As part of Fig’s validation your file’s audio dynamics will be analyzed to ensure it has acceptable levels for broadcast. As part of this analysis Fig will check the average audio level and peak loudness.
Examples and Possible Solutions
Audio too low
A common dynamics error is when audio levels through the file are too low. Typically this is present with spots that have a music bed and no voice over or vocal track. Some broadcast systems may consider any audio below a certain level as silence. Spots with low audio should have their levels increased before uploading.
Example:
Audio level too low on channel 1.
Audio level too low on channel 2.
Possible Solution
This spot’s audio is quite low and may air in complete silence depending on the broadcast system. The average loudness of this spot is -40 dBFS
Solution: Increase the audio levels of this spot using your preferred editing software to an average dBFS of -12.
Difference between average level and peak is too low
Another error will occur if the average loudness of a spot is too close to the peak loudness. This error may indicate that the audio could be recorded with audio that’s too hot or has been equalized too much in editing so there is no separation in the audio. Spots with this error could be hard to understand if more separation isn’t added to the audio. Including bars and tone before a spot can also cause the audio dynamics to have a low separation.
Example:
Audio dynamics does not seem ideal: -4.9 dBFS (level) 0.0 dBFS (peak). The difference between audio level and maximum peak level is too low. Please note that files should not contain color bars or tone.
Possible Solution:
Audio for this spot was either recorded too high or the gain was increased too much during the editing process causing most of the audio to be 0.0 dBFS.
Solution: Re-edit this spot and bring down the audio gain to create more separation within the audio. If the source audio was recorded too hot and doesn’t contain separation there may not be a way to adjust the audio dynamics in editing.
Example:
Audio dynamics does not seem ideal: -15.1 dBFS (level) -11.0 dBFS (peak). The difference between audio level and maximum peak level is too low. Please note that files should not contain color bars or tone.
Possible Solution:
This spot has tone before the commercial that is increasing the average audio level of this file.
Solution: Remove the bars and tone and re-upload the file. Without the bars and tone this file’s dynamics are: -34.2 dBFS (level) -13.6 dBFS (peak).
Difference between average level and peak is too high
This error is typically caused by one or a few areas that have sharp peaks in audio. These peaks may cause the spots average level to be lowered drastically when passed through a station’s CALM Act systems.
Example:
Audio dynamics does not seem ideal: -36.1 LKFS (program loudness), -11.1 dBTP (true peak). The difference between program loudness and true peak is too high. Please note that files should not contain color bars or tone.
Possible Solution:
The peak in this file may cause the rest of the spot’s audio to be too low when passed through a stations CALM Act equipment.
Solution: Lower the audio gain for just the peak area to bring it closer in loudness to the average. For this example a peak of -26 dBFS may be more ideal.
Audio peak difference between channels 1 and 2 is too high
One channel of audio being too loud could indicate that audio was not properly equalized during the editing process. Another cause may be due to a loud peak or more on one channel that needs to be adjusted. Editing the audio of the spot to better equalize both channels is the best way to correct this error.
Example:
Audio peak difference between channels 1 and 2 is too high: -7.39 versus -0.91.
Possible Solution:
In this example channel 2 is louder than channel one consistently through the entire length of the spot causing an imbalance in the audio levels.
Solution: In this spot we could lower the gain on channel 2 so it better matches the levels of channel 1 or instead we could increase the gain on channel 1. Either way, this would lower the difference in volume between each channel.
Example:
Audio peak difference between channels 1 and 2 is too high: -0.01 versus -8.20.
Possible Solution:
In this example channel 1 has two noticeable peaks in the audio that are not present in channel 2.
Solution: lower the gain for just the area’s that are peaking on channel 1 to bring the levels more in line with the rest of the audio track.