The Netflix sound specification says that theatrical mixes:
- have no loudness level limit
- true peak limit is 0
But a Netflix dialogue loudness level of 29 (+/- 3) is normal on feature film DCPs.
Read more in this post.
When Netflix looked for a sound standard, they found that
-27 (+/-2) LKFS dialogue gated loudness level
matches a lot of films. The Netflix loudness standard uses the Dolby algorithm (dialnorm) for measuring dialogue gated 1770 LUFS/LKFS loudness.
The Netflix loudness level of -27 (+/-2) is intended for films mixed in a small room calibrated to 79 or 82dB SPL. The dialogue level in an 85 dB SPL cinema mix can be lower, but 82 dB in a small room can translate to 85 dB in a larger room.
The Netflix Loudness Level meter in Resolve or a loudness plugin like Nugen Visml2 can be used to check films.
If a film has 15 percent dialogue or less Netflix state that you should use a -24 LKFS program gated loudness level instead (-24db LKFS +/- 2 ITU BS 1770-3). Program gated loudness can vary a lot on movie theatre mixes.
Netflix also gives a recommended loudness range (LRA).
-5.1 program LRA between 4 and 18 LU
-Dialogue LRA of 10 LU or less
Cinema mixes often have a higher loudness range.
Some ways you can measure the Netflix loudness level:
-The Fairlight module in Resolve
-The Nugen Vislm 2and Izotope Insight 2 plugin plugin in Resolve
-The Nugen Vislm 2 plugin in Pro tools Ultimate.
You can also use Vislm to measure the TASA Leq(m) 85 level on trailers.
Measuring the Netflix loudness level in Resolve
In the Fairlight module in Resolve
Right-click the audio
Choose Analyze audio
Choose the loudness standard Netflix and click analyze
Result
Integrated -26.7. Dialogue 39 percent.
It does not measure LRA.
True Peak -0.1 dBFS.
Measuring the Netflix loudness level in the Vislm/Insight plugins
In Resolve
In the Fairlight module in Resolve
Set Netflix 5.1 as the default
Drag the Nugen VisLM2 VST effects to the 5.1 sound track and choose
Options – 12 Netflix 5.1
Choose current as the default
If using Insight choose Netflix as the target.
To remove it, you can click on the trashcan after the name of the plugin in the inspector (Effects)
Right-click the audio
Choose Analyze audio
Choose Nugen VisLM2 or Insight and click Analyze
Results:
Integrated (dial) -26.7.
LRA 19.8,
LRA (dial) 14.1,
TP (max) 0.1
Measuring the Netflix loudness level in the Vislm plugin
In Pro Tools Ultimate
- Add track
- Track- new
- 5.1
Drag the 5.1 mix to the 5.1 track
- Click on the 5.1 track
- Audiosuite – Sound Field – Nugen Visml2
- Click on options and choose Netflix 5.1
- Loudness
- Analyze