English Manual Loudness Pilot Product Product firmware version Document Document version / date Loudness Pilot Frame software 1.1.
Important safety instructions Warning Caution: Service EMC/EMI For the customers in Canada: 1 2 3 3 4 4 About this manual Getting support 5 6 Before you get started Register your product Stay up-to-date on loudness 7 8 8 Unpacking and setup Package contents Setup Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Finding and installing TC Icon software – Microsoft Windows Finding and installing TC Icon software – OS X Loudness Pilot: An introduction Perfect loudness management for Stereo and Mono Ultra
Icon Setup Accessing the Icon Setup pages Info page Devices page Security page Joystick page UI page Color page Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 81 82 82 83 84 85 85 85 ALC2 An introduction to ALC2 Main page ALC page Limit page 87 88 89 92 94 LM2 (optional) LM2 – Introduction LM2 – Basic Use LM2 – Radar Page LM2 – Main page LM2 – Setup page LM2 – Stat(istic)s page Level versus loudness LM2 log files Auto Logging 96 97 99 101 104 107 110 110 113 115 Appendix 1: Links and additional infor
Important safety instructions Important safety instructions Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 1
Important safety instructions The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety.
Important safety instructions ►► Mains ground must be connected. ►► Norwegian: Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt. Caution: Service ►► You are cautioned that any change or modi- ►► There are no user-serviceable parts inside. fications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment. ►► All service must be performed by qualified personnel. ►► Swedish: Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.
Important safety instructions EMC/EMI This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installations. mission, helpful: “How to identify and Resolve Radio/TV interference Problems.” This booklet is available from the US. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock No. 004000-0034-4.
About this manual About this manual Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 5
About this manual This manual will help you learn understanding and operating the TC Loudness Pilot. To get the most from this manual, please read it from start to finish, or you may miss important information. Getting support If you still have questions about the product after reading this manual, please get in touch with TC Support: tcelectronic.com/support/ This manual is only available as a PDF download from the TC Electronic website.
Before you get started Before you get started Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 7
Before you get started Register your product Stay up-to-date on loudness Please register this product so we can inform you about updates and other product-related news. To register your product, please go to: There are many aspects to loudness, and keeping track of all of them can be a challenge. This is why TC Electronic has created a dedicated loudness website, where all of these aspects are outlined, explained and discussed. This site is an answer to the question: tcelectronic.
Unpacking and setup Unpacking and setup Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 9
Unpacking and setup Package contents Setup Depending on the configuration you have purchased, the box should contain the following items: For basic setup information, see “Quick Setup” on page 35. ►► 1 Broadcast One unit running Loudness Pilot software ►► 2 power cables ►► 1 USB stick containing… – the TC Icon software, – the Loudness Pilot software, – this manual in PDF format.
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 11
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Operating Loudness Pilot requires a TC Icon remote (sold separately) or a computer running the TC Icon software. When you are working with a system involving one or multiple Loudness Pilot units, you are interacting with two types of software: 1. TC Icon software: TC Icon is a software application that you install on the computer(s) which you are using to access, configure, operate and update the Loudness Pilot unit(s).
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Finding and installing TC Icon software – Microsoft Windows ►► Right-click the .ZIP file and choose “Extract All…“ from the context menu. The most current version of TC Icon software for Microsoft Windows at the time of production is provided on the USB stick that came with your Loudness Pilot, but you may want to download the latest version from the TC Electronic website.
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware easily find the application – e.g., the Windows desktop. Updating TC Icon software To update the TC Icon software on your computer when a newer version is released, ►► quit the TC Icon software if it currently run- ning on your PC, ►► Double-click the .CAB file. ►► download and extract the newer version as described in this section and An “Icon” application file will be shown. ►► replace the currently installed version by copying the newer version over it.
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Finding and installing TC Icon software – OS X may already have extracted the contents from the .ZIP file automatically. The most current version of TC Icon software for OS X at the time of production is provided on the USB stick that came with your Loudness Pilot, but you may want to download the latest version from the TC Electronic website. You can download the latest version of the TC Icon software for OS X from: tcelectronic.
Software: TC Icon and Loudness Pilot firmware Updating TC Icon software To update the TC Icon software on your computer when a newer version is released, ►► quit the TC Icon software if it currently run- ning on your Mac, ►► Launch TC Icon by double-clicking the ap- plication. ►► download and extract the newer version as described in this section and TC Icon will try to establish connections to all connected TC devices on a local network, including your Loudness Pilot.
Loudness Pilot: An introduction Loudness Pilot: An introduction Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 17
Loudness Pilot: An introduction Loudness Pilot will help you deliver greatsounding, loudness compliant audio experiences to your listeners. Perfect loudness management for Stereo and Mono Loudness Pilot is the perfect solution for broadcast stations that need hassle-free mono and stereo loudness control. It can handle multiple TV channels or languages, or simultaneous delivery to multiple independent platforms – for instance TV and mobile.
Loudness Pilot – Basic concepts and operation Loudness Pilot – Basic concepts and operation Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 19
Loudness Pilot – Basic concepts and operation Operating Loudness Pilot Loudness Pilot is equipped with one or more signal processing cards. Each card encompasses four so-called engines. Two of these engines are running the ALC2 Loudness Correction algorithm (see “Loudness Wizard” on page 102), while the other two can run the optional LM2 metering algorithms (see “LM2 (optional)” on page 96). example, if GPI inputs are not used, make sure to make sure to disable the respective input.
