Loudness Configuration
Enable the Loudness relevant columns in Content Manager, create and apply loudness sets to an audio entry and display an icon that shows whether an audio entry is Loudness compatible or not. For a description of the frontend see Understanding Loudness in the Getting Started with CM section.
Configuring Loudness Columns
Use the “ContentManager_Values_Loudness.PAR” in "Par Examples" folder to enable the Loudness Columns: IntegratedLoudness, LoudnessEars, LoudnessRange, MaximumMomentaryLoudness, MaximumShorttermLoudness and MaximumTruePeakLevel.
Configuring Loudness display and interpretation
Loudness sets contain the loudness configuration, which can be applied to a table.
Creating Loudness Set
- reate the subkey [Loudness set] in |...|Common|Loudness| (Global) or Digas|Database|[dsn]|[Desired Table]| (Local)
- Add parameters from the list below.
Main Parameters
Parameter | EBU R-128 Recommendation | Description | |
IntegratedLoudnessTarget | -23 | Target value for Integrated Loudness in LUFS (negative value only) | |
MaximumLoudnessRange | 10.0 | Maximum acceptable loudness range in LU (value must be positive) | |
MaximumMomentaryLoudnessLevel* | -15 | Target value for Maximum Momentary Loudness in LUFS (negative value only) | |
MaximumShorttermLoudnessLevel* | -18 | Target value for Maximum Short-term Loudness in LUFS (negative value only) | |
MaximumTruePeakLevel | -1.0 | Maximum true peak level in dBTP (negative value only) | |
ShortElementLength | 0 | The duration limit for "short elements" in milliseconds. For elements which are shorter than this duration, the MaximumMomentaryLoudnessLevel and the MaximumShorttermLoudnessLevel are taken into account too, when a level correction is computed. For elements which are longer, all given values are taken into account. A value ‘0’ means: all elements are treated as "long elements" (value must be positive). | |
ToleranceForIntegratedLoudness | 0.5 | Tolerance for integrated loudness in LU. An integrated loudness value, which doesn't differ from the target (defined by IntegratedLoudnessTarget) by more than this amount is deemed acceptable (positive value only). | |
MaximumLoudnessRangeOptimal | Optional parameter: maximum loudness range for optimal result. There are three levels for LRA validation using this parameter also: compliant, not optimal, invalid. | ||
For very short audio material (less than 30 seconds), EBU R-128 recommends relying on MaximumMomentaryLoudnessLevel (and MaximumShorttermLoudnessLevel) and not the Integrated Loudness.
Optional Parameters
Parameter | Description | |
| DisplayRelativeLoudnessValues | Whether the three loudness values ILK, MAXML and MAXSL are displayed as absolute values (LUFS) or as a relative value (LU). e.g. if the ILK value is identical to the integrated loudness target 0.0, which will be displayed. Default = False (absolute values). | |
| MaximumLoudnessRangeOptimal | Defines maximum loudness range for optimal result. There are three levels of LRA validation using this loudness parameter: compliant, not optimal, invalid. | |
ColorCompliant | Colour of Loudness Ears if the Loudness is in the compliant range, i.e. no gain adjustment needs to be done. Default: Green | |
ColorCorrectalbe | Colour of Loudness Ears if the Loudness is in the correctable range, i.e. the entry will be gain adjusted by prelisten or playout to be loudness conform. Default: Orange | |
| ColorNotCorrectable | Colour of Loudness Ears if the Loudness is in the correctable range, i.e. the entry cannot be gain adjusted sufficiently. Default: Red | |
| ColorLoudnessRangeSuboptimal | Color for displaying loudness LRA when MaximumLoudnessRangeOptimal is exceeded. | |
Additional Color customizations are available. Please see the Proposals in the Help section of the Web Admin.
Applying Loudness Sets
Can be done on a:
- Global level: In |...|Common|Loudness|, change the parameter DefaultLoudnessSet to the subkey name of the desired set. Default: EBU_R128
- Table-specific level: To apply a different set to an individual table, create the LoudnessSet=[Desired Set] parameter in Digas|Database|[dsn]|[Desired Table]|.
For broadcasting consistency, loudness configuration is intended to be the same across a broadcasting company.