Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Mot. Imag. J
Volume: 123, No. 5, pp. 44–51
Abstract: This paper presents an empirical study of the differences between level normalization of programs using the two dominant methods: loudness normalization and speech (“dialog”) normalization. Instead of adding to the continuing debate of the subjective merits of one method over the other, important technical aspects are examined here. The difference in normalization level between the two measures was up to 14 dB. For all films and programs, the loudness method provided the greatest headroom. All programs and a majority of the films could be broadcast at a fixed target level of −24 LKFS (loudness, K-weighted, relative to full scale) without dynamics processing. When it was speech normalized, not a single film could be broadcast at that target level without applying dynamics processing. The study furthermore found a systematic difference between manual speech measurement and automatic speech measurement. Uncertainties in classification, definition, and measurement are described and compared to the requirements for precision in the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) loudness-based standards.
Publication Date: 2014-07-01
DOI: 10.5594/j18432
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432
Author(s): Thomas Lund
bio
Thomas Lund is a Dane but went to elementary school in Madison, WI. He started his professional life audio engineering and playing music. After studying medicine and perception at Aarhus University, Lund joined TC Electronic in 1997, becoming among the first to document the “loudness wars” in music. He has published more than 40 papers for the Audio Engineering Society (AES), Tonmeistertagung, SMPTE, InterBEE and National Association of Broadcasting (NAB); and contributed to audio standardization within AES, ITU-R, EBU, CENELEC and ATSC. — Lund's position is chief technology officer broadcast & production. He primarily works on spatialization, perceptual measurements and hearing loss prevention.
Esben Skovenborg
bio
Esben Skovenborg received an Industrial PhD degree from Aarhus University in 2004. He also holds an MSc in music technology from The University of York and an MSc in computer science. Skovenborg has studied music at Musicians Institute in California, and enjoys playing the guitar. He has published a number of papers at AES and DAFx conferences and has contributed to the international standardization of loudness-measurement and -control within the ITU-R and the EBU. — Skovenborg is employed as senior research engineer at TC Electronic, where he works with algorithm development, virtual prototyping, signal processing, and listening experiments.
Copyright: © 2014 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

Bibliographic Reference(s)

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4. ITU-R , “Recommendation ITU-R BS.1770-3: Algorithms to measure Audio Programme Loudness and True-Peak Audio Level,” International Telecommunication Union , Geneva , 2012 . EXTERNAL
5. Jones B. L. Torick E. L. “A New Loudness Indicator for Use in Broadcasting,” Proc. 71st AES Convention , Montreux, Switzerland , 1982 . EXTERNAL
6. Ortner R. “Je lauter desto bumm&excl;—The Evolution of Loud,” M.A. Thesis, Donau Universität, Krems, 2012 . EXTERNAL
7. Skovenborg E. Lund T. “Level-Normalization of Feature Films Using Loudness vs Speech,” Proc. 135rd AES Convention , New York, NY , 2013 . EXTERNAL
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9. Sony Computer , “Average Loudness and Peak Levels of Audio Content on Sony Computer Entertainment Platforms,” Recommendation ASWG R001 , London , 2013 . EXTERNAL
10. ATSC , “Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television,” Doc A/85, Advanced Television Systems Committee , Washington, DC , 2013 . EXTERNAL
11. Belger E. “The Loudness Balance of Audio Broadcast Programs,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society , 17 ( 3 ): 282 – 285 , 1969 . EXTERNAL
12. EBU , “EBU Technical Recommendation R128. Loudness Normalisation and Permitted Maximum Level of Audio Signals,” European Broadcasting Union , Geneva , 2010 . EXTERNAL
13. Lund T. “DTV, Mobile TV and the Downmix Dilemma,” Proc. 27th Tonmeistertagung , Cologne, Germany , 2012 . EXTERNAL
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Thomas Lund and Esben Skovenborg; Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 123, Issue: 5, July 2014); SMPTE, 2014. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432

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Thomas Lund and Esben Skovenborg; Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 123, Issue: 5, July 2014); SMPTE, 2014. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432

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<span class="citation">Thomas Lund and Esben Skovenborg; <cite>Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 123, Issue: 5, July 2014); SMPTE, 2014. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432</a></span>

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Thomas Lund and Esben Skovenborg; Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 123, Issue: 5, July 2014); SMPTE, 2014
doi: 10.5594/j18432
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/j18432

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Thomas Lund and Esben Skovenborg; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j18432">Loudness vs. Speech Normalization in Broadcast</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 123, Issue: 5, July 2014); SMPTE, 2014
<span class="doi">10.5594/j18432</span>
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