Music and Effects (M & E)

General Notes and Recommendations

  • The Music and Effects element generally consists of a Main M&E and one or more Optionals. A mono Dialogue guide or a Dialogue stem should also be included.
  • The Main M&E will generally be all of the program minus the Dialogue, and minus anything that is determined to be put in an Optional.
  • Optionals are particular elements of the program that have been deemed to be candidates for dubbing or for including “as is” in a localized track. For example, actor efforts, source TV or Radio content with Dialogue, foreign language spoken on location, specific reactions or callouts, and vocals, are all candidates for Optionals.
  • The Main M&E should be fully-filled. Any production effects that were lost when muting the Dialogue should be covered with “fill” in the M&E creation process.
  • There should be no duplication between the Main M&E and the Optionals. Playing both together should not induce phasing.
  • There should be a main M&E and set of Optionals that corresponds to each printmaster audio configuration, e.g. Immersive, 7.1, 5.1.
  • There should be a separate set of M&E’s for Theatrical and Nearfield.
  • If created, a Two-Track M&E may or may not be archived, based on client preferences.
    • This is generally not necessary if it is a simple fold down from the 5.1
    • If a Two-Track printmaster with matrix or spatial encoding was created, then a corresponding Two-Track M&E with the same encoding should be created and archived.
  • An ADM-BWF of the Main M&E with objects should be created and archived.
    • M&E elements only, no optionals or Dialogue guides
    • Music can be separated if required

Formatting Recommendations

  • The main M&E, Optionals and Dialogue reference should be in the same session.
  • For 5.1 and 7.1 M&E’s, the Main M&E should be a single composite. Each optional should be its own composite.
  • Optionals are generally multitrack and match the audio configuration of the Main M&E. For example, a 5.1 M&E will usually have 5.1 or 5.0 optionals. Optionals can be smaller audio configuration or even mono if appropriate.
  • Theatrical and Nearfield M&E’s should have the same layout for consistency.
  • Immersive M&E’s can contain channels and/or objects. These are delivered as workstation sessions formatted per the convention used for the specific immersive audio type and configuration e.g. 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 9.1.6.
    • It is recommended that the immersive M&E session contain a single composite main M&E bed, optional beds, objects, and Dialogue guide.
    • All objects from the immersive stems session should be carried into the immersive M&E session. Dialogue objects should be muted.
    • Optional objects, if any, may be rendered to channel-based tracks (5.1, 7.1.2, etc)