This guide will provide the necessary information on audio in First Run Festival submissions.
Audio Information
What are the audio requirements for First Run?
- Levels must be lower than -2 dBFS in all channels
- True Peak must be lower than -4dBTP in all channels
What are True Peak and levels, and how are they different from each other?
- Levels are the measurement for "volume" for your mix, measured in decibels relative to full scale
- True Peak is the loudest part of your mix, accounting for distortion and clipping
How can I check my film’s audio prior to submission?
- We recommend downloading the YouLean Loudness Meter application or using it on PPC computers
- Further instructions can be found in the Using Youlean to Monitor Audio guide
I submitted my film and received an email notifying me of audio issues. Why was my film flagged for audio issues?
- We run each film through professional QC scanning software after submission
- Any films that have level equals or greater than -2 dBFS in all channels and/or True Peak equals or greater than -4 dBTP in all channels will be flagged by the software
How does it affect my ability to screen at First Run?
- You must either correct your audio in accordance with the requirements, either by correcting each instance of peaking or by applying an across the board effect
- You can agree to have NYU apply a hard limiter on your entire film, however, this means you surrender control over what your film sounds like
Why are NYU’s audio requirements different from festivals or platforms?
- Our NYU screening facilities have many uses, which means our equipment's fail points are more strictly enforced