How do you manage dialogue metadata and deliverables for different platforms and standards?

1 Metadata basics

Metadata is the information that describes the content and characteristics of your audio files, such as track names, timecodes, bit depth, sample rate, and more. Metadata helps you organize, identify, and synchronize your dialogue tracks, as well as communicate with other collaborators and clients. You can use different tools and formats to create and edit metadata, such as iXML, BWF, AATON, or Soundminer. Make sure you follow the specifications and requirements of each project and platform, and keep your metadata consistent and accurate throughout the workflow.

2 ADR workflow

ADR stands for automated dialogue replacement, which is the process of re-recording dialogue in a studio to match the original performance and sync with the picture. ADR can improve the quality, clarity, and intelligibility of dialogue, as well as add creative elements or fix technical issues. ADR workflow involves several steps, such as spotting, recording, editing, mixing, and delivering. You need to manage the metadata and deliverables for each step, such as cue sheets, scripts, timecodes, session files, stems, and final mixes. You also need to coordinate with the actors, directors, editors, and mixers to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

3 Dialogue editing tips

Dialogue editing is an art that requires a lot of attention to detail, as well as a good ear and a sense of storytelling. To help you with dialogue editing, make sure to use a consistent naming convention and folder structure for your dialogue tracks and files. Utilize noise reduction, EQ, compression, and other tools to remove unwanted sounds, enhance clarity, and match levels and tones. Crossfades, fades, and volume automation can be used to smooth out the transitions and avoid clicks, pops, or gaps. Additionally, room tone, ambience, and fill tracks can create a consistent background and mask edits. Finally, plugins, markers, or metadata can be used to label and flag any issues, notes, or changes.

4 Dialogue mixing guidelines

Dialogue mixing is an artful and technical process that requires a lot of creativity and knowledge. To achieve a realistic and dynamic sound experience, you can use panning, reverb, delay, and other effects. Additionally, use EQ, compression, limiting, and other tools to control the dynamics, frequency, and loudness of the dialogue tracks. You may also want to consider ducking, sidechain, or automation to adjust the levels and balance of the dialogue tracks with the other elements. Finally, use stems, subgroups, or buses to organize and process your dialogue tracks separately or together; meters, analyzers, or plugins can also help you monitor and measure the loudness, peak, RMS, LUFS, and other parameters of your dialogue tracks.

6 Standards compliance

Standards are the rules and regulations that govern the technical and quality aspects of audio post production, such as sample rate, bit depth, file format, loudness, metadata, and more. The standards can differ depending on the project and platform, but they usually require a sample rate of 48 kHz or higher for film and TV, 44.1 kHz or higher for music and web; a bit depth of 24 bit or higher for film and TV, 16 bit or higher for music and web; a file format of WAV or AIFF for uncompressed audio, MP3 or AAC for compressed audio; loudness of -23 LUFS or -24 LKFS for broadcast TV, -16 LUFS or -18 LKFS for streaming services, -14 LUFS or -16 LKFS for web and music; and metadata of iXML or BWF for broadcast TV and film, ID3 or iTunes for music and web.