Movie & Television Post Production FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Film & TV Post
We get lots of questionl This Movie & Television Post Production FAQ will answer many of them. This page contains the entire FAQ' list. You can find out more detaled information at our specific FAQ pages.Q: My distributor (or sales agent) wants me to have a Quality Control report done, I have finished the editing and sound. What do I need to get to you to do the QC
We do a Quality Control report on a self-contained QuickTime file. This is a file that contains the video track and a separate audio track for each individual audio channel on the file. The Spec sheet may list the order required for the audio tracks. The audio and Video are synched together on a timeline and exported usually to a .mov file. We can QC other file types as well. Most of the files we receive from clients are downloaded from a file service that the client provides. Google Drive is a popular service, as are companies such as You Send It & Hightail. Files can also be placed on a hard drive and mailed to us if necessary. Please let us know in advance if you plan to mail a package.Q: The editing and sound mixes of my project took longer than expected. I need a Quality Control report fast. What is your turnaround time?
A: In most cases, we offer a 1-2 day turnaround, which is by far the fastest in the industry. If necessary, we can move you to the top of the list and have it done in one day or less.
Q:Will your QC report be good for Netflix (or Amazon, Apple TV, VOD etc?.)
Yes. our 100% QC Report will cover any issues that any platform, TV Network, movie distributor, sales agent or producer are looking for. We have worked with all kinds of clients over the past 18 years.Q: Do you do Quality Control reports for UHD or 4K projects in SDR or HDR?
A: Yes we are equipped to handle any format or standard, including UHD SDR, or HDR, as well as 4K, High-Def (HD) and Standard Def (SD) Any aspect ratio, including Full Frame UHD (3840 x 2160) as well as 4K (DCI used for DCP) (4096 x 2160) Other aspect ratios we see are 1440 X 1080, 2160 X 1080, and 2560 x 1080, as well as HD aspect ratios like 2.39, 2.40, 1.85, and 1.78)
Q: How do I read the QC report, and can I see a copy of a report in advance?
A: Our Quality Control report is a comprehensive evaluation of the technical aspects of the movie or TV show. The Top of Page 1 will show a final determination of either Approved, On Hold, or Rejected. Page 1 also contains all the video and audio measurements using waveform monitors, vector scopes, and audio meters. Page 1 also contains A summary of the report in terms of general, video, and audio issues. Page 2 and any additional pages of the report contain a list of all issues by time code. A description of each issue is included. Each issue noted is rated on a scale of severity from 1 to 3. Any item with a 3 rating makes the report rejected. This means the issue is severe (such as incorrect Video or Audio levels) and must be fixed, as this is an issue that will be rejected across the industry. Often, shows or movies are "QC'd" more than once as they go from one platform to another. A 2+ rating puts the project on hold. The client can determine if and how to address the issue based on the requirements of the project. Report items that have a 2 or 1 rating are minor to moderate, and the client has the option to fix them. We will provide a copy of a previous report (with the title and client blanked out) upon request
Q: What are some of the issues that you look for while doing a quality control check?
A: We perform a 100% video / audio quality control check, in which a full report is generated with a grade of Approved, Hold, or Rejected. Included in the report is a list of all issues that would cause the program to be rejected by a network, distributor, or other party. Also included in the list are other less severe issues that can be fixed at the clients' discretion. There are many areas of audio, and video that we check for. Including luminance levels, chrominance levels, black levels, color gamut range, video hits, audio levels, distortion, and much more. A full review of what we are looking for is on our Video Quality Control Process page.Q: My QC report failed. What do these notes mean? How can I fix the issues?
A: After you have had a chance to review the report, we will set up a phone call regarding what issues must be fixed (items with a 3 rating) and what you have the option to fix if your distributor / network allows (2+ rated items). We offer free consulting services to our clients. We also offer Video & Audio Finishing Services in which we will do the fixes for you. In many cases, we can fix the file that we already have. In some instances, we may need you to send us additional material for us to complete. Once the fixes are completed, the report is amended to a final grade of Approved. If you decide to do your own fixes we will do a Fix Check. You send us the new fixed file; we go over it and if "rejectable" issues are corrected, approve the QC Report.
Q: How do I set up the head format on my QuickTime file
A: Usually the spec sheet provided by the distributor, or network you are working with, will tell you how to lay out the head format. In some instances, a movie distributor will want no head format, just a pre-determined amount of black at the head of file before the start of program. Other movie and most TV platforms require a head format. This consists of black at the head of the file, followed by bars & tones, slate, countdown & 2-pop. If no guidance is provided, we will use a Standard Broadcast Head Format
Q: I need to have a Music & Effects (M&E) track for my show; what is that?
