Music and Effects (M & E)

Music and Effects (M & E)

Typically includes

  1. Main M&E with Optionals
  2. Theatrical
    1. Immersive
      1. Session
      2. ADM
    2. 7.1
    3. 5.1
  3. Nearfield
    1. Immersive
      1. Session
      2. ADM
    2. 7.1
    3. 5.1
    4. Two-Track

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 not 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, musical tracks 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.
  • For an immersive mix, a Music and Effects ADM-BWF with objects should be created and archived.
    • The ADM should generally mirror the M&E workstation session
    • If delivery requirements dictate, the ADM can contain main M&E bed and objects only, with no optionals or Dialogue guides, or multiple ADM’s can be created.

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, all music and effects objects, optional beds, optional objects if created, and mono Dialogue guide or Dialogue stem.
    • All objects from the immersive stems session should be carried into the immersive M&E session. Main Dialogue objects should be muted.
    • Optional objects, if any, may be kept as objects, or be rendered to channel-based tracks (5.1, 7.1.2, etc.).
    • If the Dialogue reference is a stem, and has Dialogue stem objects, these may be rendered to channel-based tracks (5.1, 7.1.2, etc.) to simplify the session.
  • The ADM-BWF is generally made by exporting/bouncing from the workstation session. The ADM should generally mirror the workstation session. Depending on the desired content of the ADM, tracks can be solo’d or muted in the workstation session when exporting/bouncing.