Loudness Links repository

[nucelar]

Hi all,
As part of my involvement in the Spanish workgroup for Loudness in Broadcast and Postproduction, I have collected some links to useful documents I'd like to share.
I hope this thread grows with your contributions and helps for the "evangelization" of this noble cause

Links marked with <======= are of special interest to "Loudness newcomers"

EBU's main Loudness page
Following can be found here:
EBU R128 Loudness Recommendation
EBU Tech 3341 Metering specification
EBU Tech 3342 Loudness Range descriptor
EBU Tech 3343 Practical Guidelines
Test material for compliance testing
"On the way to Loudness Nirvana" article <=======
2 Webminar recordings <======= the first webminar is simply excellent
EBU TECHNICAL - Loudness

10 things you need to know about Loudness
http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/testmaterial...s_loudness.pdf <=======

Article in Broadcast Engineering Magazine
Broadcast Engineering World - February 2011

The TV Technology Guide to Audio Loudness (free registration)
Registration

A/85 – Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television
http://www.atsc.org/cms/standards/a_85-2009.pdf

ITU-R BS.1770-2 (03/2011) measurement standard:
Algorithms to measure audio programme loudness and true-peak audio level

Articles at Qualis Audio:
Qualis Audio Downloads


Some loudness metering products.
partial list Last update: March 2011

TC electronic TM7, TM9, LM2...- Hardware meters
DK Technologies MSD, PT0600...- Hardware meters
RTW Touch Monitor... - Hardware meters
Wohler Pandora - Hardware meters
Qualis Audio Sentinel - Hardware meters
Harris LLM-1770 - Hardware meters
Tektronix WFM6000/7000 - Hardware meters
Trinnov Smartmeter - Hardware meters
Nugen Audio VisLM - Plug-in for realtime metering and offline analysis
Grimm Audio LevelOne - file based analysis normalization
Pinguin - several software solutions
Dolby Media Meter 2, LM100, DP600 Plug-ins, standalone software and Hardware meters
Channel D Audioleak - File based analysis and normalization, standalone metering
Zplane PPMulator V3 - 2Q 2011
Flux Pure Analyzer System -2Q 2011
Audiocation Free PC VST Plugin
TB EBULoudness by toneboosters (VST)

Loudness feature request at Ideascale
http://protools.ideascale.com/a/dtd/...770/29859-3779

Open Source library:
libebur128
libebur128 - (yet another) EBU R 128 implementation - Hydrogenaudio Forums

Open source file scanner R128GAIN

(note: The BS1770 has been updated to BS1770-2 in March 2011. The measurement now includes relative gating at -10 dB. Check that your meter is up to date)

[danijel]

Cool, I'll post a link to this thread in the 'levels' sticky.

[DuX]

I might contribute a little bit with this link to a very useful tool called R128GAIN.

R128GAIN

It doesn't just calculate gain by R128 standard but also ReplayGain and it can encode FLAC files. Very useful.

Cheers!

[nucelar]

Hi,
I edited the first post to include some updated info
Cheers

[nucelar]

Ok, some more news:

* Nugen has released a beta version for their upcoming LMB - Loudness Batch Processor. Windows only :(
(fyi, Grimm Audio Level One offers similar functionality for Mac)
Supporting multiple format* audio and video LMB can batch analyse and automatically correct to LKFS/LUFS and true peak criteria with simple drag and drop interface and 'hot folder' facility.
NuGen Audio LMB – Loudness batch processor


* Dolby has announced the Dolby Media Emulator (DME), very interesting concept..

The Dolby Media Emulator simplifies the creation of soundtracks to
meet existing metadata delivery specifications or to author program-
specific metadata. With integration into major audio workstations,
it enables content creators to ensure that delivery specifications are
met and to easily monitor how the audio will sound in different
consumer replay environments. As part of the creation of Dolby
metadata, the software can measure the loudness level of the audio
and use this for the Dialogue Normalization parameter.

YouTube - NAB 2011: Dolby Media Emulator, Media Meter, Vision 12-bit monitor

* Minnetonka has announced AudioTools Loudness Control Server
The AudioTools Loudness Control Server from Minnetonka Audio Software is an enterprise-level software suite for faster–than–realtime automated processing, measurement and control of loudness in audio and video programs. AudioTools Loudness Control Server is a smart choice for streamlined handling of PCM, Dolby E, Dolby Digital (Plus) or Dolby Pro Logic II content in a file-based environment.
The package, for Microsoft Windows, gathers all of the functions needed to maintain consistent volume into one, software-based system that seamlessly integrates with existing Service Oriented Architectures without any need for additional hardware. With industry standard interfaces built in, like SOAP Web Services and watched folders via XML commands, ALCS is ready for unattended operation.
AudioTools Loudness Control Server - Minnetonka Audio Software, Inc

[marty lester]

great stuff nucelar...thanks!


marty

[nucelar]

The EBU has released the last document of the 33xx family, The Tech Doc 3344 - Distribution Guidelines. An 88 page behemoth.
http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3344.pdf
Although it is aimed at Content Distributors and equipment manufacturers, it may be interesting for some of you. It explains how Loudness Measurement & Control should be performed from broadcasters to final consumers.
Cheers

PS: C'mon!! Almost 14000 views and just 5 replies!? Share your experiences opinions, rants..
What's the situation with your clients regarding Loudness? What's happening in your country? What meters do you use and what's your workflow?
Cheers

[nucelar]

Hi, Some more news:
Dolby has released an update for the LM-100. Full EBU Mode support!
This makes this box interesting again for us! Gonna try it asap..


Universal Remote V1.4.0.8, supporting the companion release of LM100 firmware V1.4.0.4, has been released and is available for download at www.dolbysupport.com.

This new release includes the following new features and improvements:
Added support for EBU Mode loudness measurement
Added support for ITU-R BS.1770-2 mode loudness measurement
Added Loudness Range measurement (only in EBU Mode and ITU-R BS.1770-2 mode)
Added Momentary Maximum Loudness measurement (only in EBU Mode)
Added a Short Term Window configuration (only in ITU-R BS.1770-2 mode)
Added Absolute and Relative meter scale display methods for loudness measurements
Added a Display Resolution configuration.
Added support for Windows 7 OS (Universal Remote)
Added “Max True Peak Since Reset” display (Universal Remote)
Added System Status tab (Universal Remote)

[nucelar]

Hi,

New plug-in release:

Grimm Audio LevelView
Grimm Audio

I tried the demo and it's really, really nice.

Description:
LevelView is a highly innovative real time loudness meter. Its 'Rainbow meter', based upon the 'Bendy Meter' concept of BBC Research, gives the user continuous insight in recent loudness levels of the program material. The arches of the rainbow all have different integration times: the outer ring shows loudness of the last 3s, every step inward triples the time span. This technique has proven to offer a very convenient monitor view during a mix process.
Outside of the rainbow meter, a faster 'Momentary loudness' meter is shown. It is modeled on vintage light spot meters that offer a display with continuous brightness, which is less fatiguing for the eye than the rapidly changing light intensity of a bar graph meter. Next to the Rainbow the 'Integrated loudness' is shown in large digits. It can be used to aim for the target loudness of your program. Below this number, a table with all EBU loudness descriptors can be found. And on the left side of the meter a large histogram with Loudness Range indication completes this versatile plugin.

LevelView runs in most DAW's on both Mac and PC. It offers you the finest view on loudness and will surely fascinate your customers. Seeing is believing, so download LevelView from our Web Shop today. In trial mode the program has a 14 days evaluation period.