Generated audio tone -6dB, Adobe help says -12dB, client asking for -20dBFS (help please!)

[Phi.Def]

According to this Adobe help page on generating bars and tone, the "default level of the 1-kHz tone is -12 dB referenced to 0 dBFS." But, when I playback the default generated tone in my timeline, it shows up as -6dB (screenshots below). Futhermore, my broadcast client is asking for, "1kHz Tone @ -20dBFS."

So, my questions are:

1) Why is the default tone level showing on my VU not the same as what the Adobe help page says it should be?

2) Why does it seem that the industry standard of -20dBFS is neither the supposed nor actual default of the generated bars and tone?

and 3) Should I apply a gain effect to the clip or entire sequence to bring the tone (and possibly the entire sequence) levels down to -20 on the VU in order to conform to my client's needs?

Thanks!

[Phi.Def]

Bump, please help! Thanks!

[Richard M Knight]

My unaltered bars and tone is at -12db. Do you have any track or master effects that might alter the level?

Industry standard at -20 used to be for the US, the UK used -18, it might have changed now.

[Michael Grenadier]

same here.  -12 db when I load the bars and tone in the source monitor, -12 db when I create a sequence from the clip and play in the program monitor. 

Maybe try resetting your preferences?

I used to have to deliver programs on tape for broadcast and there were very specific requirements for the level of tone and the range of levels of program.    You might need to do some research or get further details for the delivery specs.  In the good old days (some of them were good) you usually went to an audio house for a mix and they were responsible for meeting delivery specs.  

[Trevor_Asq]

Looks like stereo tone in a mono timeline track?

fine to adjust gain to make it -20

or double click source clip and set the gain of the generator

[RjL190365]

Guess what? The tone is provided by Adobe for the purpose of calibrating the audio part of your computer setup for Premiere Pro. This means that if your meters read 6 dB, you will need to compensate by setting the gain in the audio part of the timeline to -6 dB in order to achieve a -12 dBFS level when you import every video clip containing audio tracks into the program. If your broadcaster requires a -20 dBFS level, set the gain to -14 dB in the timeline containing the bars and tone.

[Michael Grenadier]

unless every clip you import is properly calibrated to match the desired level, every clip needs to be adjusted to play back at the correct level in the context of rest of the sequence.  The bars and tone are usualy put at the beginning of the sequence for the end user to calibrate their input and playback.  Bars and tone are a legacy of the good old analog days of physical tape where decks and the rest of the signal path needed to be calibrated so the intended levels of the master will match the actual playback at the output of the signal path...   at least that's my understanding.  And there are all sorts of technical and creative issues involved including dynamic range, maximum peaks, etc.  It ain't simple

[johnpooley3]

Your audio is likely panned center, which would cause the 6dB increase in volume. 

The industry standard is now LKFS, please read here: https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/loudness-radar.html

Use the Audio Track Mixer to do gain adjustments throughout the sequence. 

[Phi.Def]

Hi, since this is marked as the correct answer, I figured you would be the best person to reply to.

My audio for other clips with apparently the same panning settings are playing back in stereo. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong with the bars and tone? See screenshots.

[johnpooley3]

Open the Audio Track Mixer to make panning adjustments. Make sure your sequence has the correct type of track; Adaptive, Mono, Stereo...

Either right click on the track pane of the Sequence window to add tracks, or create a New Sequence altogether and customize the audio tracks there.