Audio volume and balance

For a good broadcast of a video, audio is also a very important (sometimes underrated) factor. First of all, the overall volume of the audio should not be too loud or too soft, because this can cause audible quality issues. But the audio must also be well balanced over the entire clip or item or program: From the beginning to the end, it must sound equally loud on all audio channels, and spoken text must be intelligible. Adjusting this balance is called "Audio Leveling". For the TV channel, all audio from the supplied videos is measured, and based on the average measured value, the overall volume for each video is determined, according to the EBU 128 Loudness standard. This means that the viewer at home does not have to constantly adjust the volume when watching the channel.

But huge difference in audio volume within a supplied video file are not completely equalized. That must be solved in the editing of the audio. The audio can be properly measured by using "Audio Level Meters" (PPM; Peak Program Meter or VU; Volume Unit). These meters can be integrated in the editing software or you use an externally connected Audio Level Meter. And always in combination with monitoring on good quality audio monitors (speakers).

In this delivery there are too large deviations in the audio leveling. The audio does not sound equally loud everywhere. The music is much harder at the beginning than at the end of the video for example. Or one audio channel is consistently harder or softer than the other channels. But it is also possible that music sounds much louder than spoken words. This happens very easily because music sounds much "fuller", and therefore sounds much louder than a speaker, even though the audio level meter is just as high. Also the balance between speech or singing, and background sounds (setnoise) or music can easily be a problem, as a result of which the sung or spoken text is difficult to understand. Check the entire edit carefully what you heare and what you see on your audio level meters, for major deviations. Restore this in the edit for a new export where the audio is well leveled.