English Manual LM2n / LM6n
Introduction About this manual Getting support 1 2 2 System requirements and installation System requirements Hosts Installation 3 4 4 4 Using LM2n / LM6n LM2n / LM6n features Differences between LM1n, LM2n and LM6n LM2n / LM6n vs.
Introduction Introduction LM2n / LM6n Manual 1
Introduction About this manual Getting support This manual will help you learn understanding and operating your TC Electronic software. If you still have questions about the product after reading this manual, please get in touch with TC Support: This manual is only available as a PDF download from the TC Electronic website. tcelectronic.com/support/ You can print this manual, but we encourage you to use the PDF version, which has both internal and external hyperlinks. E.g.
System requirements and installation System requirements and installation LM2n / LM6n Manual 3
System requirements and installation System requirements Hosts Installation System requirements for Mac OS X You can use this plug-in with all host supporting the plug-in formats listed under System requirements.
System requirements and installation Obtaining an iLok ID Please note that you will 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. Obtaining and installing the iLok License Manager – Go to the iLok License Manager download page on the iLok website: http://www.ilok.com/ilm.html – Download the iLok License Manager installer for your operating system.
System requirements and installation Installing LM2n / LM6n – Make sure your host software is not running. – Run the installer for the LM2n / LM6n plugin. You may need an administrator account name and password to run the installer. Fig. 3.
System requirements and installation – In the next dialog, select the activation location (the computer or your iLok 2 device) and click “Next”. Fig. 5.: Plug-in activation during host software startup Fig. 6.: Plug-in Activation confirmation – When your host software has finished launching, the newly activated plug-in(s) will be available.
Using LM2n / LM6n Using LM2n / LM6n LM2n / LM6n Manual 8
Using LM2n / LM6n LM2n / LM6n features Differences between LM1n, LM2n and LM6n LM2n / LM6n vs. LM2 and LM6 – Loudness meter fully compliant with – EBU R128 – BS.1770-3 – ATSC A/85 2013 – ITU-R BS.1770 – Universal Descriptors – Presets for use in broadcast, music, post production and film – Offline measurements – Supports mono and stereo sources – Supports 5.1 sources (LM6n only) – Advanced logging functionality (LM6n only).
Using LM2n / LM6n Welcome! Understanding LM2n / LM6n LM2n / LM6n represents a quantum leap away from simply measuring audio level to measuring perceived loudness. Since 1998, TC has performed listening tests and evaluation of loudness models and therefore holds an extensive Universal Database of loudness, based on ten 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.
Using LM2n / LM6n LM2n / LM6n offers a standardized option: The visualization of loudness history and Dynamic Range Tolerance in combination with longterm descriptors from production onwards is a transparent and well-sounding alternative to our current peak level obsession.
Using LM2n / LM6n Basic use of LM2n / LM6n Reading the Radar display Logging (LM6n only) LM2n and LM6n make use of a unique way of visualizing short-term loudness, loudness history, and long-term statistical descriptors for any type of program material. The parameter values shown in the left and right bottom corners of the Radar page in yellow are called Descriptors. The default descriptors are Loudness Range (left) and Program Loudness (right).
Using LM2n / LM6n Each LM6n log file is a simple text document that can be opened in any text editor. You can easily copy and paste the information from a log file into other applications – e.g., into your e-mail client. Fig. 10.
Using LM2n / LM6n Offline measurements In Avid Pro Tools, LM2n / LM6n cannot only be used for real-time loudness measurements, but also for offline processing. This means that you can select a track or the section of a recording and measure loudness parameters without having to run this track in real-time. LM2n / LM6n will measure the loudness of the selected track or audio part and present you with the results.
Interface and feature reference Interface and feature reference LM2n / LM6n Manual 15
Interface and feature reference LM2n / LM6n tabs / screens: Radar, PPM, Stats, Settings Main controls Fig. 12.: Tabs Fig. 13.: Status indicator, Pause button, Reset button Use the four tabs on top of the LM2n / LM6n interface to navigate to the four pages that make up the plug-in’s interface: Reset button – Radar: Main Radar display. See “Radar page” on page 17 To clear all current measurements and restart meter revolution from the 12 o’clock position, click the Reset button.
Interface and feature reference Radar page The LM2n / LM6n Radar measures loudness over time. Momentary loudness Radar display Peak Indicator The Radar display is a visualization of Short Term Loudness. The time represented by one Radar revolution is set using the Radar Speed parameter on the Settings page. In the Radar display, Target Loudness is represented by the border between green and yellow, while the Low Level point is marked by the border between green and blue.
Interface and feature reference Descriptors Prog. Loudness (I) descriptor The parameter values shown in the left and right bottom corners of the LM2n /LM6n Radar page in yellow are called Descriptors. Program Loudness (I) returns one loudness number for an entire program, film or music track. Its unit is LUFS.
