2 The Loudness Analyzer and Normalizer is a tool that is useful at the
3 end of the mixing process to make the final audio file comply with
4 different specs regarding loudness.
8 This is a rather advanced mode. When using the Loudness Analyzer &
9 Normalizer (or <dfn>LAN</dfn>), one has to make sure than normalization
10 is disabled when exporting.
12 In general, it is recommended to just use <a href="@@export-format-profiles">
13 automatic export normalization</a>, in the <a href="@@export-dialog">Export
14 dialog</a>. This can also produce results for multiple targets at the
19 It is enabled by checking
20 <kbd class="option">Enable master-bus output gain control</kbd> in the
21 <a href="@@preferences#preferences-signal_flow">Preferences</a>.
22 The <a href="@@master-bus-strip">Master Bus strip</a> then shows a <kbd class="menu">LAN</kbd>
23 button to start the analysis, and a volume slider that is the global gain
24 that can be set either manually or by the loudness normalizer.
27 The LAN can also be started from the <kbd class="menu">Session > Loudness
28 assistant…</kbd> menu. If the option above is not enabled, Ardour
29 will link to the relevant page of the Preferences.
32 <p>Either method show the following window:</p>
35 <img src="/images/pre_loudness.png" alt="The Loudness Analyzer realtime selector">
37 The Loudness Analyzer realtime selector
42 This window allows to start the loudness analysis. A choice is offered
43 between freewheeling (i.e. Ardour renders the session as fast as possible
44 to measure the loudness), by default, or Realtime, for cases where freewheeling would
45 not accurately render the session, e.g. if a hardware or JACK effect
46 is used in the session, by clicking on the <kbd class="menu">Realtime</kbd>
51 After the analysis is over, the Loudness Analyzer and Normalizer is shown:
55 <img src="/images/loudness_analyzer.png" alt="The Loudness Analyzer and Normalizer">
57 The Loudness Analyzer and Normalizer
61 <h2>The Loudness Graph</h2>
64 At the top of the window, a loudness graph visually represents the
65 analysis. The x-axis represents the time, and the y-axis represents
66 the perceived loudness in <abbr title="Loudness Units referenced to
67 Full Scale">LUFS</abbr>:
71 <li><span style="color:green;">Integrated loudness</span> averaging the loudness on the whole session</li>
72 <li><span style="color:red;">Short loudness</span> using a sliding time window of 3 seconds</li>
73 <li><span style="color:blue;">Momentary loudness</span> using a sliding time window of 400 ms.</li>
76 <h2>Normalization Parameters</h2>
79 As loudness is a perceived sonic energy, and depends on the level, frequency,
80 duration and nature of the sound, this window allows to base the calculation
81 of the loudness normalization on different parameters :
84 <li><dfn>Peak :</dfn> is the highest signal level value</li>
85 <li><dfn>True Peak :</dfn> is the highest signal level value where the
86 signal has been oversampled to figure out more in-between values
87 between the samples (interpolation)</li>
88 <li><dfn>Integrated Loudness :</dfn> is the loudness computed from the
89 whole session or range</li>
90 <li><dfn>Max Short Loudness :</dfn> is the maximum loudness computed
91 on short time ranges (3 seconds)</li>
92 <li><dfn>Max Momentary Loudness :</dfn> is the maximum momentary loudness</li>
95 Any combination of these parameters can be taken into account when determining
96 the gain normalization, by checking its momentary button, and setting a
97 <em>Target</em> value.
100 Ardour shows both the <em>Measured</em> value of the parameters, and the
101 <em>Delta</em> value, i.e. the difference between the <em>Target</em>
102 and <em>Measured</em> values, hence the gain correction.
105 The maximum <em>Delta</em> value is the Gain correction to apply to fit
106 all the Target values.
109 Ardour shows, under the parameters, a summary of the calculation :
112 <li><dfn>Gain to normalize:</dfn> is the max <em>Delta</em> value</li>
113 <li><dfn>Previous output gain:</dfn> is the current Master track gain</li>
114 <li><dfn>Total Gain:</dfn> is the difference between these two values,
115 hence the correction to apply</li>
121 A selection of presets is offered to simplify the normalization. These
122 presets apply the relevant parameters and their target values. Below
123 is a table of these presets:
127 <tr><th>Parameter name: </th><th>dbFS </th><th>dBTP </th><th>LUFS </th><th>short</th><th>mom. </th><th>FS</th><th>TP </th><th>int</th><th>sht </th><th>mom</th><th>maxIntg</th><th>notes</th></tr>
130 <tr><th>EBU R128 </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-23</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-22.5</td><td> -23.5</td></tr>
131 <tr><th>EBU R128 S1 </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-23</td><td>-18</td><td> 0</td><td>-22.5</td><td> -23.5</td></tr>
132 <tr><th>ATSC A/85 </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-2.0</td><td>-24</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-22.0</td><td> -26.0</td></tr>
133 <tr><th>AES Streaming </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-18</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-16.0</td><td> -20.0</td></tr>
134 <tr><th>ASWG-R001 HOME </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-24</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-22.0</td><td> -26.0</td></tr>
135 <tr><th>Digital Peak </th><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td> 0.0</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> 0.0</td><td>-200.0</td></tr>
136 <tr><th>CD/DVD </th><td> true</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-0.1</td><td> -9</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> 0.0</td><td>-200.0</td></tr>
138 <tr><th>Amazon Music </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-2.0</td><td>-14</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> -9.0</td><td> -19.0</td></tr>
139 <tr><th>Apple Music </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-16</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-15.0</td><td> -17.0</td></tr>
140 <tr><th>Deezer </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-15</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-14.0</td><td> -16.0</td></tr>
141 <tr><th>Soundcloud </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-10</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> -8.0</td><td> -13.0</td></tr>
142 <tr><th>Spotify </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-14</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> -8.0</td><td> -20.0</td></tr>
143 <tr><th>Spotify Loud </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-2.0</td><td>-11</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td> -5.0</td><td> -17.0</td></tr>
144 <tr><th>Youtube </th><td>false</td><td> true</td><td> true</td><td>false</td><td>false</td><td> 0</td><td>-1.0</td><td>-14</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td><td>-13.0</td><td> -15.0</td></tr>
149 New presets can be created at will and saved/removed using the <kbd>Save</kbd>
150 and <kbd>Remove</kbd> buttons next to the preset choice. The Standard
151 presets listed above can not be removed or edited.
155 The <kbd>Analysis Report</kbd> button allows to visually represent
156 the analysis with a graph in a very similar window to the one in the
157 Post-<a href="@@export-dialog">Export</a> analysis.
160 <h2>The Conformity Analysis Panel</h2>
164 At the lower right end of the window is a <em>Conformity Analysis</em>
165 info panel indicating, for each of the presets above, if the corrected
166 gain would fit the required values:
169 <li><span style="color:red;">✖</span>: the signal is too loud</li>
170 <li><span style="color:orange;">✔</span>: the signal is too quiet, but satisfies the max. loudness spec</li>
171 <li><span style="color:green;">✔</span>: signal loudness is within the spec.</li>
175 Lastly, the gain correction is, by default, applied after all the processors
176 of the master bus. This can also be changed, either by checking the
177 <kbd>Custom Amplifier Position</kbd> temporaty button in this window, or in the Master
178 strip, by <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking the gain slider and
179 checking <kbd class="option">Custom LAN Amp Position</kbd>. The gain
180 normalizer then becomes a processor in the processors box of the Master
181 strip, that can be moved as needed like any processor/effect.