Loudness Pilot – Basic concepts and operation Expanding your Loudness Pilot Loudness Pilot offers considerable flexibility in routing and processing audio signals. To benefit from this flexibility, you need to understand the basic concepts and building blocks of the device as outlined in this section. The audio processing capabilities of your device depend on the number of dual-engine cards/ processors (3G Transmission cards) installed.
Loudness Pilot – Basic concepts and operation SDI vs. AES Loudness Pilot presets There are no versions of Loudness Pilot that provide SDI and AES inputs and outputs on the same unit. Loudness Pilot comes with ready-to-use presets based on international standards. More presets will be made available as part of software updates from the TC website. These presets are based on information from broadcasters around the world.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Loudness Pilot status indicators and ports Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 23
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports This section of the manual describes the device’s status indicators and connectors. Front panel indicators Loudness Pilot has the following front panel status indicators: Please note that the number of front panel status indicators and connectors on the device depends on the hardware version you have purchased. PSU 1 and PSU 2 LEDs The PSU 1 and PSU 2 LEDs indicate the status of the two built-in power supplies. LED color / indication Green Fig. 15.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Sync LED(s) – SDI versions Sync LED(s) – AES versions Alert LED Loudness Pilot has three Sync LEDs – one for each of the up to three cards/engines in the device. If only one card is installed, only the first LED will be used. The Sync LED of Loudness Pilot AES (balanced/ unbalanced) indicates if synchronization to the signal source selected as Sync Source has been achieved.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Front panel reset button Signal LED The Signal LEDs indicate if audio streams are received and processed by Loudness Pilot. Detection for the Signal LEDs and GPO occurs at the input. The Reset button on the front panel can be used to reset the IP address of a Loudness Pilot unit or to reset Ethernet communication between Loudness Pilot and a computer when a communication error has occurred.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Resetting Ethernet communication Back panel connectors It may be necessary to reset Ethernet communication between Loudness Pilot and a computer during operation. To do so, proceed as follows: ►► During operation, insert a straightened paper clip or a similar object into the “Reset” hole on the front panel until it touches the button behind the panel, and press the button for approximately 5 seconds until the LEDs start blinking.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Ethernet interface(s) SDI In Port(s) SDI Out Port(s) Loudness Pilot is equipped with 32 bit Ethernet interfaces fully compliant with the IEE 802.3u standard, supporting 10 and 100 Mbit/s (100Base-TX ports). Loudness Pilot has either one, two or three SDI In ports, depending on the number of 3G Transmission cards installed. Loudness Pilot has either one, two or three SDI Out ports, depending on the number of 3G Transmission cards installed.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports Unbalanced AES-3id In Ports Unbalanced AES-3id Out Ports Balanced AES In/Out Ports The Unbalanced AES version of Loudness Pilot has 8 AES-3id In ports on BNC connectors with one channel pair per connector. The Unbalanced AES version of Loudness Pilot has 8 AES-3id Out ports on BNC connectors with one channel pair per connector.
Loudness Pilotstatus indicators and ports About AES channels GPIO Port(s) Loudness Pilot AES (balanced/unbalanced) comes fully loaded with 16 channels of unbalanced AES I/O, and by default the first 8 channels are active. Connect a controller to this port to control various Loudness Pilot features remotely. Should you need even more channels, you can purchase a separate license for activating channels 9-16. See “Extending your product’s capabilities with optional licenses” on page 121.
Setting up Loudness Pilot Setting up Loudness Pilot Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 31
Setting up Loudness Pilot Loudness Pilot can be used in a variety of configurations and setups. However, as all TC Broadcast processors in your system can be controlled from a single computer running TC Icon software, even large and complex setups are basically operated in the same manner as the basic setup described in this chapter.
Setting up Loudness Pilot If your computer is using the same IP address as a Loudness Pilot on the same network, you have two options: ►► Alter the last octet (the last three numbers) of Changing your computer’s subnet mask and TCP/IP address If and where you can change the subnet mask and IP address of your computer depends on… your computer’s IP address or ►► the operating system you are using and ►► Alter the last octet of the Loudness Pilot’s IP address. ►► your account privileges.
Setting up Loudness Pilot Changing subnet mask and TCP/ IP address of a Loudness Pilot ►► Enter the new subnet mask. ►► Confirm by clicking Enter. To change the subnet mask and TCP/IP address of a Loudness Pilot, you need to access it using a computer running the TC Icon software. This means that in case of an IP address conflict that keeps you from accessing Loudness Pilot in the first place, you need to change your computer’s IP first as described in the previous section.
Setting up Loudness Pilot Resetting the IP address of a Loudness Pilot Quick Setup ►► If you have not already done so, download This guide applies for a simple setup as illustrated below. You may need to reset the IP address of a Loudness Pilot. This procedure is described in the section “Front panel reset button” on page 26. ►► Launch the TC Icon software on your com- puter. If the serial number of a particular Loudness Pilot ends with “00”, the default IP address for this device will be 192.168.1.
Setting up Loudness Pilot ►► If you cannot access Loudness Pilot, please refer to “Networking basics and troubleshooting” on page 32. That’s it – you are now ready to configure and operate your Loudness Pilot. Updating Loudness Pilot software The latest version of both the Loudness Pilot software and the TC Icon software editor available at the time of production are supplied with your Loudness Pilot.
