+ + The Loudness Analyzer & Normalizer is a tool that is useful at the + end of the mixing process to make the final audio file comply with + different specs regarding loudness. +
+ ++ It is enabled by checking + Enable master-bus output gain control in the + Preferences. + The Master Bus strip then shows a LAN + button to start the analysis, and a volume slider that is the global gain + that can be set either manually or by the loudness normalizer. +
++ The LAN can also be started from the Session > Loudness + assistant… menu. If the option above is not enabled, Ardour + will link to the relevant page of the Preferences. +
+ +Either method show the following window:
+ +
+ + This window allows to start the loudness analysis. A choice is offered + between freewheeling (i.e. Ardour renders the session as fast as possible + to measure the loudness), by default, or Realtime, for cases where freewheeling would + not accurately render the session, e.g. if a hardware or JACK effect + is used in the session, by clicking on the Realtime + toggle button. +
+ ++ After the analysis is over, the Loudness Analyzer and Normalizer is shown: +
+ +
+ + As loudness is a perceived sonic energy, and depends on the level, frequency, + duration and nature of the sound, this window allows to base the calculation + of the loudness normalization on different parameters : +
++ Any combination of these parameters can be taken into account when determining + the gain normalization, by checking its momentary button, and setting a + Target value. +
++ Ardour shows both the Measured value of the parameters, and the + Delta value, i.e. the difference between the Target + and Measured values, hence the gain correction. +
++ The maximum Delta value is the Gain correction to apply to fit + all the Target values. +
++ Ardour shows, under the parameters, a summary of the calculation : +
++ At the top of the window, a Show Graphical Analysis button + allows to visually represent the analysis with a graph in a very similar + window to the one in the Post-Export analysis. +
+ ++ A selection of presets is offered to simplify the normalization. These + presets apply the relevant parameters and their target values. Below + is a table of these presets: +
+| Parameter name: | dbFS | dBTP | LUFS | short | mom. | FS | TP | int | sht | mom | maxIntg | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -Analysis Only- | false | false | false | false | false | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -200.0 |
| EBU R128 | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -23 | 0 | 0 | -22.5 | -23.5 |
| EBU R128 S1 | false | true | true | true | false | 0 | -1.0 | -23 | -18 | 0 | -22.5 | -23.5 |
| ATSC A/85 | false | true | true | true | false | 0 | -2.0 | -24 | 0 | 0 | -22.0 | -26.0 |
| AES Streaming | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -18 | 0 | 0 | -16.0 | -20.0 |
| ASWG-R001 HOME | false | true | true | true | false | 0 | -1.0 | -24 | 0 | 0 | -22.0 | -26.0 |
| Digital Peak | true | false | false | false | false | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -200.0 |
| CD | true | true | true | false | false | 0 | -0.1 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -200.0 |
| Amazon Music | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -2.0 | -14 | 0 | 0 | -9.0 | -19.0 |
| Apple Music | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -16 | 0 | 0 | -15.0 | -17.0 |
| Deezer | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -15 | 0 | 0 | -14.0 | -16.0 |
| Soundcloud | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -10 | 0 | 0 | -8.0 | -13.0 |
| Spotify | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -14 | 0 | 0 | -8.0 | -20.0 |
| Spotify Loud | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -2.0 | -11 | 0 | 0 | -5.0 | -17.0 |
| Youtube | false | true | true | false | false | 0 | -1.0 | -14 | 0 | 0 | -13.0 | -15.0 |
+ At the lower end of the window is a Conformity Analysis folding + info panel that is opened by clicking its title, and indicating, for each + of the presets above, if the corrected gain would fit the required values: +
++ Lastly, the gain correction is, by default, applied after all the processors + of the master bus. This can also be changed, either by checking the + Custom Amplifier Position temporaty button in this window, or in the Master + strip, by Right-clicking the gain slider and + checking Custom LAN Amp Position. The gain + normalizer then becomes a processor in the processors box of the Master + strip, that can be moved as needed like any processor/effect. +
+ diff --git a/master-doc.txt b/master-doc.txt index 63ac901e..34c17a45 100644 --- a/master-doc.txt +++ b/master-doc.txt @@ -1634,6 +1634,13 @@ uri: mixing/panning/vbap_panner part: section --- +--- +title: Loudness Analyzer & Normalizer +include: loudness-analyzer.html +link: loudness-analyzer +part: subchapter +--- + --- title: Plugin and Hardware Inserts link: plugin-and-hardware-inserts diff --git a/source/images/export_loudness_report.png b/source/images/export_loudness_report.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..de73d1eb Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/export_loudness_report.png differ diff --git a/source/images/loudness_analyzer.png b/source/images/loudness_analyzer.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1b99e31 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/loudness_analyzer.png differ diff --git a/source/images/pre_loudness.png b/source/images/pre_loudness.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e454a11b Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/pre_loudness.png differ