Specifications, Tools, and Step-by-Step Approval Guide
DistroKid reported: "Your video duration is quite a lot different from your audio duration. Streaming services need them to be close." — This is one of the most common rejection reasons. It means your exported video clip is a different length than the audio track attached to it. Other common issues include wrong resolution, incorrect frame rate, and unsupported aspect ratio. This course teaches you how to fix all of these and get approved on the first try.
Before you can fix a rejection, you need to understand why it happened. Streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music have strict technical requirements. Here are the most common failure reasons:
This is exactly what happened in the DistroKid example. If your audio track is 3:42 but your video is 3:40, it will fail. Even a difference of a few seconds can cause rejection. The video and audio must be encoded together and match within fractions of a second.
Most services require 1920×1080 (1080p Full HD) at minimum. Some, like Apple Music and Tidal, recommend 3840×2160 (4K UHD). Submitting 720p or non-standard dimensions will cause rejection.
All major streaming services require 16:9 widescreen. Vertical (9:16), square (1:1), or letterboxed content is rejected. Make sure your canvas is set to 16:9 before you start editing.
Accepted frame rates are typically 24, 25, or 29.97 fps. Videos shot at 60fps or 120fps must be converted or exported at an accepted rate.
Services require H.264 or H.265 video codec inside an MP4 or MOV container. Files encoded with AVI, WMV, or older codecs will be rejected.
Audio must be stereo (2-channel), 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16-bit or 24-bit. Mono audio, 5.1 surround, or non-standard sample rates cause failures.
| Specification | Required Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | Widescreen — mandatory on all platforms |
| Resolution (Minimum) | 1920 × 1080 (1080p) | 4K (3840×2160) preferred for Apple/Tidal |
| Frame Rate | 24, 25, or 29.97 fps | 23.976 also accepted on most platforms |
| Video Codec | H.264 (AVC) or H.265 (HEVC) | H.264 is safest for widest compatibility |
| Container Format | MP4 or MOV | MP4 (.mp4) is the most universally accepted |
| Audio Codec | AAC or PCM | AAC-LC at 320 kbps recommended |
| Audio Channels | Stereo (2-channel) | No mono, no 5.1 surround |
| Audio Sample Rate | 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz | 48 kHz preferred for video |
| Audio Bit Depth | 16-bit or 24-bit | 24-bit preferred for quality |
| Video Bitrate | 10–50 Mbps for 1080p | Higher is better up to platform limits |
| Color Space | Rec. 709 (BT.709) | Do NOT use HDR/LOG unless platform supports it |
| Audio/Video Sync | Must match exactly | Duration difference must be <0.5 seconds |
| Platform | Min Resolution | Preferred | Max File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music | 1920×1080 | 3840×2160 (4K) | 4 GB | ProRes 422 accepted; H.264 required |
| Spotify | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 200 MB (Canvas) | Canvas videos: 3–8 sec loops, 9:16 |
| Amazon Music | 1920×1080 | 3840×2160 | 3 GB | H.264 in MP4 strongly preferred |
| Tidal | 1920×1080 | 4K HDR | 5 GB | Supports HDR10; H.265 for 4K |
| YouTube Music | 1280×720 | 3840×2160 | 256 GB | Most lenient; H.264 or VP9 |
| Deezer | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 2 GB | Standard H.264 MP4 |
| DistroKid | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 2 GB | Duration sync is critical! |
Apple is the most strict. They require H.264, 1920×1080 minimum, Rec. 709 color space, AAC audio at 44.1 kHz, and the video/audio must be within 0.1 seconds of each other. Always test with Apple's specs as your benchmark.
Industry-standard color grading + editing. Exports H.264/H.265 perfectly. Best free option for streaming-quality output.
→ Download FreeIndustry standard. Excellent export presets for all streaming services. Works seamlessly with After Effects.
→ adobe.comApple's professional editor. Best choice for Apple Music submissions. Outputs ProRes and H.264 natively.
→ apple.comGreat beginner-friendly editor. Exports 1080p H.264 MP4. Perfect for music video creators just starting out.
→ capcut.comFree, powerful video converter. Use it to re-encode any video to H.264 MP4 with the exact specs streaming services require.
→ handbrake.frThe most powerful free media tool. Can fix audio/video sync, convert codecs, adjust frame rates, and more with one command.
→ ffmpeg.orgUser-friendly FFmpeg wrapper. Drag-and-drop interface to convert to any streaming-approved format without using the command line.
→ shutterencoder.comBrowser-based converter. No software install needed. Convert to MP4 H.264 quickly from any format.
→ cloudconvert.comCheck your audio duration precisely. Use it to trim or extend audio to match your video length exactly.
→ audacityteam.orgReads every technical detail of your video file — codec, bitrate, frame rate, audio specs — before you submit. Essential verification tool.
→ mediaarea.netUse these exact settings when exporting from any editing software:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Format / Container | MP4 (.mp4) |
| Video Codec | H.264 (AVC) |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 |
| Frame Rate | 29.97 fps — Constant |
| Video Bitrate | 15–20 Mbps (VBR, 2-pass) |
| Color Space | Rec. 709 |
| Audio Codec | AAC-LC |
| Audio Bitrate | 320 kbps |
| Audio Channels | Stereo (2.0) |
| Sample Rate | 48,000 Hz (48 kHz) |
| Audio Embedded | Yes — muxed into MP4 |
If you recorded with an iPhone or Android phone, your video is likely Variable Frame Rate (VFR). This WILL cause sync issues and rejections. Always convert to Constant Frame Rate (CFR) using HandBrake or FFmpeg before submitting. In HandBrake, set Framerate to 29.97 and choose "Constant Framerate."
Run through every item below before submitting to DistroKid or any streaming service. Check each one off:
| Platform / Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apple Music for Artists | artists.apple.com |
| DistroKid Help Center | support.distrokid.com |
| Spotify for Artists | artists.spotify.com |
| Amazon Music for Artists | artists.amazonmusic.com |
| YouTube Creator Help | support.google.com/youtube |
| Tidal for Artists | support.tidal.com |
| Tool | Purpose | Link |
|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve | Professional video editor (free) | blackmagicdesign.com |
| HandBrake | Video converter — fix codec & frame rate | handbrake.fr |
| MediaInfo | Verify video specs before submission | mediaarea.net |
| Shutter Encoder | Easy drag-and-drop video converter | shutterencoder.com |
| Audacity | Fix audio duration & quality | audacityteam.org |
| FFmpeg | Command-line video/audio processing | ffmpeg.org |
| CapCut | Beginner-friendly editor (free) | capcut.com |
| CloudConvert | Online file converter (no install) | cloudconvert.com |
Before submitting any video, always open it in MediaInfo first. If your video track duration and audio track duration show different numbers, fix it before uploading. This one step alone will eliminate the most common rejection reason. Download MediaInfo free — it takes 30 seconds to check.