Using TV shows as guide mixes

[TrentWilliams]

I've been (in the last couple of days) routing certain shows through pro tools to reference final mix levels.

So far I've looked over Westworld, and Black Mirror. What other shows would you suggest would make a good reference?

[Cheesehead]

If you're using a streaming service to route through Pro Tools I don't think those levels tell you anything.

I've watched Black sails on Amazon Prime and the levels are really cranked up, even Dolby Digital decoded 5.1.
Much louder than DVD's of the same show.

They're fine to watch, but I wouldn't advise using that as any kind of reference.

Black Sails is a good show and has great sound imho.

[TVPostSound]

Originally Posted by Trent W.

I've been (in the last couple of days) routing certain shows through pro tools to reference final mix levels.

So far I've looked over Westworld, and Black Mirror. What other shows would you suggest would make a good reference?

Your ears!!

Calibrate your monitoring system to the specific medium.
Mix away, take a measurement when done.
That will tell you what your ears are saying.
If they measure hot, then raise your monitoring, measure low, lower your monitors.

After doing that for a while, I no longer have a need to compare.
I monitor at 79dB, my shows alway measure out around -22 to -23.
They sound fine on the air.

[TrentWilliams]

Thanks for the input!

I've noticed most streaming service shows have hard low pass filters around 10k. Is this an encoding thing? Or do some people actually cut off everything above 10k?