Blog
Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
Showing 8 of 8 posts
Mono vs. Stereo vs. 5.1 vs. Atmos: Which Audio Format Does Your Film Actually Need?
A decision framework for choosing the right audio format for your independent film -- covering what each format requires technically, which platforms expect it, what it costs to produce, and the realistic breakeven point where investing in 5.1 or Atmos is justified versus where stereo is the right call.
Delivering Audio for Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV Plus: The Spec Differences That Matter
Covers the platform-specific audio delivery specifications for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV Plus -- comparing loudness targets, channel format requirements, codec preferences, and the delivery mistakes that trigger rejections at each platform's QC stage.
What to Do When Your Audio and Picture Are Out of Sync in the Edit
Covers the four root causes of audio-picture sync drift in the edit -- sample rate mismatch, frame rate conflicts, timecode breaks, and import offset errors -- with a diagnosis and fix workflow for each cause.
LUFS vs. RMS: What's the Difference and Which Number Should You Hand to a Mixer?
RMS measures average signal power in a time window. LUFS measures perceptual loudness according to a weighted standard aligned with how human hearing works. Broadcast and streaming platforms use LUFS targets, not RMS. Here is how to read both numbers and which one to specify when handing off to a mixer.
Sample Rates in Film and Audio Post: 48kHz vs. 96kHz and When Higher Actually Matters
Covers the Nyquist theorem in plain language, why broadcast requires 48kHz, when 96kHz or 192kHz actually matters and when it's placebo, and the storage implications of each choice for film and television audio.
Audio Latency in Film Production: Recording, Playback, and Post Sync Problems Solved
Explains the sources of audio latency -- hardware, buffer size, DAW routing -- how to calculate total round-trip latency, and how to troubleshoot and prevent the sync problems that ruin otherwise good recordings.
LUFS, dBFS, and Loudness Normalization: What Filmmakers Need to Know
Explains the difference between LUFS, dBFS, and peak level -- why streaming platforms normalize loudness, what it means for your mix, how to meter in your DAW, and how to hit Netflix and broadcast specs without squashing dynamics.
Audio Delivery Standards for Film and Television: A Complete Format Guide
Covers broadcast, streaming, theatrical, and festival delivery specs -- sample rate, bit depth, channel configuration, LUFS targets, and true peak limits per platform. The one-stop reference before mastering.