Delivering a mix on digi betacam for broadcast in the UK

[rgames]

Few broadcast questions here from a guy who normally doesn't do broadcast work...

I'm delivering a mix (music, dialog, sfx) that will eventually be transferred to digibeta for broadcast in the UK. So, a few questions:

1. The digibeta audio format is 20 bits, but I'm delivering only the .wav files to the editor, which are either 16 bit or 24 bit. So I'm going to dither down to 20 bits but deliver in a 24 bit format. How does the audio actually get transferred onto the digibeta tape? Obviously there's a truncation somewhere but I don't know where/how.

2. The broadacster asks for two types of mixes: "full stereo mix" and "full mix minus". What is full mix minus?

Thanks in advance,

rgames

[Disco Cubist]

Hi,

Mix minus is same as m&e - programme minus voice.

What type of programme is it?

[Danno]

It really should not matter. If the video editor/engineer is using a DAW he can import whatever sample you send... so send your best. If he is dubbing direct to digi-beta, (total finish content from you) then it will most likely be from his analog gear board. I often send an authored CD with all cuts (Full Mix, Mix w/efx, Mix w/o efx and Mix-minus - as a backup, for a production house that I am unfamiliar with. Does not hurt to ask the audio engineer or editor at the house what they would prefer. There is no standard answer as each house seems to do things differently!

mix-minus can mean several things, depending on the content and what the house is looking to do. Some want music only w/o EFX. For sports, it is the stereo mixed nat (natural) sound, including music stingers, efx, crowd noise, etc. without any commentary. But, yeah - generally mix-minus is everything but the voice content.

Dan

[Mundox]

Mix Minus or M&E means Mix without the narration over here.

So all other sync dialogue is included in the M&E.

Just make the file 16bit48k, that is pretty much the standard for Digi laybacks.

[rgames]

Thanks - I figured "mix minus" had to do with some type of dialog removal, but I'm still not really sure. Waiting for clarification on that one. The only time I've come across the term "mix minus" was in live sound where you send a feed without some element, like what goes back to someone on the phone in a live call-in situation. You send him back the mix without his audio. Obviously that doesn't apply here.

The show is for Travel Channel International, I believe. Not actually sure.

I was curious about the transfer to digibeta because I've never had to deal with it before.

Thanks again, very helpful!

rgames

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by rgames

Few broadcast questions here from a guy who normally doesn't do broadcast work...

I'm delivering a mix (music, dialog, sfx) that will eventually be transferred to digibeta for broadcast in the UK. So, a few questions:

1. The digibeta audio format is 20 bits, but I'm delivering only the .wav files to the editor, which are either 16 bit or 24 bit. So I'm going to dither down to 20 bits but deliver in a 24 bit format. How does the audio actually get transferred onto the digibeta tape? Obviously there's a truncation somewhere but I don't know where/how.

2. The broadacster asks for two types of mixes: "full stereo mix" and "full mix minus". What is full mix minus?

Thanks in advance,

rgames

If you have 24-bit, then dither it to 20 before you lay back. Truncation will happen but all is good because you're already dithered (the rule is "dither then truncate").

For 16-bit, leave it alone. You don't want to add extra noise if you don't have to. When you export 16-bit to 24-bit, the last eight bits will be zeros already. Digibeta will just truncate the last four. No quantization error involved.