EBU Broadcast workflow and LU to high

[Mv128046389]

Hi

So i am making a 15sec TV commercial, but the speak has a big gap in it + the end subtle music ending in a fade. My problem is first of all that the LU is 3.0.
But how would i go about lowering it without it getting all muddy.
i think its to much of a jump in the audio level for that short amount of time.

This got me thinking that maybe its my workflow thats way of.

i process the the timed and cut voice via RX connect (plugin), do minor tweeks in AU, then create a mixdown and run that through match loudness at EBU R128 settings.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Can't tell a thing from the tracks in isolation in Multitrack view. With most commercials you have to mix them down so that they sound good, then look at the LUFS value. If you end up with a measured value of -3 and you want -23, then you have to take 20dB off the overall level. But I find your LUFS value of 3 rather hard to understand in this context - do you mean -3? The sign is significant. Besides that, a value of -3 would have all the audio banging hard against the meters. So what does it really measure on the mixed-down version?

[Mv128046389]

Hi Steve

my LUFS reading is fine, i am only talking about my LU.

Sorry i forgot to paste the loudness meter from the mixdown. (its attached down below)

This i measured after i have exported the project out as a mixdown, and used Match Loudness to adhere to adhere to the EBU R128 standard.

But as i read the standard i must have a LU of 0.5, and mine is 3.0.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Accepted solution]

If the LUFS are fine, and it sounds okay, why are you worrying about it? I don't think that the standard says anything in particular about that anyway - if it's an advert the one you need to look at is Loudness parameters for short-form content (adverts, promos, etc) 

[Mv128046389]

 Ahhh okay, i missed the part about LU...

if i read this correct (images are from the link under what they recommend)

under D; i can go up to 5 in LU or -18 in short term LUFS?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

That is my understanding, yes. In a 15 second advert I don't think it's going to be much of an issue anyway. If you don't go above -18  LUFS and the balance sounds okay, you don't have a problem. Hitting the LUFS value is easy - if you're a couple of dB out, then just renormalise in Audition in the appropriate direction - 1 LUFS = 1dB.