In the world of television broadcasting, audio leveling is not merely a creative choice; it is a strict legal compliance. When cinematic videos are delivered from web platforms directly to satellite channels, the audio mix often falls apart. This is primarily due to the unregulated freedom of the web versus the stringent LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) standards of broadcasting.
The Global Standard: -23 LUFS vs -14 LUFS
OTT and web platforms like YouTube or Spotify typically maintain a loudness level of -14 to -15 LUFS, with a peak level of -1 dBTP. However, when generating a master file for a television network, the global standard (such as EBU R128 or ATSC A/85) strictly dictates a target of -23 LUFS (or -24 LKFS), with a maximum true peak level restricted to -2.0 dBTP.
Our Studio's Mastering Rules
To ensure a broadcast-safe mix, we rigorously apply the following three protocols to every timeline:
- Dialogue Isolation: Before mixing background scores and VFX sounds, dialogue is isolated and locked precisely at -24 LUFS.
- Gating Protocol: To prevent silent sections from providing false readings on the loudness meter, a gating radar is implemented.
- True Peak Limiting: The ceiling of the final master limiter is permanently fixed at -2.0 dBTP.