Basic operation Basic operation Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 37
Basic operation Introduction Basic TC Icon operation This section of the manual is a general introduction to operating Loudness Pilot using the TC Icon software. The TC Icon software interface has been optimized for use in real-time situations in broadcast and post production environments (which usually are very different from standard desktop computing tasks and environments). Accordingly, buttons are very prominent and clearly labelled to ensure proper operation even in stressful situations.
Basic operation TC Icon modes: Base and Device operation The TC Icon software has two operation modes: Base and Device operation. Faders The TC Icon software has large on-screen faders. They have several features that will help you operate your Loudness Pilot efficiently. Using Faders for fine adjustments When a parameter is assigned to a fader, you can choose between Normal and Fine adjustment mode. ►► There are six on-screen faders.
Basic operation Fader Groups Loudness Pilot algorithms encompass many parameters on several pages. For efficient operation, the most important parameters can be assigned to the on-screen faders in Fader Groups. Fader Groups allow you to access the most important features immediately, no matter what particular page is currently being displayed. ►► Use the arrow buttons on the Fader Group selector (on the left edge of the TC Icon software window) to select the desired Fader Group.
Basic operation On-screen keyboard Loudness Pilot allows you to store and rename presets, assign labels to inputs and outputs and perform other functions where text input is required. When you access one of these functions, an on-screen keyboard will be displayed. Fig. 23.: TC Icon software – Onscreen keyboard While they keyboard is being displayed, you can either click the letters shown on-screen or use your computer’s keyboard for character input.
Accessing Loudness Pilot Accessing Loudness Pilot Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 42
Accessing Loudness Pilot ►► Connect your computer and Loudness Pilot ►► If a connected device is not detected, please as described in the “Setting up Loudness Pilot” chapter. refer to “Networking basics and troubleshooting” on page 32. ►► Power up your computer and your Loudness ►► Click the icon representing the Loudness Pi- Pilot. ►► On your computer, launch the TC Icon soft- ware. lot to access it.
Accessing Loudness Pilot Scanning / rescanning a network for devices To scan a network for devices: The scenario described above covers the first time you boot up your system or when no connected units are assigned. ►► In the TC Icon software, go to Setup / Devices When… For further information, see “Devices page” on page 83. ►► Click the Detect button.
Obtaining Loudness Pilot status information Obtaining Loudness Pilot status information Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 45
Obtaining Loudness Pilot status information Please note that the LEDs on the front of a Loudness Pilot will display basic status information as long as the device is powered – see “Front panel indicators” on page 24. Additional status information can be obtained using TC Icon, where you can also define how certain error states should be indicated on the device. To display status information about Loudness Pilot, go to Frame / System / Status.
Obtaining Loudness Pilot status information Sync indicator Alert indicator Signal indicator The states and color codes shown here are the same as those shown by the respective Loudness Pilot Sync LED on the front panel of the device – see “Sync LED(s) – SDI versions” on page 25. The states and color codes shown here are the same as those shown by the respective Loudness Pilot Alert LED on the front panel of the device– see “Alert LED” on page 25.
Obtaining Loudness Pilot status information Temperature indicator Shows the current internal temperature of Loudness Pilot in degrees Celsius.
Setting up audio and syncing Setting up audio and syncing Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 49
Setting up audio and syncing I/O Setup – SDI SDI Status indication section Audio (In) Groups selector Lock status indicator The Lock status field shows the top-level lock status of an incoming SDI stream. Settings: “Groups 1+2”/“Groups 3+4”/“Groups 1+3”/“Groups 1+4”/“Groups 2+3”/“Groups 2+4” Use the Audio Groups selector to select audio groups for metering and processing. ►► When Loudness Pilot is locked to an accept- ! To set up audio, go to Frame / System / I/O / SDI.
Setting up audio and syncing Advanced SDI Mode section The Advanced SDI Mode section of the I/O SDI page contains SDI-related settings that you would normally not have to change. Advanced settings switch To change Advanced SDI settings, click the Advanced button in the Advanced SDI Mode section of this page. ! Please note that switching off access to Advanced SDI settings will reset all parameters in this section to their default values.
Setting up audio and syncing to select the stream that Loudness Pilot should de-embed/embed audio from and to. ! Please note that when running 3G Level B, data stream 1 and data stream 2 need to have the same bit width so Loudness Pilot can de-embed and process audio. I.e., both data streams need to contain 8-bit data, or both data streams need contain 10-bit data). If the bit widths of the two data streams differ, Loudness Pilot will not be able to de-embed and process audio.
Setting up audio and syncing I/O Setup – Loudness Pilot AES AES section To set up audio, go to Frame / System / I/O / AES. Use this page to… ►► “Bypassed” (yellow LED / Warning): “Bypassed” is displayed when the Loudness Pilot hardware bypass relay has been activated. Lock status indicator ►► display information about incoming audio, ►► set the sync signal source ►► change Advanced AES settings.
Setting up audio and syncing Sync Source Advanced Mode section (AES) Settings: AES 1/2, AES 3/4, AES 5/6, AES 7/8, AES 9/10, AES 11/12, AES 13/14, AES 15/16* Use the Sync Source parameter to select the signal source that Loudness Pilot should sync to. The Advanced AES Mode section contains additional AES-related settings. ing external clock source or an internal crystal running at 48 kHz. ►► External reference is mandatory in a broad- cast installation and therefore the default setting.
