The Netflix loudness level
The Netflix Sound Mix Specifications & Best Practices was first published in 2018.
It is now in version 1.4 and the “Netflix loudness level” is supported in Fairlight in Resolve and in Nugen Vislm 2 plugin in Resolve and Pro Tools.
Netflix found that a
-27 (+/-2) LKFS dialogue gated loudness level with Max true peak -2
matches a lot of films and decides to use it as their loudness level.
When I checked the Netflix loudness level on feature film DCPs I have worked on I found:
- Theatrical mixes also usually have -27 (+/-2)
- Dialogue sound levels can vary between countries. Some can be as low as -32.
- Drama films can have a lower dialogue level than action films. Normal dialogue parts of a movie can be -30, while action parts can be louder resulting in -27.
Read more about different Loudness levels in DCPs in this post.
There is no loudness setting for an 85 dB SPL theatre sound mix in Resolve and loudness plugins. But the Netflix loudness level can be used as a reference.
The Netflix loudness level compared to 85 dB SPL theatre sound mixes
- Netflix max true peak is -2, while on theatrical mixes True Peak is often max 0
- Netflix small near-field mixing rooms is calibrated to 79 or 82 dB SPL reference level and a low to moderate X-curve. Large mixing rooms are calibrated to 85 dB SPL and use a normal/modified X-Curve.
- 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 standard uses the Dolby algorithm (dialnorm) for measuring dialogue gated 1770 LUFS/LKFS loudness. This algorithm measures only dialogue, while Program gated loudness used in 1770–3/4/EBU R128 does not measure parts of the movie with low sounds.
- 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.
- Recommended loudness range (LRA) in the Netflix loudness standard:
-5.1 program – LRA between 4 and 18 LRA
-Dialogue – LRA of 10 LU or less
Theatrical mixes often have a higher loudness range.
You can check the Netflix loudness level on films in Resolve,
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.
True Peak -0.1 dBFS.
(It does not measure LRA)
Normalizing the Netflix Loudness Level in Resolve
If I want to lower this to True Peak -2 and a Netflix Loudness level -28.6 I use Normalize Audio Levels.
Close Normalize Audio Levels
Right-click the audio and choose
Normalize Audio Levels
Normalization Mode = True Peak
Target level = -2 dBTP
and then click Normalize
Measuring the Netflix loudness level in the Vislm plugin
You can measure the Netflix Loudness level in Nugen Vislm 2 plugin in Resolve and Pro tools Ultimate. The Vislm plugin also measures program LRA and dialogue LRA.
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
Analyze the audio
Right-click the audio
Choose Analyze audio
Choose Nugen VisLM2 or Insight and click Analyze
Results:
Integrated (dial) -26.7. (40%)
LRA 19.8,
LRA (dial) 14.1,
True Peak (TP) (max) -0.1
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
How does this NETFLIX metering system compare to what youtube uses?
EBU R128 -23 would appear to be 9 dB quieter than the -14dB that Youtube apparently limits to. But I’m wondering if the NETFLIX meter has different ballistics that make it respond differently.
Do you consider youtube (and other platforms) as a “wild west” compared to the fairly strict film industry or has that changed in recent years?
The Youtube loudness of -14 LKFS with max peak at -1 can’t reach the same kind of dynamic range as a Netflix mix, theatrical mix or -24 program gated mix. Youtube only lowers mixes that are too loud to that level, so instead of lowering the dynamics of a mix to achieve -14 you can keep at a lower level.
The Netflix 1.4 specification has more strict rules and recommendations than a theatrical mix:
But it is the closest neighbor to a theatrical mix because it was made to preserve dynamic range compared to program gated loudness standards like EBU R128.
The Netflix 79/82 dbc near field mixing room is similar to an 85 dbC cinema. How wet/dry the auditorium is important for how a theatrical mix will sound. Rec. ITU-R BS 1116-3 has more info on how reverberation time is measured in small and large rooms. Larger room can have more reverberation time, near-field mixing room typically have no reverberation time and a dry sound, while most cinemas have more reverberation time and a wetter sound.
For -14 Youtube loudness mix the -20 RMS pink noise at fader level 0 would be set to a lower dbC than 79/82/85.
The Netflix dialogue gated loudness = -27 (+/-2) can fit both 82 and 85 dBC levels, drama films can be lower in theatrical mixes. In a youtube mix this would be higher.
The Netflix dialogue recommended loudness range (LRA) of 10 LU or less. in a theatrical mix this can be more, but in youtube mix it would be less.
The Netflix 5.1 recommended program LRA can be between 4 and 18 LU. in a theatrical mix this can be more, but in youtube mix it would be less.