English Manual LCn
Introduction About this manual Loudness website Getting support 1 2 2 2 System requirements and installation System requirements Supported hosts Supported sample rates Supported audio formats Supported file formats Installation and authorization 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 Using LCn One-step loudness normalization for your DAW LCn features Using LCn in Pro Tools Using the stand-alone version of LCn 9 10 10 11 11 Interface and feature reference LCn user interface overview LCn settings page Watch Folder mode Abou
Introduction Introduction LCn Manual 1
Introduction About this manual Loudness website Getting support Read this manual to learn how to install and use your TC Electronic software. Keeping track of the multitude of issues around loudness can be a challenge. That’s why we have created a one-stop dedicated loudness website where you’ll find critical information on the most important issues.
System requirements and installation System requirements and installation LCn Manual 3
System requirements and installation System requirements Supported hosts Installation and authorization Two plug-in versions You can use LCn either as a native Pro Tools plug-in or as a stand-alone version. You may be familiar with software licensing and authorization based on the iLok hardware. LCn uses a new license management concept/technology that allows you to authorize your plug-ins without a physical iLok key.
System requirements and installation Obtaining an iLok ID Please note that you only need to create one account for all your PACE-based software licenses. If you already have an iLok ID, proceed with “Obtaining and installing the iLok License Manager” on page 5. – Go to the iLok website: www.ilok.com – Click on “Create Free Account”. – Fill the Free Account Setup form and click “Create Account”.
System requirements and installation Managing plug-in activation – After signing in, the plug-ins that were registered to your iLok ID will be available for activation and deactivation. Activating your plug-in from the iLok License Manager To activate your plug-in from the iLok License Manager, proceed as follows: – Select the plug-in in the license list. – Click on “Show Details”. Additional information about the plug-in and a sidebar with license-related functions will be shown. Fig. 3.
System requirements and installation Installing LCn – Make sure your host software (Pro Tools) is not running. – Run the installer for the LCn plug-in. You may need an administrator account name and password to run the installer.
System requirements and installation Updating LCn To update LCn to a newer version, just run the installer for the update as described under “Installing LCn” on page 7. The currently installed software version will be replaced by the new version. You do not have to activate the plug-in again after updating. Fig. 10.: Plug-in activation confirmation – When your host software has finished launching, the newly activated plug-in(s) will be available.
Using LCn Using LCn LCn Manual 9
Using LCn One-step loudness normalization for your DAW Whether you deliver for HDTV, Mobile TV, podcast, radio, iTunes, Spotify and/or other modern platforms: Hitting the right loudness target is essential. LCn makes this as easy as clicking a button or dragging a file to a folder. These are high-quality plug-ins that will measure and correct the loudness of your tracks. The plug-in versions of LCn allows you to apply faster-than-real-time, two-pass, off-line processing of your tracks in Pro Tools.
Using LCn Using LCn in Pro Tools Using the stand-alone version of LCn – Install and activate the plug-in as described in “Installation and authorization” on page 4. – Launch Pro Tools, open your project and select a clip for processing. – Open Audio Suite > Sound Field > LC2n Loudness Correct or LC6n Loudness Correct – Click “Analyze” to analyze the selected clip or click “Render” to analyze and process the clip.
Interface and feature reference Interface and feature reference LCn Manual 12
Interface and feature reference LCn user interface overview LCn is available as a native Pro Tools plug-in and as a stand-alone version. While the parameters and processing features for both versions are identical, there are minor user interface differences. In the PDF version of this manual, you can click on a user interface element below to learn more about it. File chooser (stand-alone version only) To select an audio file for processing, click the Choose button on top of the LCn window.
Interface and feature reference Analyze button To have LCn analyze the currently selected clip or file, click the Analyze button. When analysis is started, the Radar Meters are set to an adequate range, so that the loudness landscape for the full clip or file can be displayed. After analysis, the left Radar Meter will display the short-term loudness landscape for the source clip or file. For more information, see “Source Radar Meter” on page 17.
Interface and feature reference Radar Meter inspector Descriptors Source and target Int (Program loudness) descriptors The Radar Meter inspector shows the length of the analyzed clip or file and the amount of time that the radar circle represents. The four pairs of descriptors between the two Radar Meters show essential loudness-related values for the source clip or file (once it has been analyzed) and the processed clip or file (once you have processed the source file).
Interface and feature reference Source and target LRA descriptors Source and target Short Term Max descriptors Source and target True Peak Max. descriptors The Loudness Range (abbreviated as “LRA”) descriptors show the loudness range of the unprocessed and the processed clip or file as standardized in EBU R128. The unit is LU. The Short Term Max (abbreviated as “SMax”) descriptors show the maximum momentary value for the unprocessed and the processed clip or file.
Interface and feature reference Source Radar Meter Source “LED” Processed Radar Meter The left radar meter shows the loudness landscape of the source clip or file. The round colored “LED” on the left side of the plug-in window shows the status of the source clip or file as follows: The right radar meter shows the loudness landscape of the processed clip or file. For more information, see “Source Radar Meter” on page 17.
