• Apple Final Cut Pro

  Loudness and broadcast

  Posted by Pam Picard on February 25, 2014 at 3:26 pm

  Hi there –

  I have finished a :30 spot for a client and now starting to look at the broadcast specs. Can anyone guide me through what is required for the audio (specifically the Loudness Meter).

  Spot has been cut on FCPX.

  Thanks,
  Pam

  Helge Tjelta replied 12 years, 3 months ago 7 Members · 7 Replies
• 7 Replies

• 

  John Fishback

  February 25, 2014 at 4:22 pm

  You might want post in the Audio Professionals forum. Perhaps a search there will uncover a useful workflow. You have a lot of powerful audio tools in FCPX, but I’m not sure there’s an appropriate metering tool.

  John

  MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.8.4, QT10.1, Kona 3, Dual Cinema 23, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
  FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.3, Motion 4.0.3, Comp 3.5.3, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.3)
  FCP-X 10.0.9, Motion 5.0.7, Compressor 4.0.7

  Pro Tools HD 10 w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec DSP Monitors, Prima CDQ120 ISDN
• 

  Jari Innanen

  February 25, 2014 at 6:09 pm

  Pam, make your spot project a Compound clip and then apply a loudness meter to that “master channel”. I use VisLM by Nugen Audio and am very pleased with it. Just make sure the meter plugin is AU compatible.
• 

  Jeremy Garchow

  February 25, 2014 at 7:53 pm

  I don’t know if you have Adobe Audition but they have a pretty wickedly fast Clam Act filter that you can use on your final mix. Magic Feather has a quick tutorial here: https://magicfeatherfilms.com/?p=30
• 

  Jari Innanen

  February 25, 2014 at 8:06 pm

  The standalone LoudnessChange does the same as CalmAct filter does, but you have to mix the master first. There you need the Loudness Meter.
• 

  Paul Figgiani

  February 26, 2014 at 4:49 am

  [Pam Picard] “Hi there –

  I have finished a :30 spot for a client and now starting to look at the broadcast specs. Can anyone guide me through what is required for the audio (specifically the Loudness Meter).

  Spot has been cut on FCPX.

  Thanks,
  Pam”

  Pam,

  What are the specific specs for Program (Integrated) Loudness, Loudness Range, and True Peak? The client may have also specified Momentary and Short Terms Loudness targets …

  As far as a meter – indeed Nugen’s VisLM is excellent. Waves latest release of their WLM Plus meter has some nice features. Mainly a built in True Peak Limiter and Gain compensation. And best bang for the buck is TB EBULoudness by ToneBoosters.

  And yes – you’ll need to work with a Compound Clip or a bounced version of your mix …

  -paul.
• 

  Joseph W. bourke

  February 27, 2014 at 12:48 am

  Bear in mind that it’s going to depend on where it airs. Every station has a spec sheet – you can usually get one through their production or sales department, or online at the station website. Here’s an example of one – audio specs on page 8 or 9:
  https://www.maoritelevision.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2012%20Commercial%20Production%20Standard%20-%20Final%20May.pdf

  Joe Bourke
  Owner/Creative Director
  Bourke Media
  http://www.bourkemedia.com
• 

  Helge Tjelta

  February 27, 2014 at 7:45 pm

  Hi Pam, it all depends on the spect for the channel. In europe, we now have a standard called R-128. When broadcasters accept things following this spec, it means that the integrated loudness should stay at -23dBFS, that is the precieved loudness should be around -23dBFS, this gives us a dynamicly headroom for 23 dB of true peak. This is the loundness war is over…

  But, many broadcaster has not yet adjusted to R-128, so if they say -9dBFS peak level, that means you must compress you stuff alot to stay at the same level as others… Just don’t peak over. This is the loudness war is still on going.

  So check to se if the broadcaster has loudnes metering or peak metering in their specs.
  /Helge

  Helge

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up