Setting up audio and syncing ►► Halt: When the sync source is not present and the Clock Fallback parameter is set to Halt, all AES outputs are turned off – meaning no audio data and no AES carrier (no clock) are being sent out. Use this setting if you prefer to stop audio and clock output completely in a reference sync error situation. In this situation, the input signals are also turned off, and accordingly, meter activity will cease.
Loudness Pilot remote control Loudness Pilot remote control Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 56
Loudness Pilot remote control Loudness Pilot provides extensive remote control features. GPI and SDI metadata allow you to tailor remote control to your station’s demands. Remote – Master Scene Recall section GPI input 1 can be used for User Scene preset recall (see “Library – Recall page” on page 70). Please note that remote control based on SDI metadata requires an optional license. For more information, see “Extending your product’s capabilities with optional licenses” on page 121.
Loudness Pilot remote control Processing section Audio processing in your Loudness Pilot can be controlled via GPI or SDI metadata. When GPI or SDI metadata are being used to control the device, a blue LED on the respective Engine pages will indicate that their features are remote-controlled. “Normal” display If “Normal” is displayed, audio-processing is not remote-controlled, and the unit works as specified by the current Engine preset.
Loudness Pilot remote control Remote – GPI GPI 1: Scene Recall section Select the Preset Bank using the Scene Bank parameter. Enable button Use this button to enable GPI 1 input for User Scene Recall. For a description of the “Idle” state, see “Idle state” on page 60. A “GPI” button that controls the same function can be found on the Remote – Master page in the Scene Recall section. 4 Presets setting Select one of four Presets using GPI1.
Loudness Pilot remote control For a description of the “Idle” state, see “Idle state” on page 60. Select the Preset Bank using the Scene Bank parameter. 4 Presets DUAL setting Select one of four Presets using GPI1 and GPI2. This mode uses simple binary inputs on GPI1 and GPI2 – i.e. 00, 01, 10 and 11. 16 Presets DUAL setting Select one of sixteen Presets using GPI1 and GPI2. This mode uses 8-state on GPI1 and binary on GPI2.
Loudness Pilot remote control it only involves parameters changes or the routing and algorithm change as well. For information on voltage windows and GPI circuits, see “Appendix 2: Loudness Pilot GPI/O page” on page 122. GPI 2 – Processing Control section min (0V) GPI (or SDI metadata) can be used to remotecontrol your Loudness Pilot’s audio processing feature.
Loudness Pilot remote control “(N/A)” display Displayed when the algorithm currently loaded in the Engine does not support the selected Function and therefore GPI is not controlling it. The device’s behavior is defined by the currently active Engine preset. GPI 3 – Resetting section Engines parameter GPI can also be used to reset the history of the Loudness Pilot.
Loudness Pilot remote control ►► When the input is pulled low to minimum volt- age (0V), Loudness Pilot will catch the pulse and reset. GP Input Calibration To calibrate GPI, go to the Frame / System / Remote / Cal page. ►► Nothing will happen when the pulse returns from minimum to maximum. The width of the incoming pulse should be at least 40 ms. It will take less than 200 ms from received reset pulse to the actual Reset.
Loudness Pilot remote control Setting up GPO To set up GPO, go to the Frame / System / Remote / GPO page. lay (1 or 2) should represent the inactive state of the assigned LED/status information. Available settings are “Open” and “Closed”. Remote – SDI GPO setup example ►► To signal Loudness Pilot Synchronization Status on GPO relay 1 – see “Sync LED(s) – SDI versions” on page 25 –, set the GPO 1 parameter to “Sync LED”. ►► If you set Idle State 1 to “Open”, the GPO 1 relay… Fig. 33.
Loudness Pilot remote control An SDI button that controls the same function can be found on the Remote – Master page in the Processing section. Detecting parameter Use this parameter to enable remote control of features using SDI metadata. SDI stream, Loudness Pilot will bypass the Loudness processing specified by the Engine preset. packets with an SDID value of 0x01 and a specific audio channel pair.
Loudness Pilot remote control “SMPTE2020 Detected” display Can only be displayed when the Detecting parameter is set to Any SMPTE2020. Indicates that Loudness Pilot is receiving valid SMPTE2020 metadata packages. Current Processing display This field display the status of the current audio processing in the Loudness Pilot. Remote/metadata-triggered behavior is described here.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Recalling, storing and deleting settings Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 67
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Scenes, Routings, Engines To use Loudness Pilot effectively, you should make all required settings as described in this manual and then store them, so they can later be recalled. You may also want to name the settings you store and delete settings that are no longer required. All these features are described in this chapter. You first need to understand the hierarchical structure of your Loudness Pilot.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings The Library concept The Library gives you access to all settings of all parameters of the currently selected Loudness Pilot. The highest organizational level of the Library is a Bank. A Bank will hold either… ►► 50 Scene presets or ►► 50 Routing presets or ►► 100 Engine presets or ►► 100 Meter presets ►► Factory presets vs. user presets When recalling presets, you will see that there are two categories of presets: Factory presets and User presets.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Library – Recall page – Route – to recall a Routing preset. ►► Click the Info tag to display additional infor- mation about this preset in a modal dialog. – E(ngine) 1 or E(ngine) 2 – to recall an Engine preset and use it for the currently selected Engine. ►► Click the OK button do close the dialog. – M(eter) 1 or M(eter) 2 – to recall a Meter preset and use it for the currently selected Loudness Meter.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Library – Store page – E(ngine) 1 or E(ngine) 2 – to store the settings of either Engine 1 or 2 as an Engine preset. ►► Click the large Enter button to confirm the new name. ! ►► Select a User preset group. There are 8 User preset groups, with each group holding up to 8 presets. ►► Select a preset slot in the currently selected group that you want to use. ►► Click the large “Store (Scene / Route / Engine) Fig. 36.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Operating the unit while renaming presets Please note that even when renaming presets or adding information as described above, the faders for the previously accessed page are still available and operational. This means you can continue operating the faders even when the keyboard is shown on screen.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Library – Delete page – M(eter) 1 or M(eter) 2 ►► Select a User preset group. There are 8 User preset groups, with each group holding up to 8 presets. ►► Select a preset in the currently selected group that you want to delete. ►► Click the large “Delete (Scene / Route / En- gine / Meter) Preset” button to delete the selected preset. Fig. 37.
