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Preparing a TV spot in Sony Vegas Pro
I am producing a spot for Time Warner local cable. All of my work has lived in the Web world since now. A few technical questions:
– I found color bars in the Media Generator. How can I generate an audio tone?
– How do I set audio levels without a true VU meter?
– I tend to tweak levels using the volume envelope. Must I use a compressor/limiter?
– When the cable company says video not to exceed 100IRE and blacks not below 7.5IRE — are these absolutes? What if there are some fluorescent ceiling fixtures in the shot (pushing to 110), do I need to adjust the total values of the scene down below 100?
– If the cable company accepts 16:9 material, can I compose my titles within that safe area? Or do I need to worry about 4:3 viewers?
Thanks for helping me on this.
Bruce M. -
2 Replies
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Hey Bruce,
Here are my answers to your questions, based on my experience in Portland, OR:
Tone: You should be able to find tone online. You’re looking for minus 20dB.
I’d consider Vegas’ master levels meter a “true” meter. You’ll want peak levels at minus 10bB.
I use volume envelopes, too. Also, John Rofrano was kind enough to set me up a long time ago with a nifty master preset, that keeps audio all tucked in to where it needs to be. I can send you that doc if you’d like to have it.
You should be fine just using the “Broadcast Colors” VideoFX. In twenty years I’ve never used a scope and have never had a spot rejected, so I wouldn’t sweat it too much.
For 16:9 stuff, I’d recommend you ask them their requirements for what they call “safe area”; some stations here letterbox to get their SD 4:3, others do a centercut (which I still find completely frustrating… wouldn’t want to actually be able to USE the widescreen format).
Hope this helps,
–Kelly
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Thanks for helping me out. Broadcast colors simplifies getting this spot in shape.
Bruce
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