PBS specs

[Kerry Brown]

https://www.pbs.org/producers/redbook/

KB

[Scott Davis]

Thanks Tony,

its sdavisj@hotmail.com

[Dave Allen]

Tape TC starts at 58;00;00 df

At 58;30;00 – 60 seconds of SMPTE bars and tone. Stereo programs require “PBS Stereo Leader”. (PBS Toolkit?)
10 seconds black
59;40;00 Slate -Show name,Texted or Textless, duration,audio config and date
Count down starts at 59;50;00 and runs downfrom 10 till 2 pops on for 2 fr at 59;58;00 to 59;58;02

Show starts at 1;00;00;00 staiight up.

PBS Usually requires a Texted and Textless version.
By textless they mean even the title sequence, GFX used in show, credits, lower thirds etc.

The default “make legal” effect in the color correction section will meet PBS video specs except for horizontal blanking width which only comes up on archival footage. If you see a black edge on the clip in your canvas larger than one on a recent footage shot, blow it up till black edge is gone.

White titles/lower thirds at 95ire to be safe. Chroma in titles should lean towards pastel rather than intense. Put make legal on top of everything to be safe.

Audio levels are measured by analog VU meters. There should be no peaks on an analog meter past plus3.
Plus 1 or 2 to be safe because meters vary. Mild compression helps.

TR 1&2 = stereo full mix left and right

TR 3&4 = Stereo M-E-D Mix, effects and dialogue with no narration

[Bruce Jacobs]

As one of it’s authors, I’m pretty well convinced that TOS2005 is the current version. (not 2000).

TOS2005 was a radical re-write. The TOS is now MUCH shorter and all the analog language is gone. Key changes included allowing 480 line vertical blanking, digibeta and HDCam are the only submission formats (without an extra fee), dialog levels must be measured with an LEQ(A) meter and be set to -27 dBFS (this may get changed to -24), peaks above -10 are now allowed for dramatic moments.

This thread is incorrect – Track 3 must have Descriptive Video or a mono mix and track 4 must have seconday language or mono mix.

I’ve asked if the TOS can be posted on the public site, along with the Red Book.

We are in the midst of another rewrite, and welcome your suggestions by reply to this message. Likely changes will include fixing Dolby E timing confusion, limiting audio peaks to -3 dBFS, introducing language for future submission as an MXF(IMX) file, and guidance regarding HDV.