Hello all,
I am currently creating hundreds of projects sound cues, foley and songs, for a theatrical perfomance in a pro theatres. I work in 5.1.
I shall be needing to standardize the volume of these tracks, but I don’t know what DB would be suitable. What I think I am mean is the DB output level of the 5.1 out of the CPR in Cubase. Currently I am simply judging by the aural output of my sound system which is too subjective. Maybe there is an “industry norm”? Maybe Control Room can help?
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Control Room has zero impact on your project. You will hear it only on your own computer.
If you don’t get good answers here I’d recommend posting the same question in the Nuendo forum.
The most important is that the levels are coherent across all tracks. For the show, usually, there’s a playback software, like Q-Lab, in which trims can be applied to match every cues. There’s no specific calibration for venues, as in cinemas and studios.
The question is, what is the theater requesting? They should give you advice what they require or expect.
I bet most of them would not need the center channel. It would be used for the speech in the live performance mostly.
Out from the experience, the output level of -6dB normalized should be good for most live sound systems. Do not deliver files with peak at 0dBFS. Never. Most PA systems will emphasize inter sample peaks much more than a home stereo system.
And don’t use too much compression. It is easier to add that later in the house mixing desk if needed.