LUFS integrated at True Peak ≤ −1 dBTP: the common streaming standard at which a platform doesn't turn the track down and peaks don't clip after re-encoding into its codec. One such master fits all three services — no separate versions needed.
VK Music
The largest RU audience and VK Clips. A −14 LUFS master sounds even in the player and the feed, with no loudness drop after normalization.
Yandex Music
Smart recommendations and Station. Clean peaks and target loudness help the track sit level with label releases in the stream.
Zvuk
Hi-Fi streaming and playlists. The same safe −14 LUFS reference with peak headroom keeps dynamics and stops the platform limiter from squashing the track.
Release checklist for Russian platforms
- Target loudness −14 LUFS — a common safe reference for VK Music, Yandex Music and Zvuk.
- True Peak ≤ −1 dBTP — protection from clipping when re-encoded into the platform codec.
- Preserved dynamics — don't over-compress: normalization will even the loudness anyway, and the track keeps its life.
- One master for all services — no need to make a separate version per platform.
- For Reels, Shorts and VK Clips — the same ~−14 LUFS reference: social apps also turn overly loud audio down.
Questions and answers
What loudness do VK Music, Yandex Music and Zvuk need?
Russian platforms normalize loudness on playback but don't publish an official target LUFS like Apple or Spotify. A safe reference is −14 LUFS integrated at True Peak ≤ −1 dBTP: the track isn't turned down and doesn't clip after re-encoding.
Is it true that a louder track ranks higher in the feed?
No. Platforms with normalization turn overly loud tracks down to their level, so 'make it louder' gives no advantage — you only lose dynamics. The right goal is −14 LUFS with clean peaks.
How is this different from mastering for Spotify?
Technically the target is the same: −14 LUFS and True Peak ≤ −1 dBTP. The difference is distribution — the track reaches VK Music, Yandex Music and Zvuk via Russian aggregators. One master fits all of them.
How do I prepare audio for Reels, Shorts and VK Clips?
For vertical video the reference is also around −14 LUFS: social apps turn overly loud audio down. A master at −14 LUFS with clean peaks gives even, intelligible sound in the feed on a phone.
How much does it cost, and can I pay in rubles?
Your first basic master each day is free (UTC), no card. A full PRO master is 1 token = 1 track, paid in rubles via YooKassa.
See also: Target LUFS for every platform · Free LUFS analyzer · Podcast mastering · Pricing