Interface and feature reference Preset drop-down menu Max Boost parameter Max Reduction parameter Use the Preset drop-down menu to select the platform and/or region for the processed clip or file. The available options are: – Default (BS 1770.3) – ATSC A/85 – ARIB TR-B32 – EBU R128 Normal – EBU R128 Short Form Cnt – OP-59 – CD Master – Film – Mobile – iTunes Use the Max Boost slider to specify the maximum amount of gain that should be added to the signal during processing.
Interface and feature reference Surr. Ch. Order drop-down menu (applies to LC6n only) Target parameter S Max parameter If you use the plug-in to process a 5.1 signal, use the Surr. Ch. Order drop-down menu to specify the order of the channels. Use the Target slider to adjust the Program Loudness target. According to new EBU R128 revisions, there is a recommendation for short-form content such as commercials and promos.
Interface and feature reference Limiter Threshold parameter Limiter Profile parameter Version information Use the Limiter Threshold slider to set the threshold for the built-in True Peak Limiter. For more information on the True Peak Limiter, see “About the LCn True Peak Limiter” on page 27. Use the Limiter Profile drop-down menu to select a profile for the True Peak Limiter: PCM Linear or AC3 Protect. Click the TC Electronic logo to display LCn version information.
Interface and feature reference LCn settings page Watch Folder Mode parameter “When file is added” drop-down menu The parameters shown on the Settings page will change based on the setting of the Watch Folder Mode parameter. For the parameters that are only available when Watch Folder Mode is enabled, see “Watch Folder mode” on page 24. To enable Watch Folder mode, click the Watch Folder mode check box. For more information, see “Watch Folder mode” on page 24.
Interface and feature reference Destination folder chooser Reveal (destination folder) in Finder/Explorer button Temp folder chooser To specify the folder where LCn should save processed files, click the Destination folder: Choose button. A file dialog will open, allowing you to select a folder. Click the OK button to confirm the selected folder. To show the selected destination folder in your operating system’s file manager (Windows Explorer or OS X Finder), click the Reveal button.
Interface and feature reference “If file exists in destination folder” drop-down menu “Application window always on top” parameter If you repeatedly process a file with the same settings, you need to tell the plug-in how the resulting naming conflict in the target folder should be resolved by choosing the desired mode from the “If file exists in destination folder” drop-down menu. Processing large audio files – especially surround files – may take considerable time.
Interface and feature reference Watch Folder mode Activating Watch Folder Mode Reveal (source folder) in Finder/Explorer button A key functionality in the LCn stand-alone version is the dedicated watch folder capability. To enable Watch Folder mode, click the “Watch Folder mode” checkbox on the LCn settings page. To show the selected source folder in your operating system’s file manager (Windows Explorer or OS X Finder), click the Reveal button.
Interface and feature reference Watch Folder mode Start/ Stop button Activating Watch folder Mode will display a Start/ Stop button on the plug-in’s main page. Fig. 18.: Watch Folder mode enabled, but not started Click the “Start Watching” button to activate Watch Folder mode. The button will now read “Stop Watching”, and the “Watching…” message is displayed on top of the page. Fig. 19.
Interface and feature reference Deleting source files after processing If you want to have LCn delete files after they have been processed (instead of moving them to the “Processed” subfolder), enable the “Delete source file when processed” checkbox. LCn will only delete files after they have been successfully processed. Rejected files will not be deleted.
Interface and feature reference About the LCn True Peak Limiter True peak limiting is an essential part of normalizing to loudness. TC Electronic has a long history of providing the absolute finest, mastering-grade true peak limiting algorithms, and our legendary Brickwall 2 True Peak Limiter is an integrated part of LCn, complete with true peak limiter profiles (Linear and AC3 Protect) and linking functionality.
Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions LCn Manual 28
Frequently asked questions “Why does LCn not support Audio Units and VST hosts?” To measure and process signals, LCn requires two processing passes. Currently, only Pro Tools supports two-pass signal processing.
Appendix: Level versus loudness Appendix: Level versus loudness LCn Manual 30
Appendix: Level versus loudness The path to BS.1770 When level normalization in audio distribution is based on a peak level measures, it favors low dynamic range signatures. This is what has happened to the CD format. Quasi-peak level meters have this effect. They tell little about loudness and also require a headroom in order to stay clear of distortion. Using IEC 268-18 meters, the headroom needed is typically 8-9 dB. Sample based meters are also widely used, but tell even less about loudness.
Appendix: Level versus loudness In conclusion, BS.1770 is an honorable attempt at specifying loudness and peak level separately, instead of the simplistic (sample peak) and mixed up measures (quasi-peak) in use today. The loudness and peak level measurement engine of LCn follows the standard precisely. Possible updates to the ITU standard may be released as updates to LCn (provided that processing requirements doesn’t exhaust the system).
Appendix: Level versus loudness Postscript Control of loudness is the only audio issue that has made It to the political agenda. Political regulation is currently being put into effect in Europe to prevent hearing damage and disturbances from PA systems, and to avoid annoying level jumps during commercial breaks in television. In Australia, something similar may happen.
Appendix: Level versus loudness LCn Manual 34