Interface and feature reference Sliding Loudness descriptor Loudness Range (LRA) descriptor Sliding Loudness – unlike Program Loudness, Loudness Range and Loudness Max – is a continuously updated measure that doesn’t need to be reset. This type of descriptor is especially useful when “mixing by numbers”, i.e. when there is no access to the extremely informative radar display.
Interface and feature reference Max Momentary (M) descriptor Max True Peak (TP) descriptor Max Momentary is the maximum momentary value through the entire program. This is the same descriptor that is also displayed by the Outer ring of the Radar display in LM2n and LM6n (see “Radar page” on page 17. Max True-peak is the maximum true-peak value seen over the entire program. While Program Loudness concerns the entire, full-length program, Momentary loudness is measured in a window of 400 ms.
Interface and feature reference PPM page Fig. 15.: LM2n PPM page LM2n / LM6n Manual The PPM page shows… – a peak programme meter (PPM) for the signal currently being measured by the plug-in – a smaller version of the Radar display as seen on the plug-in’s Radar page and – the two Descriptors selected on the Settings page using the Left Descriptor and Right Descriptor parameters. The peak meters of LM2n and LM6n display true-peak as specified in ITU-R BS.1770.
Interface and feature reference Stats page Statistics Loudness Range (LRA) This is the time (given in days, hours, minutes and seconds) since the plug-in has been instantiated or since the Reset button has been clicked for the last time. This is the Loudness Range, measured in LU. Program Loudness (I) Please note that clicking the Reset button will reset the meters and the log file. See “Reset button” on page 16. This is the True-peak Max parameter, measured in dBFS. This is the Program Loudness.
Interface and feature reference Settings page Left Descriptor parameter Target Loudness parameter Parameter settings: – Off – Program Loudness (I) – Sliding Loudness – Loudness Range (LRA) – Max Momentary (M) – Max Short Term (S) – Max True Peak (TP) – Peak/Loudness Ratio (PLR) Parameter range: -6 to -36 LUFS (or LKFS, depending on name setting) in 0.5 steps Use this parameter to define what Descriptor should be shown in the lower left corner of the Radar page and the Stats page.
Interface and feature reference the Reset button will reset the meter and descriptor history. Radar Resolution parameter Parameter settings: 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 dB/div Use the Radar Resolution parameter to set the difference in loudness between each concentric circle in the Radar between 3 and 12 dB.
Interface and feature reference is selected, the loudness range for the past 6 seconds is displayed. Surround Channel Order (Surr.Ch. Order) parameter (LM6n only) Max Loudness Time (Max Loud. Time) parameter Parameter settings: – L C R – Ls Rs – LFE (Film) – L R – C – LFE – Ls Rs (SMPTE/ITU) – L R – Ls Rs – C LFE (DTS) Parameter settings: 0.4 sec – Momentary (M), 3 sec – Short Term (S) Use the Max Loudness Time parameter to set the time window used for measuring Maximum Loudness.
Presets Presets LM2n / LM6n Manual 26
Presets Default ATSC A/85 LU (-24) ATSC A/85 LKFS (-24) ARIB TR-B32 LU (-24) ARIB TR-B32 LKFS (-24) EBU R128 LU (-23) EBU R128 LUFS (-23) OP-59 LU (-24) OP-59 LKFS (-24) CD Master (-15) Film (-24) Film (-27) Film (-31) Mobile (-16) LM2n / LM6n Preset name and target loudness -24 4 6 EBU +18 -9 LKFS -24 4 6 EBU +18 -18 LKFS/LU -24 4 6 EBU +18 -18 LKFS -24 4 6 EBU +18 -18 LKFS/LU -24 4 6 EBU +18 -18 LKFS -23 4 6 EBU +9 -9 LUFS/LU -23 4 6 EBU +9 -9 LUFS -24 4 6 EBU +18 -18 LKFS/LU -24 4
Appendix: Level versus loudness Appendix: Level versus loudness LM2n / LM6n Manual 28
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 as shown in Fig. 7. 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.
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 LM2n / LM6n follows the standard precisely. Possible updates to the ITU standard may be released as updates to LM2n / LM6n (provided that processing requirements doesn’t exhaust the system).
Appendix: Level versus loudness In LM2n and LM6n, short-term, mid-term and long-term of loudness measurements are tied together coherently, and displayed in novel ways (angular reading and radar) that were preferred in its development and test phases. However, we remain open to suggestions for further improvement of the visualization of loudness. Postscript Control of loudness is the only audio issue that has made It to the political agenda.
Appendix: Level versus loudness LM2n / LM6n Manual 32
