M&E (Music & Effects)
Definition
A version of a film or television mix that contains all audio except dialogue — music, sound effects, Foley, and ambience. The M&E is a standard delivery requirement for international distribution, allowing foreign-language dialogue to be dubbed over the complete sound design without remixing.
In Simple Terms
A version of a movie's audio with everything except the spoken dialogue. When a film is dubbed into another language, they lay the new voices over the M&E track. This is why sound effects and music sound identical in every language version.
In Practice
A Netflix original series delivers a complete M&E alongside the English dialogue mix for every episode. International dubbing studios record dialogue in their language and combine it with the M&E to produce localized versions.
Common Confusion
M&E does not exclude all human voice — only spoken dialogue. Non-verbal vocalizations (grunts, screams, laughter, breathing, walla) typically remain in the M&E because they translate across languages and read as performance, not language. A dub mixer expects to hear those efforts; if you strip them, the dub feels dead.
Sources & Verification
- Yewdall, D. L. — Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound (4th ed., M&E delivery chapter)Focal Press, 2012
- Netflix Partner Help Center — M&E and dubbing requirementshttps://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com
- MPA — International dubbing and M&E specificationsMotion Picture Association
Last verified: 2026-05-05