Recalling, storing and deleting settings Library – Bank page ►► Select the subpage for the setting type you ►► Click the “Copy Bank” button. want to copy: – Scene – to copy Scene presets. – Route – to copy Routing presets. – Engine – to copy Engine presets. – Meter – to copy Meter presets. To copy from a Bank to a file on disk Fig. 38.: Library – Engine Bank page Use the Library Bank page of the TC Icon software to copy Scene / Routing / Engine / Meter Presets from one location to another.
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 75
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware You should keep both the TC Icon software running on your computer and the software of your Loudness Pilot (the firmware) up to date. Using up-to-date software versions ensures you benefit from bug fixes and the latest features. Updating the firmware of your Loudness Pilot requires a computer with the TC Icon software installed. In TC Icon, you can select a previously downloaded Loudness Pilot firmware file (with a “.
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Finding and installing Loudness Pilot firmware – Microsoft Windows You can download the latest version of the Loudness Pilot firmware from: The software will be downloaded to your browser’s default download location. Usually, this is the “Downloads” folder for your user account. A dialog box will allow you to specify where the extracted files should be stored. ►► In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder ►► Accept the defaults or change the path. We tcelectronic.
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Pilot. We will assume that you have extracted the content of the ZIP archive to C:\LP\. If you have extracted it to another location, you will have to specify this in the “Common Software Update Folder” field accordingly (see below). – you extracted the downloaded .tca file to the folder “LP” on the drive root (see previous steps) …the correct path would be: ►► Connect your PC to the Loudness Pilot that C:\LP\ you want to update using an Ethernet cable.
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Finding and installing Loudness Pilot firmware – OS X You can download the latest version of the Loudness Pilot firmware from: tcelectronic.com/support/software/ In the next steps, you will select this .tca file in the TC Icon software to transfer it to Loudness Pilot. ►► Enter the path to the folder where the down- loaded .tca file is located. For the first example, we will assume that you have left the file at its default position (the “Downloads” folder).
Updating Loudness Pilot firmware Locating and transferring the Loudness Pilot firmware file – example 1 ►► Confirm that you want to perform the update by clicking the “Yes” button. ►► A confirmation message will be shown once This is a simple default scenario where we assume that… the update has been applied. Click “OK”. – your hard disk drive is called “Macintosh HD” Locating the Loudness Pilot firmware file – example 2 If you have moved the .
Icon Setup Icon Setup Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 81
Icon Setup This chapter covers screens and parameters of the TC Icon software not directly related to the day-to-day operation of your Loudness Pilot. Accessing the Icon Setup pages Info page On this page, the version number of the currently installed TC Icon software is displayed. ►► If it isn’t already, switch the TC Icon software to Base mode by clicking the Icon symbol in the upper left corner of the window – see “TC Icon modes: Base and Device operation” on page 39.
Icon Setup Devices page Use this page to detect, control and assign the devices in your local network. Detect button Click the “Detect” button to scan the network for connected devices. All detected devices will appear in the list. If you encounter problems when detecting connected devices, please refer to “Networking basics and troubleshooting” on page 32. Assigning devices to the available slots You need to assign a device to a slot of the TC Icon software to control it.
Icon Setup Security page On the security page, you can set several features regarding device readouts and operation. Sticky Clip button Lock Device UI button Click the Sticky Clip button to activate or deactivate the Sticky Clip feature. Click the Lock Device UI button to lock or unlock the user interfaces of the devices controlled by the TC Icon software.
Icon Setup Joystick page UI page Color page The MIDI Joystick setup page of the TC Icon software is not required for operating Loudness Pilot and not described in this manual. Fig. 39.: TC Icon software – UI page TC Icon Window parameter Use the TC Icon Window parameter to specify if and where faders should be shown. Three options are available. Changes on this page will take effect next time you open the TC Icon software. Fig. 40.
Icon Setup Color Scheme parameter Color Element parameters Use the Color Scheme parameter to select a predefined color scheme. You can select a predefined color scheme from the list or define your own color scheme using one of the “User scheme” slots. Use the Color Element parameters to customize the colors of the currently selected User scheme. You can change the colors used for: ►► Background ►► Icon Panel Front ►► Icon Panel Back ►► Device Panel Front ►► Device Panel Back ►► User Interface Text.