A: An M&E track contains all the same audio except for the dialogue that exists in a full stereo mix. When you watch an M&E track, you will see the lips moving when characters speak, but no dialogue comes out of their mouths. Creating an M&E track is done for the purpose of dubbing the movie into other languages. The new language is added to the overall mix, and the file is then re-exported to contain the new dialogue track.
Q: My M&E tracks were rejected for missing effects; what do I do?
A: This means that some of the sound effects that were present in the original mix are not in the M&E mix. This includes everything from footsteps, hand taps, doors opening and closing, etc. Missing effects will occur if, during filming, the effects picked up by microphones are the only effects in the mix (not in other tracks). As the dialogue is removed from M&E, those effects will also be removed and must be re-added. Often, a Foley studio will be needed to add effects that cannot be added from a stereo mix track. We have experience at adding missing effects to M&E tracks, even without any source material.
Q: I need to deliver a 5.1 mix with my movie; how is this done? A: There are many types of audio configurations that a distributor, sales agent, or network may require. Aside from the stereo mix and stereo Music &effects track (described above), the next most likely other audio set you will need is a 5.1 mix. 5.1 is a 6-channel mix used for home audio systems. 5.1 must contain six separate tracks with two sets of stereo pairs, and two mono tracks.
The first two tracks are called 5.1 Left, and 5.1 Right; these correspond to the two speakers in a 5.1 mix that would be in the front on the left and right sides. In a "true" 5.1 mix, these tracks would have all the music and effects, but no dialogue. The Left / Right tracks are a stereo pair and must be in stereo for the mix to be correct. The third track is a mono-only track called "Center," which is of course the center front speaker in a 5.1 mix. The "Center" channel is the dialogue track. The fourth track is also mono and is called LFE, (Low Frequency Effects) and contains the bass sounds. The LFE speaker is essentially a subwoofer, and is usually up front and below the other speakers. The Final two tracks (numbers 5 and 6) are called Left Surround / Right Surround; these are the speakers in the back of the room giving the "surround" effect. They are a stereo pair and often contain the same tracks as the Left / Right pair at a lower volume level. A creative sound mixer can move the effects around, having some only in the front or back for a true "surround" experience, but his is not necessary. All six tracks must be in sync, and also be in sync with the other audio tracks in the feature.
Q: How do I go about making a Music & Effects track (M&E) and a 5.1 mix as well?
A: Qualified audio personnel can make audio mixes needed from your original audio stems, known as DM&E stems, which are Dialogue, Music & Effects. These are the individual audio files that went into the mix for the stereo tracks. If these files were made correctly with the dialogue isolated to an individual track, it can be removed and a new mix made without it.
Often however no pure dialogue track exists as the effects that were recorded through the microphones (footsteps, touching, wind, etc.) are contained only on the dialogue track; no additional Foley editing was done. In these cases, we can make a new M&E track for you from scratch. In order to do this, we would have to re-create some of the effects that are on the stereo mix track on an audio program. The stereo mix and stereo M&E track should match exactly, except for the presence of dialogue.
L.A. Post can also use sound editing techniques to create a 5.1 mix, including the LFE track. We can also re-output all the files as a new, completed master file.
Q: What are some or the issues that you look for while doing a quality control check
A: We perform a 100% video / audio quality control check, in which a full report is generated with a grade of Approved, Hold, or Rejected. Included in the report is a list of all issues that would cause the program to be rejected by a network, distributor, or other party. Also included in the list are other less severe issues that can be fixed at the clients' discretion. There are many areas of audio, and video that we check for. Including luminance levels, chrominance levels, black levels, color gamut range, video hits, audio levels, distortion, and much more. A full review of what we are looking for is on our Video Quality Control Process page. Q: My movie was rejected for not having "Textless" Material, what does that mean? A: Textless material refers to any scene in the film or show that has text over picture, such as main and end titles, subtitles, or time / location text, without the text. This is also referred to as "Clean Covers." These textless shots are used to add foreign language text for movies that are going to other countries. In order to provide Textless material, an editor has to get a clean version of every texted shot (over picture not black) and assemble them in order and add them after the end of the feature before the end of the file, with some black between each sequence. All textless shots are usually added to the file one minute after the end of the program. Textless material does not usually include audio