# Saturation and competitive loudness

**URL:** <https://community.mwtm.com/t/saturation-and-competitive-loudness/2765>\
**Category:** Mixing\
**Created:** [December 27, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.mwtm.com/t/saturation-and-competitive-loudness/2765 "2023-12-27T18:28:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Adam\_Lawn](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.mwtm.com/adam_lawn/32/79_2.png) [@Adam\_Lawn](https://community.mwtm.com/u/Adam_Lawn)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.mwtm.com/t/saturation-and-competitive-loudness/2765/1 "2023-12-27T18:28:31Z")

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I find I keep battling with my lufs being around 9-7. And it still doesn’t feel as loud/punchy as I would like no matter how much saturation or gain staging I mess with

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**Author:** ![Leslie\_Brathwaite](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.mwtm.com/leslie_brathwaite/32/1942_2.png) [@Leslie\_Brathwaite](https://community.mwtm.com/u/Leslie_Brathwaite)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.mwtm.com/t/saturation-and-competitive-loudness/2765/2 "2023-12-27T19:39:06Z")

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In my experience, as a mixer, I just try to get the best MIX. I try to make sure the relationship between the sounds and the groove make sense, maintaining the FEEL. I don’t worry about loudness as a mixer…in my opinion, that’s for the mastering engineer to sort out. If you are mixing AND mastering, and loudness is your area of concern, I would seek some guidance from a Mastering engineer on that part. My brain separates mixing and mastering as two different disciplines with different skill sets. I haven’t come across any engineers that are incredible great at both.

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**Author:** ![Adam\_Lawn](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.mwtm.com/adam_lawn/32/79_2.png) [@Adam\_Lawn](https://community.mwtm.com/u/Adam_Lawn)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.mwtm.com/t/saturation-and-competitive-loudness/2765/3 "2023-12-27T19:54:59Z")

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Thank you for your response 🙏🏼

> ![](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.mwtm.com/leslie_brathwaite/45/259_2.png "Leslie\_Brathwaite") | [Leslie\_Brathwaite](https://community.mwtm.com/u/leslie_brathwaite)  
> December 27 |
> 
> - | - |

In my experience, as a mixer, I just try to get the best MIX. I try to make sure the relationship between the sounds and the groove make sense, maintaining the FEEL. I don’t worry about loudness as a mixer…in my opinion, that’s for the mastering engineer to sort out. If you are mixing AND mastering, and loudness is your area of concern, I would seek some guidance from a Mastering engineer on that part. My brain separates mixing and mastering as two different disciplines with different skill sets. I haven’t come across any engineers that are incredible great at both.