The off‑air broadcast look
The off‑air-broadcast look recreates over‑the‑air antenna reception: faint ghosted double‑images from multipath signal reflection, visible snow‑like noise on a weak signal, mild colour bleed and the occasional horizontal sync roll. Lost Media Emulator applies the antenna-reception signature to any footage in real time, on macOS or in Premiere Pro.
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What antenna reception looked like
Before cable, most households received television over the air, and reception quality depended entirely on signal strength and terrain. A reflected signal arriving a few nanoseconds behind the direct one produced ghosting -- a faint offset double‑image. Weak signals showed visible noise as snow, colour bled slightly at edges, and a sync glitch could send the whole picture rolling for a moment.
- Multipath reflection produces a faint, offset ghost double‑image
- Weak signal strength shows as visible snow‑like noise across the frame
- Mild colour bleed at high-contrast edges from analog signal limitations
- Occasional horizontal sync roll on unstable reception
What the off‑air-broadcast look applies
Lost Media Emulator applies the full antenna-reception signature: ghosting, signal noise, colour bleed and occasional sync roll, layered as a grade over any source. It reads immediately as broadcast television received over the air rather than a clean, cabled signal.
- Ghost offset tunable from a faint double‑image to a strong multipath echo
- Signal noise calibrated from light snow to a near-unwatchable weak signal
- Colour bleed matched to analog broadcast limitations
- Runs in real time on macOS or non-destructively in Premiere Pro and After Effects
When to use the off‑air-broadcast look
Off‑air reception signals a specific viewing context -- rabbit ears, a rooftop antenna, a signal fighting for a clear picture. Use it for pre‑cable television nostalgia, rural and small‑town period pieces, and any project where the broadcast itself, not just the footage, needs to feel of its era.
- Pre‑cable television nostalgia and period broadcasting recreations
- Rural and small‑town settings where antenna reception was the norm
- Documentary and narrative footage needing the broadcast signal itself to read as period-accurate
Off-Air Broadcast, answered.
- Can I use this in Premiere Pro?
- Yes. The extension applies it non-destructively on your timeline with every parameter keyframeable, including ghost offset and noise level.
- How is this different from scrambled-cable?
- Off‑air-broadcast models weak but legitimate antenna reception -- ghosting and snow from signal strength. Scrambled-cable models a deliberately suppressed signal: rolling tears and a drifting ghost, a different cause and a different look.
- What footage works best?
- Any clip or still. High-contrast edges show the ghosting and colour bleed most clearly; flat backgrounds make the signal noise easiest to read.
- How much does it cost?
- It ships in the full 91‑look library. Premiere Pro and After Effects extension $39, Mac app $49, bundle $69 (vs $88 separately). One‑time, no subscription, 14‑day guarantee.
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- One-time purchase — no subscription
- All 91 looks included
- macOS app + Premiere / After Effects