stem db levels for film

[teethirty]

Last year, somebody told me about certain levels of decibels I can base upon when mixing for film. (x db for dialogue, x db for fx, x db for music...). I use to have notes of it but I lost it. Does anybody here know those numbers? Thanks in advance!

 

[Gohanto]

Both -20dB and -12dB for dialog is pretty standard.

I tend towards -20dB. However, that's just a rough starting point. There's no reason to set music or fx levels around a starting number as it's very dependant on the interactions of music, fx, mix, eq, compression, ect... Even if it's only on a subconsious level, I think have "template levels" robs some potential from a mix.

 

[Bob Kessler]

You may find this very helpful:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/post...theater-dvd-broadcast-tv-commercials-etc.html