EBU R128

General

– EBU = European Broadcast Union

– New Standard as EBU R128 = -23dB LUFS is Based on Measuring “Perceived Loudness”, instead Measuring “Peak Loudness ” 

– In Fact, R128 allows a True Peak Level of -1dBFS

– means Not the Peaks are Relevant anymore, but the effectively Perceived Loudness or the Average Level (RMS) by Human Ears

– actually it needs 2 Standards, a Relative Standard (LU) of Measurement and a Absolute Standard (LUFS) of Measurement 

– finally the Goal is to “Standardize” all Levels Broadcasted across the World, so everyone can put away the Remote Control as the perceived Level is always Guaranteed

– Loudness War comes from the fact that any Peak can be Neutralized further and further with Clip Tools, Brick Wall Limiter etc. 

– means 0dB was the Magic Number and No Average Loudness Limit was set, now we are at -23dB LUFS 

– remember, Peaks are still Important too for Electrical Reasons, you might say that Average Loudness is Important for Engineering and Peak Levels are Important for the Equipment

– the EBU Algorithm also judges Material by their Frequency and Reflects 3 different Integration Times

R128 Characterises 3 Methods to Measure Material

1) Integrated or Average Loudness

– a Single Number which desires the Average Loudness from Start to Stop (either a 10 Seconds Spot or a 10 Minute Symphony)

– Integrated Loudness is therefore the Value that Broadcasters use to Normalise the output from One Program to the Next

2) True Peak Level Meter to Protect any Equipment (Production or Consumer) and Ensure Adequate Headroom

3) Loudness Range (similar to Dynamic Range) = the Difference between Average Soft Levels and Average Loud Levels in a Program

– also Known as “LRA”

Gated / Un-Gated

– in the EBUR128, they have determined that any Audio below a certain Level, is disregarded from the Integrated Figure (Gated)

– i.e. the Measurement “Freezes” (Suspends) to Not Influence the Result with Passages that are Irrelevant or too Quiet

– For Example “Dolby” used “Dialog Intelligence” to Measure only Areas of a Program that Contain Dialog

– so if your Audio drops below a certain Level it will Not affect the Overall Integrated Figure

– where as in the A85 Standard the Gate Feature is not Activated (Un-Gated)