Here are a list of recommended tools and considerations that you should evaluate when making audio sound pleasant.
Current loudness standards for dialog
Peak: -1.0 dBTP
Loudness: -16 LUFS (±1.0 LU)
Dynamic Range: >9DR
Things for audio engineers to consider
- Level dialog volume (gain rider)
- Minimize noise floor and room ambience
- De-click, reduce mouth noise, minimize plosives
- De-ess harsh sibilance
- Reduce boominess in low-end
- Reduce boxiness in low-mids
Tools for audio tuning
These are recommended audio tuning software, but there are many more tools available that can handle tuning audio towards the considerations up above.
Enhance by Adobe is a free AI tool that does most of what’s listed above:
https://podcast.adobe.com/enhance
GainAim 2.0 by Noiseworks is audio software that can achieve what’s listed above manually (dialog volume leveling): https://noiseworksaudio.com/products/gainaim/
Audio Cleaning
Level Metering: https://www.masteringthemix.com/products/levels
All-in-one solution: https://www.descript.com/