Max levels for broadcast in the UK and Europe

[Gary Nattrass]

A lot of people ask what are the max levels for broadcast delivery in the UK and most of europe so I did a short you tube clip to show the max +8 PPM:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX14GmG17nE

1khz Line up tone would be 0db=-18dbfs=4ppm=-4vu=test on this EBU scale
Max broadcast level is +8db=-10dbfs=6ppm=+4vu=+8 on this EBU scale

Note that the Master 1 dbfs meter to the left of the PPM is not showing a level of around -10dbfs this is because the meter is pre final compression, there is around 3-6db of gain reduction before final output making sure that the levels never go above +8db.

Hope this helps.

[mr.armadillo]

Actually, max. broadcast level for "most of europe" is -9dBfs.

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by mr.armadillo

Actually, max. broadcast level for "most of europe" is -9dBfs.

Thanks that will add an extra 1db safety net, people also always need to remember that max level means just that and an average of -18 to -10dbfs is best practice.

Taking the levels to the max allowed anywhere will run you the risk of a rejected programme as not all meters are calibrated the same, in the case of chromatec and on screen meters like PPMulator they are still not as accurate as an old fashioned BBC type needle PPM.

[Frank Kruse]

In Germany Studio-ref. is at +6dBu so. Max. broadcast level is:

-9dBFs=+6dBu=0dB on a DIN scale peak-meter.

Ref.-Tone is 9dB below max-level so -18dBFs or -9dB on a DIN scale meter.

Frank.

[Gary Nattrass]

More reading here:http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_293-emmett.pdf

[mr.armadillo]

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

That means: +7db=-9dbfs=5.75ppm=+3vu=+7 on this EBU scale

Thanks that will add an extra 1db safety net, people also always need to remember that max level means just that and an average of -18 to -10dbfs is best practice.

I believe you got your stuff backwards. It means:

+ 9dB = -9dbfs = 6.25 PPM (BBC)

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by mr.armadillo

I believe you got your stuff backwards. It means:

+ 9dB = -9dbfs = 6.25 PPM (BBC)

I stand corrected the great thing about standards is that there are so many of them, I was originally working to BBC and EBU specifications

[infiniteloop]

absolutely. bloody online editors turning my mixes down because their "PPM"s in the Harris SDI metering is nothing like BBC PPM ballistics.

[BobbyDazzler]

All those bits going to waste!!!

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by BobbyDazzler

All those bits going to waste!!!

Thats Numberwang!