[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "What%20would%20be%20the%20best%20auphonic%20preset%20to%20pick%20for%20a%20song%20to%20make%20sure%20nothing%20is%20compressed%20and%20degraded%20but%20blends%20the%20voice%20with%20the%20music."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "If you want a song processed in Auphonic such that the *voice blends well with the music*, but with **no heavy compression** or unwanted degradation, here's a setup I recommend. These configurations give you clarity, preserve dynamics, and ensure the music isn\u2019t overshadowed\u2014or squashed\u2014by aggressive processing.\n\n---\n\n### \ud83c\udfaf Key Objectives\n\n- **Minimal compression** \u2014 let natural highs and lows breathe.  \n- **Balanced blending** \u2014 voice and music should be clearly heard together.  \n- **Preserve dynamics and avoid artifacts** \u2014 no pumping, no harshness.  \n\n---\n\n### \u2699\ufe0f Recommended Preset Settings in Auphonic\n\nBelow are the settings you should consider. Many of these live under the *Preset \u2192 Adaptive Leveler*, *Filtering / EQ*, *Noise Reduction*, and *Loudness Normalization* sections.\n\n| Parameter | What to Choose | Why It Helps Preserve Voice + Music Blend |\n|-----------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|\n| **Leveler Strength** | ~70\u2013100%, but consider reducing if music is dynamic | 100% gives full leveling; lower strength allows more dynamic difference so musical peaks aren't crushed. ([us1.auphonic.com](https://us1.auphonic.com/help/web/multitrack.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Compressor** | *Off* or *Soft* (controlled, gentle) | \u201cOff\u201d means no short-term dynamics compression\u2014only mid-term leveler; \u201cSoft\u201d gives a light touch which keeps character. ([us1.auphonic.com](https://us1.auphonic.com/help/web/multitrack.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Filtering Voice** | *Voice AutoEQ* (or *Studio Voice* only if voice needs fixing) | AutoEQ cleans sibilance/plosives without tampering with music too much; Studio Voice is more intense and might alter tone. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Denoising Method** | *Dynamic Denoiser* with controlled amounts; avoid \u201cSpeech Isolation\u201d | Dynamic preserves both voice and background music; Speech Isolation removes music and might make voice too exposed. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Remove Noise / Breaths** | Moderate reduction\u2014not full; maybe around \u221210 to \u221212 dB or \u201cMedium\u201d | Too much removal makes voice sound artificial; controlled values give clarity without sucking life out. ([learnlightandsound.com](https://learnlightandsound.com/videos/automatically-clean-and-boost-your-audio-with-auphonic-and-davinci-resolve?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Remove Reverb** | Small amount, maybe off unless reverb is overwhelming | Preserve room tone unless it\u2019s muddy; aggressive reverb removal can strip out natural ambience. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Normalization / Loudness Target** | Set to your platform\u2019s recommended LUFS (e.g. \u221216 to \u221214 LUFS for streaming), with true peak ceiling (e.g. \u22121.5 to \u22121 dBTP) | Ensures output is loud enough without pushing dynamics into distortion or over-compression. ([learnlightandsound.com](https://learnlightandsound.com/videos/automatically-clean-and-boost-your-audio-with-auphonic-and-davinci-resolve?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Output Format** | Use WAV or FLAC (lossless/wav), stereo if music has stereo info | Avoids lossy artifacts before final delivery; preserves full fidelity. ([learnlightandsound.com](https://learnlightandsound.com/videos/automatically-clean-and-boost-your-audio-with-auphonic-and-davinci-resolve?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\n### \ud83e\uddf0 How to Put It Together\n\n1. **Start from a clean raw mix** \u2014 voice + music tracks balanced fairly in your DAW before uploading. The better the input, the less processing you need.  \n2. In **Singletrack Preset** (if voice and music are merged) or **Multitrack** (if separate tracks are possible):  \n   - Set Leveler Strength around **70\u201380%** if music dynamics are important.  \n   - Set Compressor to **\u201cOff\u201d** or **\u201cSoft\u201d**.  \n3. Choose **Voice AutoEQ**, not the more intrusive \u201cStudio Voice,\u201d unless the voice has major issues.  \n4. For **Noise Reduction**, use *Dynamic Denoiser* \u2014 set \u201cRemove Noise\u201d and \u201cRemove Breaths\u201d to moderate levels (\u2248 \u221210 to \u221212 dB). Avoid letting it eliminate reverb entirely unless necessary.  \n5. Normalize loudness to ~**\u221214 to \u221216 LUFS** for most streaming platforms; true peak ceiling around \u22121.0 to \u22121.5 dBTP.  \n6. Output in lossless format (WAV / FLAC) or high-quality stereo if music stereo field matters.  \n\n---\n\n### \ud83d\udea7 Tips & Cautions\n\n- If you start with already compressed/mixed audio, Auphonic can only do so much. Overcompressed input = baked-in compression artifacts. Better to mix lightly yourself first.  \n- Be especially careful with **denoising** and **de-essing** \u2014 these are easy places to overdo, which can hurt voice naturalness.  \n- Use the **Auphonic Editor** to tweak specific segments: if there\u2019s a spot where music drowns voice, you can adjust gain selectively. ([us1.auphonic.com](https://us1.auphonic.com/help/web/auphoniceditor.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can build a custom **preset file** for you based on your genre (pop, acoustic, rock, etc.) so you can import it directly into Auphonic. Want me to put that together?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Yes%2C%20probably%20pop."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a suggested custom Auphonic preset designed for **pop music** when you want the voice to sit nicely with the music *without heavy compression or degradation*. This setup aims to preserve dynamics, keep clarity in vocals, and meet modern streaming standards.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83c\udf9b\ufe0f Pop-Friendly Auphonic Preset\n\n| **Section** | **Parameter** | **Recommended Setting / Value** |\n|-------------|----------------|-------------------------------------|\n| **Adaptive Leveler** | Leveler Mode | *Separate Music/Speech*\u2014so voice and music get tuned differently. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n|  | Voice (Speech) Leveler Strength | ~ 80\u2013100% \u2014 enough levelling so the voice is consistent; reduce if it feels too \u201cevened out.\u201d ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n|  | Music Leveler Strength | ~ 60\u201370% \u2014 still smooth, but let music dynamics move more. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n|  | Compressor | *Soft* for both voice and music segments\u2014minimal short-term compression. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Filtering / EQ** | Filtering Method | Use **Voice AutoEQ** for vocal parts; use adaptive high-pass for both. Refrain from Studio Voice unless necessary. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Noise & Reverb Reduction** | Denoising Method | *Dynamic Denoiser* (lower extremes) \u2014 keeps music and ambient fidelity. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai)) |\n|  | Remove Noise / Breaths | Moderate: around \u221210 to \u221215 dB reduction. Enough to clean up, not enough to kill expression. |\n|  | Remove Reverb | Low to moderate, unless room reverb muddying things heavily. Keep natural ambience. |\n| **Loudness Normalization & True Peak Limiter** | Loudness Target | \u221214 LUFS (integrated)\u2014good across most streaming services. ([forasoft.com](https://www.forasoft.com/learn/audio-for-video/articles-audio/lufs-targets-per-platform-2026?utm_source=openai)) |\n|  | True Peak Ceiling | \u22121.0 dBTP or \u22121.5 dBTP max \u2014 prevents clipping on digital platforms. ([forasoft.com](https://www.forasoft.com/learn/audio-for-video/articles-audio/lufs-targets-per-platform-2026?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Output Format** | File Type & Bitrate | Lossless / WAV or FLAC, stereo. If using MP3/AAC, choose high bitrate (320 kbps). |\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udee0\ufe0f How to Use & Fine-Tune\n\n- **Pre-level mix in your DAW**: Make sure voice-to-music balance is already pretty close before uploading. Auphonic\u2019s leveled settings refine but don\u2019t replace a good initial mix.\n- **Set up tracks separately (if possible)** using *Multitrack* mode: one track for voice, one for music. This lets you duck music a little during vocals if necessary. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/algorithms/multitrack.html?utm_source=openai))\n- **Listen in context**: hook up headphones, check small sections (verses, chorus) to see if voice is sitting through, not swallowed or shouting.\n- If certain spots in the song (chorus, bridge) have music that\u2019s louder, you can use the Auphonic Editor\u2019s *gain curve* to tame, or raise, specific segments. ([us1.auphonic.com](https://us1.auphonic.com/help/web/auphoniceditor.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 Why These Settings Work for Pop\n\n- Pop songs usually need a consistent voice presence but also energetic music\u2014too much compression flattens energy. These settings help preserve contrast.  \n- Streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Amazon normalize to about **\u221214 LUFS**, with a true peak around **\u22121 dBTP**. Keeping within that range means your song won\u2019t get turned down further or clipped. ([forasoft.com](https://www.forasoft.com/learn/audio-for-video/articles-audio/lufs-targets-per-platform-2026?utm_source=openai))  \n- The \u201cSeparate Music / Speech\u201d mode lets voice and music be treated differently, which is ideal: voice-leveler strength high enough for intelligibility, music leveler gentler to keep dynamics. ([us.auphonic.com](https://us.auphonic.com/help/web/preset.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can build a **preset file** (.json or whatever format Auphonic uses) with these settings, ready to import. Can send that over if helpful!"
    }
]