Optimal levels for tv ads

[Angryyouth]

Hi, i'm working on audio post for tv ads, comming from a Music mixing carreer i'm use to deliver my mixes and masters with levels picking at 0.1 dBfs or so. What aré de optimal levels for delivering a mix to a tv network?

[gsilbers]

it varies depending on the client. ask for a spec sheet or call the network.

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by Angryyouth

Hi, i'm working on audio post for tv ads, comming from a Music mixing carreer i'm use to deliver my mixes and masters with levels picking at 0.1 dBfs or so. What aré de optimal levels for delivering a mix to a tv network?

This is up for debate, but -8dBFS is generally considered safe.

[Kuba_Pietrzak]

In the UK -10, continental Europe -9

Kuba

[tom_lowe]

Originally Posted by Kuba_Pietrzak

In the UK -10, continental Europe -9

Kuba

Ads in the UK are actually a little more complicated than programme material.

This is from the C4 website:
Note: this is an interim specification pending full agreement between UK broadcasters on standard specification for advertising copy delivery.

Channel Four policy and the BCAP code (rule 6.9) require that audio signal levels should have a consistency of perceived loudness such that the viewer does not need to adjust receiver volume between programmes, junctions and advertising breaks.

Audio loudness is to be measured using equipment operating with the ITU-R BS1770 characteristic. The reference level must be set to -18dBFS and the rolling integration window set to 4 seconds. Audio level measurement is a two stage process:

1) The audio level must be adjusted such that the maximum ITU loudness reading reaches at least -3dB on the scale and does not exceed 0dB.

2) In addition, audio must be further limited, if necessary, such that a Peak Programme Meter type IIa does not register over PPM 6 at any point during the item. This may result in a reduced ITU loudness level in some circumstances.

--------------

Also, in theory, PPM6 is -10dBFS, but due to the slow integration time of proper PPM meters compared to dbFS meters, you can sometimes push this a littler higher.

[El-Sid]

Originally Posted by Kuba_Pietrzak

In the UK -10, continental Europe -9

Kuba

thats not quite the full story (at least not here in europe):
officialy the material is measured by an analogue DIN ppm meter with an attack of 10ms where 0(zero) = -9dbfs.
the material shouldnt go above 0 on the ppm. but because it has 10ms attack time some transients can and do go above that level, and that is ok.

i think in the UK its almost the same but a BBC ppm is used with very slightly different reference level to dbfs.

Sid

[Kuba_Pietrzak]

I know, it is not so simple... but:

- I've seen spots rejected, because level was higher than -9dBFS - it might depend of the particular broadcaster;
- I've also seen specs from UK media house, which says about -10dBFS and nothing about PPM;

I also know, that there are more aspects like overall loudness for example.

Just wanted to give simple answer.

As for UK, I also noticed, that most ads are mixed in a different way, than in the continental Europe.

Regards,
Kuba

[tom_lowe]

What do you mean by "ads are mixed in a different way" in the UK?

[rhumphries]

Originally Posted by tom_lowe

What do you mean by "ads are mixed in a different way" in the UK?

Car pass bys are panned right to left in the UK.

[Big Andy]

-∞dBFS

[Kuba_Pietrzak]

Originally Posted by tom_lowe

What do you mean by "ads are mixed in a different way" in the UK?

This is mostly about compression. And overall eq a little too.

Here in Poland we had ads mixed in the UK, and they sounded really different comparing to ones mixed locally or even those, which were done in Germany, Sweden or France.

Kuba

[tom_lowe]

Originally Posted by Kuba_Pietrzak

This is mostly about compression. And overall eq a little too.

Here in Poland we had ads mixed in the UK, and they sounded really different comparing to ones mixed locally or even those, which were done in Germany, Sweden or France.

Kuba

for some reason European stuff seems to be quieter overall, we probably have a slightly more American approach to ads.

It's the same with TV done in Europe - dialogue levels tend to be more dynamic and less controlled, although some monkeys working here can't figure out how to get good dialogue levels.

What can I say, I guess they don't have the heritage of the BBC ;-)

[Surbitone]

Either -144dbfs for 24bit audio or -96dbfs for 16bit.