reference level discussion, please!

[AdamFrick]

hello all.

just getting my new surround stuff set up (blue sky system - sounds great....) and it recommends -20dbFS as a reference for 0dbVU which they say to reference to 85dBc.

i think (but could be mistaken) that other places i've worked (doing surround for dvd mostly) have used something closer to -12dbFS for their calibration point.

what is the standard for the various areas of our great big industry?

in my direct-to-home-video work most of the time, my practical reference level is something like -6 or -9 dbFS, though i haven't ever calibrated to that level. but what i mean is that my levels average at 6 or 9 db down, with peaks approaching -3 to 0dbFS (never over of course).

clearly this is not enough headroom and dynamic range for film work, but -20dbFS seems way too generous.

obviously in music its less of a concern since you mix in a comfortable range and then it will get mastered for the most part anyways.

opinions, facts, and thoughts please!

thanks

-adam-

[AdamFrick]

<bump>

-a-

[s2n]

The standard AES calibration for digital headroom is -18dBFS = 0.0dBVU @ +4dBu nominal level. Your 888|24 is calibrated at the factory to -18dBFS.

[sdevino]

There was a 6 page thread on this not too long ago. So everyone is gun shy. Start with the factory -18dBFS, you will not be dissappointed.

[I AM]

Hi,

You should be safe with -18dBFS ~0 VU, although BobKatz recommends -20, .....we use -20.

check out www.digido.com articles, level practices Parts I & II.

al [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AE]

18 or 20 dB headroom sounds like a lot, but really isn't when you consider that the margin between peak and average levels can easily fall in the 15 to 18 dB range.

[Mike Tholen]

can someone point him in the direction of that 'one' huuuge thread 'bout this stuff? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[AdamFrick]

i'll do the search for the old thread - thought i had searched already but i guess not hard enough.

sorry, and THANKS FOR THE TIPS!!!

-a-

[Avid]

Do you mean this 13 page topic, from the Tips forum?...

Pro Tools TDM Tips & Techniques * » setting record levels into ProTools with the intent of mixing in ProTools
http://duc.d igidesign.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=005504

a search on:
mixing level
Tips forum
Subject Only

also brought up a thread from a couple of years ago:
Pro Tools TDM Tips & Techniques * » Recording and Mixing Levels
http://duc.digidesign.com/cgi-bin/ub...c&f=2&t=003088

add. search tips...
A search for -
record level

would also bring up both of those topic subjects, and probably a few more.
Narrow searches are a lot faster than broad searches, though, if you have an idea what words might have been in the Subject, and particularly which forum to search rather than "all forums". I'll generally try a few individual forums before resorting to the All search.

[Avid]

a search on -
reference level

brings up the topic we're in, and another one also in this Pro Tools TDM for Mac OS forum:

http://duc. digidesign.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=16&t=009551
Calibration/Reference levels

and 2 in the Pro Tools TDM Tips & Techniques forum:
http://duc.d igidesign.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=002884
reference levels in audio post for video
http://duc.d igidesign.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=006029
Reference Levels ( -20=0 vs the Dynamic Range)