ALC2 ALC2 Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 87
ALC2 An introduction to ALC2 Subtle corrections to loudness can make a significant difference to your viewers/listeners. ALC2 is capable of doing just that: Apply substantial corrections when needed, make subtle adjustments when appropriate – and leave your audio absolutely untouched when it is already normalized. ALC2 is the “heart and soul” of Loudness Pilot.
ALC2 Main page Input section Auto Switching section In Gain parameters Use the In Gain parameters to apply a static gain to the currently processed signal. Parameter range is from -18 dB to +18 dB. Introduction to Auto Switching Loudness Pilot features Auto Input Switching, enabling seamless fallback switching to another signal source if the primary source is not available.
ALC2 Auto parameter Use the Auto parameter to configure the condition that will trigger a fallback from the Main to the Aux input as described above. Fig. 42.: Routing page, with channels 1 and 2 connected to Engine 1’s Main inputs and channels 5 and 6 connected to Engine 1’s Aux inputs The basic assumption for Auto Switching is that your Main (primary) signal is the default.
ALC2 Processing section Loudness Correct parameter Use the Loudness Correct parameter to specify if Loudness adjustment should be applied. On To switch on Loudness adjustment of the input signal, set the Loudness Correct parameter to On. Off To switch off Loudness adjustment of the input signal, set the Loudness Correct parameter to Off. Look-ahead and Lipsync Delay section Audio Delay parameter Use the Audio Delay parameter to adjust AV sync.
ALC2 ALC page Loudness section Target Level parameter Use the Target level parameter to set the target level for Loudness adjustment. The unit is shown as “LFS”, which denotes “LKFS” as well as “LUFS” (the two are identical). For normal broadcast, the value should typically be between -18 and -24 LFS. Note that the distance between this value and Limit Threshold on the Limit page is a quality-defining factor – i.e. the standard headroom of the station.
ALC2 Correction parameter Use the Correction parameter to set how much correction is applied when the actual loudness is different from the Target Level. For instance, if Correction is set at 40%, and loudness is 6 dB away from the Target Level, the processor will apply a correction of 2.4 dB. Be careful when setting this parameter, as it may take a little “time testing” to arrive at the best value, especially if you wish to cover within program level jumps and inter-program level jumps using one preset.
ALC2 Limit page Pre Limit Gain section True-Peak Limit section Gain Trim parameter Threshold parameter Threshold Range: -18 to +18 dB (Default: 0 dB) Use the Gain Trim parameter to gain trim for the left and right channels. This parameter can be used for true-peak protected level conversion. Fig. 45.: Loudness Pilot Limit page The Limiter uses true-peak detection exceeding the oversampling requirements of BS.1770.
ALC2 Link parameter The Link parameter defines how limiters work together. tive content, “Voice” for predominantly speech or “Universal” for all-round adaptive settings. Output section For AC3 delivery, use the “AC3 Codec” Profile setting. Output Fader parameter The Output Fader parameter is a post-limiter fader. Parameter range is from -100 dB to 12 dB. Dual Mono setting ►► If a threshold is exceeded in one channel, only that specific channel is limited.
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LM2 (optional) LM2 – Introduction The LM2 Loudness Radar Meter algorithm can measure loudness at the input stage as well as the output stage of Loudness Pilot. It shows the user the essence of the “loudness landscape” at a glance for a complete and instant overview, including: ►► Loudness History ►► Momentary Loudness ►► True-peak Level ►► Program Loudness and What is LM2? LM2 core features LM2 represents a quantum leap away from simply measuring audio level to measuring perceived loudness.
LM2 (optional) TC’s Universal Database of Loudness sures, low dynamic range signatures end up the loudest as shown by the red line in Fig 1. Since 1998, TC has performed listening tests and evaluation of loudness models. From these tests, TC has built an extensive Universal Database of loudness, based on tens of thousands of assessments. This database covers all sorts of broadcast material, music, commercials, feature film and experimental sounds, and is verified against other independent studies.
LM2 (optional) In broadcast, the goal is to use the same loudness measure for… LM2 – Basic Use LM2 can be used with mono and stereo material for any type of program material. ►► Production, It visualizes… ►► Ingest, ►► short-term loudness, ►► Linking, ►► loudness history and ►► Master Control Processing and ►► long-term statistical descriptors. ►► Logging. To bring up the Radar display: Fig. 47.: Fig. 2: Target loudness based on a consumer’s Dynamic Range Tolerance Fig.
LM2 (optional) Reading the Radar display Pausing and resetting the Radar display The Pause and Reset buttons to the left of the display are the “transport controls” of LM2. They are used to make the radar and descriptor measurements run, pause and reset. Setting up LM2 To change the current LM2 preset’s name and adjust basic parameters, click the “Main” button. To configure what information is displayed, click the “Setup” button. Click the Reset button to reset the Radar display and the descriptors.
LM2 (optional) Working with LM2 presets LM2 – Radar Page LM2 presets define parameters such as target loudness, noise floor, and overload conditions. You can use TC Icon’s Library functions to rename, store and recall presets – see “Recalling, storing and deleting settings” on page 67. Outer Ring: Current Loudness The segmented outer ring of the Radar page displays Momentary loudness. The “12 o’clock” position represents the 0 LU point (i.e. Target Loudness). Values above this point are shown in yellow.
LM2 (optional) Long-term measurements Reset button Universal descriptors may be used to make program-duration measurements, or you may “spotcheck” regular dialog or individual scenes as required. It is recommended not to measure programs of a shorter duration than approximately 10 seconds, while the maximum duration may be 24 hours or longer. Before a new measurement, click the Reset button. This will reset the descriptors, the radar and the true-peak meters.
