DVD for film festival release - question on levels

[djgizmo]

I'm working on a project (a low/no) which is anticipating in entering Gasparilla Film Festival. (the project team all live in the Tampa bay area)

I believe I understand the levels are -20dBfs = 0VU = 85dB for Theatrical release and -20dBfs = 0VU = 79dB for DVD Release.

However since this projects main platform release will be on DVD, I'm unsure how to best approach the finalization of the levels.

Do I mix for DVD and then make another pass and compress less for the Theatrical version? or vice versa?

Also, I've read through several of the stickies and of site links (from the stickies), however I don't see any solid information on what the final limiter should be set to typically for either Theatrical or DVD release.

Thank you for any assistance or advice.

[eoats]

I would ask the people putting the festival together about it. They should be able to provide specs as to what they want to get & I've often been able to get through to some one technical who could answer my questions. It might help to have the disk labeled with the info about what level it was mixed at.

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by djgizmo

I'm working on a project (a low/no) which is anticipating in entering Gasparilla Film Festival. (the project team all live in the Tampa bay area)

I believe I understand the levels are -20dBfs = 0VU = 85dB for Theatrical release and -20dBfs = 0VU = 79dB for DVD Release.

However since this projects main platform release will be on DVD, I'm unsure how to best approach the finalization of the levels.

Do I mix for DVD and then make another pass and compress less for the Theatrical version? or vice versa?

Also, I've read through several of the stickies and of site links (from the stickies), however I don't see any solid information on what the final limiter should be set to typically for either Theatrical or DVD release.

Thank you for any assistance or advice.

Those levels are more about the mix room calibration than the release cal. If you're mixing at 85 dBSPL in a small room, the room compression itself will make you mix light. Optimally, you should mix in a room that is something like the target; of course, that's not always possible. We mix at 79, test at 85 for our film festival releases. Film festival people are not likely to understand what you're talking about, FWIW, but it's worth a shot I guess.

I'll be interested to hear what they say, if you get feedback.

Thanks!

[philper]

You can make your DVD any level loudness you want. If you are much outside a general norm of peaks between -10 and -1 or so, you may get complaints, but remember that the festival will decide how loud to play your DVD in any case, no matter what level you use. If they are showing the film in a Dolby calibrated theatre, then the levels discussed above will work out to around 85.
Keep in mind that in small screening rooms 85 will seem very loud--85 really works when the listener is at some distance from the speakers.

I VERY much agree with KK that if you mix at 85 in a smallish room your mix will be light--it's just too loud for that space. The new ATSC "Mix Levels for Motion Picture Release" docs has good rec.s for monitor levels re room size. I've implemented them and the mix translation to larger spaces @ higher levels is working well.

phil p

[neilwilkes]

Originally Posted by philper

I VERY much agree with KK that if you mix at 85 in a smallish room your mix will be light--it's just too loud for that space. The new ATSC "Mix Levels for Motion Picture Release" docs has good rec.s for monitor levels re room size. I've implemented them and the mix translation to larger spaces @ higher levels is working well.

phil p

Any chance of a URL for those docs, please?

[djgizmo]

Originally Posted by kk@jamsync.com

Those levels are more about the mix room calibration than the release cal. If you're mixing at 85 dBSPL in a small room, the room compression itself will make you mix light. Optimally, you should mix in a room that is something like the target; of course, that's not always possible. We mix at 79, test at 85 for our film festival releases. Film festival people are not likely to understand what you're talking about, FWIW, but it's worth a shot I guess.

I'll be interested to hear what they say, if you get feedback.

Thanks!

Thank you for your feedback as always. I should have said, I have my small room calibrated for 79. I wanted to express that I understood the concept, I'm just a bit nervous for delivery. I've reached out to the film festival and hope they'll respond.

[vudoo]

This set up seems to work rather well for me.....

My mix room is small so i mix at -20dbfs = 0 VU @ 79 db SPL

I usually get asked for 5.1 and Stereo ( LoRo ) for theater and DVD. I'm set up so that i can monitor my 5.1 and stereo downmix mix at all time. I basically just mix til it sounds good while checking the meters sporadically, i notice my levels would peak at around -3 dbfs and once i manage to crank out a a good 5.1 mix, then the stereo version will take care of itself without hardly any touch up.

From experience, i found most people at film festivals have no clue about all this technical stuff. The best way to learn is to attend the screening, this way, you'll find out how your mix translates in different screening environment. Good luck.

[dr.sound]

Here is a link :
http://www.atsc.org/cms/standards/a_85-2009.pdf
Page 68
==================================
Room Volume in Cubic Feet SPL in dB re 20 μN/m2
I, II SPL
> 20,000--------------- 85*
10,000 < 19,999---------------- 82
5,000 < 9,999---------------- 80
1,500 < 4,999----------------- 78
< 1,499---------------- 76

To figure out cubic feet of your room:
http://www.autocalculator.org/Calcul...t-formula.aspx