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Audio Level Output for Broadcast
I’ve read differing advice on how to set up a reference tone when recording to BetaSP for broadcast use. Adobe’s help file says that the standard reference tone is -12db, referenced to 0db at playback. If this is correct, then in PPro I should be mixing so that audio peaks no more than 3db over -12db … right?
I’ve also heard that it’s more common to have a -6db reference tone, and mix with peaks in PPro no more than 3db over that … with the bulk of the audio just hitting -6db.
What do the pros do?
Thanks!
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5 Replies
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[RobertP] “how to set up a reference tone when recording to BetaSP for broadcast”
According to SMPTE recommended practice, reference tone should be at -20dBfs (on a digital peak meter like PPro’s) with maximum program peak at -9dBfs. This standard is used by most(if not all) broadcast operations centers in the U.S. Using this practice, if you set the SP machine record level to 0VU while PPro plays back the -20dBfs tone then you will get excellent (indeed perfect) levels on the SP machine.
Hope this helps.
Dave
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I was hoping they fixed the reference Tone level to -20dB in PremPro 2 (or made it attenuable even). Anyone know if this was done ?
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Thanks Dave!
If I read this correctly, then one would be outputting peaks at 11db over 0db to the Beta. That sounds a bit hot, unless it’s working on some non-linear volume level. I just want to verify that the -20db and the peaking at 9db are correct.
Thanks,
Robert -
The meters on the Beta are showing an RMS (average) reading on a different scale (VU) than the instantaneous peak meters of PPro. So your dB math is not entirely accurate. You kind of mixed kilos and pounds. (That’s supposed to be humorous and not derogatory.) But… using the digital meters, and max peaks at -9dBfs, you have 11dB of headroom over reference level.
The
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Dave,
Thank You Very Much for the information!!
You’ve clarified things completely!!
I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this!
Robert
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