LM2 (optional) Universal Descriptors and AC3 Metadata The “Dialnorm” parameter in AC3 metadata should indicate the average loudness of a program. Basic dynamic range and level control that rely on this parameter may take place in the consumer’s receiver. Therefore, its value should not be far off target, or the consumer results become highly unpredictable. Program Loudness in LM2 is directly compatible with dialnorm in AC3. Most broadcast stations work with a fixed dialnorm setting, for instance -23 LUFS.
LM2 (optional) LM2 – Main page Descriptors section he could be instructed to call an audio expert for help. Descriptor 1 / Descriptor 2 parameters The following may be regarded as initial production guidelines: Range setting Loudness Range (standardized in EBU R128 and abbreviated “LRA”) displays the loudness range of a program, a film or a music track. The unit is LU, which can be thought of as “dB on the average”.
LM2 (optional) Prog. Loudn. setting Program Loudness returns one loudness number for an entire program, film or music track. Its unit is LUFS. Some vendors and countries use the unit “LKFS” or “LUFS”, but all three designate the same: An absolute measure of loudness in the digital domain, where the region around “0” is overly loud and not relevant for measuring anything but test signals. Expect readings of broadcast programs in the range between -28 and -20 LUFS.
LM2 (optional) Loudness section Loudness Std. parameter The Program Loudness measure is always rooted in the ITU-R BS.1770 loudness model. This parameter sets measurement gating. Note that the parameter only influences Program Loudness, and not Sliding Loudness or Loudness Max. ITU BS.1770-3 setting This setting reflects the latest revision of ITU-R BS.1770. Relative gate at -10 LU, safety gate at -70 LUFS. Leq(K) setting This setting reflects the original version of ITUR BS.1770.
LM2 (optional) LM2 – Setup page Radar page section Momentary Range parameter Settings: “+9 Scale” or “+18 Scale” The Radar Resolution parameter sets the difference in loudness between each concentric circle in the Radar display. Choose a low value when targeting a platform with a low dynamic range tolerance. You may “zoom” between the settings, as long as the history isn’t reset.
LM2 (optional) Peak Indicator parameter Range: -12 to +3 dBFS True Peak Meters section Preset View section Use the Peak Indicator parameter to specify the value that should trigger the Peak indicator in the upper right corner of the Radar display. E.g., if you set Peak Indicator to -1 dBFS, the PEAK indicator on the Radar page will be lit when the signal is -1 dBFS or above. TP Meters button Use the TP Meters button to switch the stereo True Peak meters on the right edge of the LM2 on or off.
LM2 (optional) M Loudness Alert section M Threshold parameter Range: -30 to 0 LUFS / “Off” Use the M Threshold parameter to specify the value that should trigger a High Loudness alarm. This alarm will be sent through the GPO and shown on the LM2 Alert LED.
LM2 (optional) LM2 – Stat(istic)s page Level versus loudness The Statistics page gives an overview of essential descriptors: When level normalization in audio distribution is based on a peak level measure, it favors low dynamic range signatures as shown in Fig 1. This is what has happened to CD.
LM2 (optional) the standard has subsequently come into effect. It has been debated if the loudness part is robust enough, because it will obviously get exploited where possible. However, with a variety of program material, Leq(RLB) has been verified in independent studies to be a relatively accurate measure, and correlate well with human test panels. It therefore seems justified to use Leq(RLB) as a baseline measure for loudness, especially because room for improvement is also built into the standard.
LM2 (optional) Display LM2 may use either the measurement unit of LU (Loudness Units) or LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale). LU and LUFS are measurements in dB, reflecting the estimated gain offset to arrive at a certain Reference Loudness (LU) or Maximum Loudness (LUFS) as defined in BS.1770. Since a common reference point for LU has not been agreed on at the time of writing, LUFS (or “LKFS”, pointing specifically to the Leq(R2LB) weighting of BS.
LM2 (optional) by AC3 based transmissions, but also on other broadcast platforms, such as analog TV, mobile TV and IPTV. In summary: LM2 is part of a holistic and universal approach to loudness control, starting at with the production or live engineer. When she realizes the dynamic range at her disposal, less processing is needed at later stages of a distribution chain.
LM2 (optional) Log File folder defaults ►► The default log file folder for Microsoft Win- dows is: [C:] \users\ [your user name] \Documents\LM ►► The default log file folder for Apple OS X is: [Root] /users/ [your user name] / Documents/TC Electronic/ To specify the folder path, click in this field and type the path to the folder you want to use. Press the Enter key to confirm. Dump log button This button is not available when Auto Logging has been enabled – see “Auto Logging” on page 115.
LM2 (optional) Log file format and structure Each log file is a plain text file with the structure shown below. The header shows a summary of the log, followed by the actual, time-stamped values in tab-separated values format. This file format can easily be imported into spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers for further analysis. Log file header If the Loudness Meter preset being used has been edited, the Preset Name is followed by “Edited”.
LM2 (optional) Log Select page To activate Auto Logging, ►► switch TC Icon software to Base mode by Loudness Pilot meter log file retrieval On a Loudness Pilot, the Meter Engines M1 and M2 are always available. Enable Auto Logging from them by clicking the M1 and/or M2 buttons on the Log Select page. “Auto log is not available from this device” If a product controlled by the Icon application does not feature a Loudness Meter.
