SoundCloud supports a wide range of audio formats and automatically optimizes uploads for streaming. This guide covers:
Which files you can upload
Recommended formats for best quality
Common upload issues to avoid
Supported audio file formats
SoundCloud supports a variety of audio codecs and containers. Currently supported formats include:
WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg / Vorbis, MP4, MP2, M4A, 3GP, 3G2, MJ2, WMA, and AMR
Recommended file formats (best quality)
For optimal audio fidelity, use lossless formats:
WAV
FLAC
AIFF
ALAC
Why lossless?
Preserves all audio data
Produces the highest quality after SoundCloud’s transcoding
Provides the best listening experience for your fans
Comparison of Lossless vs. Lossy Formats
| Lossless Formats (WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC) | Lossy Formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg/Vorbis, etc.) |
|---|---|
| No audio data is removed during compression | Smaller file sizes |
| Higher fidelity and detail | Some audio data is removed |
| Recommended for uploading | Convenient but may reduce final streaming quality |
Best audio settings for upload
To get the best playback quality:
Upload stereo files
Recommended: 16-bit / 44.1 kHz or higher-quality source
Leave –0.5 to –1 dBFS headroom to avoid clipping
Pro Tip: If you enable downloads on a track, listeners receive the original file format you uploaded, without additional transcoding.
File size and duration limits
Maximum file size: 4 GB (uncompressed)
Maximum track length: 24 hours
If your file exceeds either limit, split it into multiple uploads.
Upload limits by subscription
| Plan | Upload Allowance |
|---|---|
| Basic | Up to 2 hours total |
| Artist | Up to 3 hours total |
| Artist Pro | Unlimited uploads |
You can view the remaining upload time from your SoundCloud Tracks page.
High-quality streaming availability
Uploading lossless stereo files ensures the best streaming quality across devices.
Our standard streaming format is Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). Based on the quality of the uploaded source file, we transcode tracks into up to three AAC qualities:
- High Quality (256k or higher): Transcoded to 256k, 160k, and 96k
- Medium Quality (160k to 255k): Transcoded to 160k and 96k
- Standard Quality (Under 160k): Transcoded to 96k only