What is the mixing reference level for TV and DVD

[critictalk]

HI,
I'm a new comer in audio engineeringand working in a postprduction studio.
I know that for TV stereo mixing the maximum level is -10 in Protools.But how about DVD stereo mixing?
I tried to extract the stereo mixes from some DVDs into Protools and found out that the maximum level is -1. However, the dialogue level is just -14, mostly.
I really want to know what are the reference levels for TV, DVD, etc.
By the way, it is hard to me to keep the level to -10 if there are so much 'dramtic' SFX or music.
Is there any advice for me?

Pls Help

[RecRoom]

NEW UPDATED Room Calibration for Film and TV Post

[[email protected]]

-10dBfs is what I use. The Massey 2007 mastering limiter is a great little low cost plug in to stick into your mastering channel, along with the free RNDigital inspector, that will keep those peaks where they belong. Commercials here in Oz can go to -9dBfs, so I reset the Massey to brickwall at that level.
If you master for TV, it should be fine for DVD.
cheers,
John.

[critictalk]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

-10dBfs is what I use. The Massey 2007 mastering limiter is a great little low cost plug in to stick into your mastering channel, along with the free RNDigital inspector, that will keep those peaks where they belong. Commercials here in Oz can go to -9dBfs, so I reset the Massey to brickwall at that level.
If you master for TV, it should be fine for DVD.
cheers,
John.

Thx!
However, I wonder if TV can accept something more than -9dBfs. For example, with some action movies, it is hard to me to limit the mixing level to -9dBfs, because if I limit/compress too much, some SFX just 'crash' together, sound terrible!!

[[email protected]]

Usually you'll find there'll be delivery specs. Some use PPM, some use dBfs, some use the Dolby number system. The problem (apart from maybe getting the programme rejected) with TV transmission, is that if you do start exceeding peak levels, your signal will smack into the peak limiters that stations have to protect their transmission gear. Admittedly things have changed a bit with digital transmitters, but you'll still find the engineers who set up these things are fairly savage when it comes to be protective with peak levels.
With action stuff, it gets a bit tricky. You may have to compress individual fx to get the impact you need, or use dynamic trickery in your mixing to give more impact to extra loud bits.
Film stuff is a bit easier in that respect

[critictalk]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Usually you'll find there'll be delivery specs. Some use PPM, some use dBfs, some use the Dolby number system. The problem (apart from maybe getting the programme rejected) with TV transmission, is that if you do start exceeding peak levels, your signal will smack into the peak limiters that stations have to protect their transmission gear. Admittedly things have changed a bit with digital transmitters, but you'll still find the engineers who set up these things are fairly savage when it comes to be protective with peak levels.
With action stuff, it gets a bit tricky. You may have to compress individual fx to get the impact you need, or use dynamic trickery in your mixing to give more impact to extra loud bits.
Film stuff is a bit easier in that respect

Thx
Usually I use Maxim for compress/limit
Are there any better compressors/limiters?

[SpaceCommand]

Originally Posted by critictalk

Thx!
However, I wonder if TV can accept something more than -9dBfs. For example, with some action movies, it is hard to me to limit the mixing level to -9dBfs, because if I limit/compress too much, some SFX just 'crash' together, sound terrible!!

Recently I have had specs with peaks anywhere from 0 dBFS (with less than 3 consecutive overs) ,-2 dBFS, -6 dBFS, and -10 dBFS. It really depends on the network.

[laki]

Originally Posted by critictalk

Thx
Usually I use Maxim for compress/limit
Are there any better compressors/limiters?

Just about any other Limiter out there.

But seriously......

For Limiting:
Waves L2
McDsp ML4000
Massey Limiter

For Compressing:
Waves RComp

[Ryan Young]

Originally Posted by laki

Just about any other Limiter out there.

But seriously......

For Limiting:
Waves L2
McDsp ML4000
Massey Limiter

For Compressing:
Waves RComp

Took the words right outta my mouth! Try the Massey one though. It was my go-to limiter for years before I got the waves L2.

[mr.armadillo]

The L2 was my go-to limiter for years before I got the Massey L2007. At this price, it's pretty much a no-brainer.