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  #1  
Old 01-02-2009, 07:03 PM
citysoundman citysoundman is offline
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Default What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Hi everyone,

On Monday I'll be mixing some commercial TV spots for broadcast in England. I'd like to ask about broadcast specs - what is the reference level (-20 or -18dBFS?) and what is the peak max level (is it -10dBFS like U.S.?)

Thanks in advance!
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Old 01-02-2009, 07:43 PM
Chief Technician Chief Technician is offline
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Post Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Quote:
Originally Posted by citysoundman View Post
what is the reference level (-20 or -18dBFS?)
-18dBFS.
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Old 01-02-2009, 07:59 PM
citysoundman citysoundman is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Thanks Jonathan.

So would you keep the headroom at 10dB? Peaks at -8dBFS?
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Old 01-02-2009, 08:18 PM
Chief Technician Chief Technician is offline
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Exclamation Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Quote:
Originally Posted by citysoundman View Post
Thanks Jonathan.
You are welcome.

Quote:
So would you keep the headroom at 10dB? Peaks at -8dBFS?
I do not have enough confidence in my memory to answer this question.
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Old 01-03-2009, 03:25 AM
Pete Gates Pete Gates is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Quote:
Originally Posted by citysoundman View Post
On Monday I'll be mixing some commercial TV spots for broadcast in England. I'd like to ask about broadcast specs - what is the reference level (-20 or -18dBFS?) and what is the peak max level (is it -10dBFS like U.S.?)
UK TV broadcast line up is PPM4 (-18dBFS as you say), peaking at PPM6 either channel (-10dBFS as you also say). This is for the main programming, spots/adverts often have a different peak limit though (it used to be So much more straightforward before the loudness wars) - sometimes PPM5+1/2. You'll need to get a pdf/printed delivery spec unfortunately.

All the best,
Pete
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Old 01-03-2009, 06:41 AM
Gary Nattrass Gary Nattrass is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

As the guys say 1khz line up tone at -18dbfs and peaks max at -10dbfs.

Here is some useful related settings:

-18dbfs=4ppm=0db=-4vu

-10dbfs=6ppm=+8db=+4vu

Also this PPM plug in may be useful for setting to BBC or UK broadcast levels:
http://www.rawmaterialsoftware.com/ppm.php

Personally I set up my compressors so that I am peaking around 5 and a half PPM which is around -12dbfs=5.5ppm=+6db=+2vu

Line up tone for stereo also needs to be idented with a break on the left leg (the BBC spec is single break on the left leg and two breaks on the right)

Mono=lt+rt -6db

Also make sure that the record deck is calibrated for -18dbfs as a lot of the NTSC models are factory set at -20dbfs
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Old 01-03-2009, 04:39 PM
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spoons spoons is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Your 'Phasescope' has a BBC ppm settting.

But the "rawmaterials" ppm is the best choice, it's actually used inside the the beeb so it's right on the money. Plus it will write you a bit of ppm4 tone too.

I say hit 6ppm like you would -10dbfs.

Also you will need to leave 12 frames (at 25fps) mute top and tail.
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Old 01-04-2009, 07:19 AM
infiniteloop infiniteloop is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

All the advice above is sound, but I would definitely get a spec from the client, as there has very recently been a lot of discussion and rulings on commercial spot levels. Loudness meters are being used in addition to PPMs, thanks to years of abuse with DBMaxes and the like. Unfortunately, no-one except your client can tell you for sure. If it were me and unable to get advice, i'd limit it to 5PPM on the Phasescope BBC setting.
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Old 01-04-2009, 08:44 AM
citysoundman citysoundman is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

Thanks everyone - I feel pretty confident with 0vu= -18dB and peaks under -10dB. But I will definitely ask the client if he has specifics.

Quote:
Originally Posted by spoons View Post
Also you will need to leave 12 frames (at 25fps) mute top and tail.
This is interesting - Do you leave black/mute from timecode top of the hour until 12 frames in? what's the reason for this?
In my session I'll be delivering files - no tape involved. So I'll have to ask about this as well.
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  #10  
Old 01-04-2009, 09:29 AM
Gary Nattrass Gary Nattrass is offline
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Default Re: What is TV broadcast specs for the UK?

In my experience of spots pic always starts at 10:00:00:00 but the sound should start 12 frames in and for a 30 sec spot end at 10:00:29:12

This is so the start and end of the spot audio is not clipped off by the auto scheduling play back machines.

Hope this helps but as said a full spec from the broadcaster is best bet.
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