LM2 (optional) Log Setup page button enabled on the Log Select page – see “Log Select page” on page 116. Additional log files will be retrieved in the intervals specified using the Interval field. To configure Auto Logging, ►► switch TC Icon software to Base mode by clicking the Icon symbol in the upper left corner of the window, Log File Folder Use the Log File Folder field to specify a folder on your computer where retrieved log files should be stored.
LM2 (optional) Further info When you have activated Auto Logging, additional information is displayed on the Log Setup page: Next Auto Log Retrieval display This is the time when the next log file retrieval will occur. E.g., “2014-09-15 15:57” means that the next log file retrieval will occur on September 15, 2014, at 3:57 pm. Countdown display This field shows a countdown to the next log file retrieval in hours, minutes and seconds.
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Appendix 1: Links and additional information Support resources TC Electronic on… TC HD resources ►► TC Electronic service and warranty: ►► the web: ►► TC Electronic | Production: tcelectronic.com/support/service-warranty/ ►► TC Electronic Support: tcelectronic.com/support/ ►► TC Electronic – product software: tcelectronic.com/support/software/ ►► TC Electronic – all product manuals: tcelectronic.com/support/manuals/ ►► TC Electronic user forum: forum.tcelectronic.
Appendix 1: Links and additional information Product-related information ►► Loudness Pilot support page: tcelectronic.com/loudness-pilot/support/ Extending your product’s capabilities with optional licenses SDI Metadata The capabilities of your Loudness Pilot can be extended by purchasing optional licenses listed below. Allows signal processing control based on SDI Metadata. For more information, see “Remote – SDI” on page 64.
Appendix 2: Loudness Pilot GPI/O page Appendix 2: Loudness Pilot GPI/O page Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 122
Appendix 2: Loudness Pilot GPI/O page GPIO Technical specifications The General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) connector on the Loudness Pilot back panel is configured as follows: Fig. 56.: Fig.
Appendix 2: Loudness Pilot GPI/O page Min typ / V Target typ / V Max typ / V 1.000 (idle) 2.67 3.30 3.30 open 2 0.000 0.00 0.00 0.51 clos. 1 1.000 (idle) 3.20 3.30 3.30 Fig. 60.: Fig. 4: Setup “1 of 8”. Use 1% precision resistors RL1 Scaled Target / Vs 1 1 of 8 RL2 User Preset No 1 of 2 1 of 4 RL3 Mode Fig. 59.: Fig. 3: Setup “1 of 4”. Use 1% precision resistors open open 2 0.689 2.18 2.28 2.38 clos. open 3 0.548 1.71 1.81 1.91 open clos. 4 0.439 0.00 1.
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Technical specifications Loudness Pilot Frame General Frame configuration Front indicators Finish Dimensions: Weight Mains voltage: Power supply function: Fan: Power consumption: Warranty, parts and labor: EMC Complies with: Safety Certified to: Environment Operating temperature: Storage temperature: Humidity: Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) Status for: PSU 1, PSU 2, Sync, Alert, Signal anodized aluminum face plate. Plated steel chassis 19 x 1.75 x 13.
Technical specifications Transmission 3G Card General Number of Processors Number of audio channels processed Audio format configuration Audio processing delay Adjustable online delay Delay Resolution Frequency Response DIO Audio sample rate Audio processing resolution Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 8 in, 8 out (per card) 16 in, 16 out optional for AES 2, 5.1, 2+2, 5.1+2, 2+5.1, 5.1+5.1 0.15 ms 0-10 sec per audio channel 32 bit DC to 23.9 kHz +/- 0.
Technical specifications Inputs and outputs – Loudness Pilot SDI Connectors Bypass relay Function SDI formats support – SD SDI formats support – HD SDI formats support – 3GA SDI formats support – 3GB (2 streams) Complies with standards Audio input/output selection Interface function (de-embed/embed) Input return loss Output return loss Relay bypass return loss Adaptive cable equalization (input) Jitter tolerance (input) – timing Jitter tolerance (input) – alignment Output jitter @ SD – timing Output jit
Technical specifications Inputs and outputs – Loudness Pilot AES unbalanced Connectors Bypass Relay Formats supported Status bits Complies with standards Digital IO Engine Internal Sample Rates Internal Clock Precision External Sample Rates Audio in-to-out delay Number of audio channels processed Interface function Jitter Rejection Engine Jitter tolerance (input) Jitter Rejection Filter Jitter gain (in-to-out) Output jitter (output @ clean source) Digital output phase Input variation before sample slip Inp
Technical specifications Inputs and outputs – Loudness Pilot AES balanced Connectors Bypass Relay Formats supported Status bits Complies with standards Digital IO Engine Internal Sample Rates Internal Clock Precision External Sample Rates Audio in-to-out delay Number of audio channels processed Interface function Jitter Rejection Engine Jitter tolerance (input) Jitter Rejection Filter Jitter gain (in-to-out) Output jitter (output @ clean source) Digital output phase Input variation before sample slip Input
Technical specifications Control Interface GPI, control inputs (D-SUB) GPO output (D-SUB) Output voltage (D-SUB) Ethernet and remote control Loudness Pilot English Manual (2014-10-07) 4 multi-state, multi-function. 0 V to 3.3 V DC sensing 2 relays, floating, 200 mA / 24 V AC/DC max 3.
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