Audio mastering -- Non Broadcast

[STORMDAVE]

I am familiar with -18dB standards etc for TV stations, but just a quick question.

I am mastering audio for a project that I've in Soundtrack Pro under OSX, and under what dB levels should I keep the main level? I usually try to hit below 0dB of course, but should I stay lower? Just something I've been wondering about during this project.

All the voiceovers and video were done in Edius, music layering and sweetening will be done in SPRO.

Thanks!

[biopic]

Broadcast standards allow a bit of headroom, so that the signal can never (in theory at least) get distorted as it passes through the chain For non-broadcast projects there is no reason why you cannot get as close to 0dB FS as you like. Personally I split the difference and aim to peak at about -2dB. The variation in audio levels on commercial DVDs demonstrates that there is no rigid standard.

[SRsupport]

What is the intended distribution format

[STORMDAVE]

Thanks guys, yeah I was thinking -1dB or so, just to be safe.

The distribution format is probably going to be a 16:9 PAL DVD (I will be using PCM audio for quality purposes) and/or Betacam SP (PAL).

Once I am done with the above, I'll be going to an NTSC master, and here is the important part as well. The NTSC master will be DVCAM then DVD for replication purposes. And this is the most important part. I should be ok hovering around 0dB here?

[SRsupport]

If by around you mean under yeah. :)

[mattmatt]

"The distribution format is probably going to be a 16:9 PAL DVD (I will be using PCM audio for quality purposes) and/or Betacam SP (PAL)."

We use digital transport for out TVC's (Dubsat or Adstream) and they prefer you to use Mpeg Audio (its part of their guidlines) and preferably Program stream...

But yeah, DVD standard say around 9000kb/s is fine. But best to check the guidlines.

Also, as a tip, different networks treat video material differently - For example...
I created a 16x9 commercial and all of my graphics and text where within the 16x9 title safe area - BUT - When sedning out a 4:3 signal, one network shrunk the video to fit in on screan, fine.
Another network centre cut the commercial and my text was cut off.

The thing to be careful of is even though your commercial is 16:9, you still must adhear to 4:3 safe areas within your video. I created a .psd of a 4:3 safe area map and imported into my project so I could see both title safe areas.

[antonsvideo]

if you have Edius 4.5 4.51 or 4.52, you can add 4:3 guides to any 16:9 project

[STORMDAVE]

If by around you mean under yeah. :)

Of course. :P

As far as title safe, no worries on those. This thing is going to be blown up via a projector, so don't really care about 4:3 compatibility.

[SRsupport]

Of course. :P

This thing is going to be blown up via a projector

Ahh....That must be why you are so concerned about the audio it must explosive. :)

[mattmatt]

4:3 safe in 16:9 project? Sounds great. I'll have a look. Thanks :)

[STORMDAVE]

Ahh....That must be why you are so concerned about the audio it must explosive. :)

Just like dynamite! :D

I wish I could do surround sound, but that takes too much time. The audio is sweet, alot of action stuff. It's a documentary.