Mixing Level (RMS? PEAK?)

showstopper168 · 30th August 2010

Hi there,
I just wanna get clear about levels. I see lots of mixer were talking about mixing dialogue and bouncing around -20dbfs, so on so forth. around they referring to the RMS or PEAK? I assume they are referring those levels to rms, but I just want to get clear. Thanks.

El-Sid · 30th August 2010

my way is (cinema mixes (not TV, broadcast etc.)..for normal dialogue (mid-close shots)):
-peaks to around -20dbfs (can go higher).
-rms to around -30 to -27 dbfs rms measured with a true rms meter (i think wavelab 6 has one for example or the rme digicheck etc.)

best practice though by far is to calibrate your room (large room to 85db spl or smaller to 79db spl) and mix by ear...

do a search here on how to do that properly.

hope that helps you.
(and will be glad if some others might correct my input/suggestion if they find it way off; although have never had a recall on those grounds) ;-)
Sid

vandahl · 30th August 2010

Here's a quote from a standard spec sheet:

ADR levels should be:
a. Normal speech level equals -1 to 0 vu (-20 dbfs)
b. loud speech or yelling will not exceed -18 vu (-2 dbfs)

This is peak. Though I tend to record dialogue a little hotter, about 6 dB or higher than recommended before mixing it as recommended. I would love to hear more about how others do it!

mikevarela · 31st August 2010

El-Cid was right.

You need to calibrate your room FIRST. There ae several posts, but one by Dr. Sound works well, at least for ATSC (TV Mixing). Film calibration is usually 85dbspl, however, as you room gets smaller (think bedroom, office convert, garage etc...) you'll need to adjust your measured level closer to something like 79-82, depending on room size (again, read the post - it's over at the DUC)

Then, once calibrated, you'll mix by ear - which will generally give you RMS dialogue of around -31 to -27, but this is not set in stone. For film mixes, you have almost the entire headroom for short stints of loudness, but be careful not to over use this.

The trick is to anchor the dialogue by mixing it first, or at least one-passing it, then mix everything else around that.

30th August 2010	#1
showstopper168 Gear Head Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 62 Thread Starter	Mixing Level (RMS? PEAK?) Hi there, I just wanna get clear about levels. I see lots of mixer were talking about mixing dialogue and bouncing around -20dbfs, so on so forth. around they referring to the RMS or PEAK? I assume they are referring those levels to rms, but I just want to get clear. Thanks.

30th August 2010	#3
vandahl Gear Head Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Montreal, Québec, Canada Posts: 33	I'm curious myself... Here's a quote from a standard spec sheet: ADR levels should be: a. Normal speech level equals -1 to 0 vu (-20 dbfs) b. loud speech or yelling will not exceed -18 vu (-2 dbfs) This is peak. Though I tend to record dialogue a little hotter, about 6 dB or higher than recommended before mixing it as recommended. I would love to hear more about how others do it!

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30th August 2010	#2
El-Sid Gear interested Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 18	my way is (cinema mixes (not TV, broadcast etc.)..for normal dialogue (mid-close shots)): -peaks to around -20dbfs (can go higher). -rms to around -30 to -27 dbfs rms measured with a true rms meter (i think wavelab 6 has one for example or the rme digicheck etc.) best practice though by far is to calibrate your room (large room to 85db spl or smaller to 79db spl) and mix by ear... do a search here on how to do that properly. hope that helps you. (and will be glad if some others might correct my input/suggestion if they find it way off; although have never had a recall on those grounds) ;-) Sid

31st August 2010	#4
mikevarela Gear addict Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 412	El-Cid was right. You need to calibrate your room FIRST. There ae several posts, but one by Dr. Sound works well, at least for ATSC (TV Mixing). Film calibration is usually 85dbspl, however, as you room gets smaller (think bedroom, office convert, garage etc...) you'll need to adjust your measured level closer to something like 79-82, depending on room size (again, read the post - it's over at the DUC) Then, once calibrated, you'll mix by ear - which will generally give you RMS dialogue of around -31 to -27, but this is not set in stone. For film mixes, you have almost the entire headroom for short stints of loudness, but be careful not to over use this. The trick is to anchor the dialogue by mixing it first, or at least one-passing it, then mix everything else around that.