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T
trvst
Participant
August 13, 2024
Question

Best practice for "Match Loudness"?

  • August 13, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1514 views

HI all,

 

My company has been using The Match Loudness panel in Audition using the ITU-R BS.1770-3 preset to adjust all voice-over audio to an industry standard volume.

 

I've been tasked to verify this is still a relevant best practice. After a quick Google search, I came across this:

https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/bs/R-REC-BS.1770-5-202311-I!!PDF-E.pdf

 

This PDF talks about ITU-R BS.1770-5 being the latest loudness model, which is not listed as a preset in Audition. I've scanned through said PDF, but it gets into math and tech jargon that's over my head.

 

My question to you is... is ITU-R BS.1770-3 still a relevant model to match loudness? According to this, it's dated (2012). But despite the age, maybe it's still a relevant model?

 

For reference, here are the settings we use:

Is this still an appropriate approach to matching loudness for VO? If not, what would be the best practice and/or model to match to?

 

Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
August 13, 2024

As far as I can make out, the main differences between the different versions relate to the way they work with different multichannel options, and if you are doing voice-overs, none of this should apply. If you are getting acceptable results with /3 then I can see no good reason to change.

 

Two other things; yes that's one hell of a turgid document from the ITU - don't blame you at all for giving up with it, and secondly my personal view is that the whole shebang sucks somewhat, and really doesn't work too well. When you consider that pretty much all program material is going to end up in the crush jaws of an Orban Optimod, I don't think that anybody needs to worry too much about absolutely which algorithm to use!

 

Bottom line - the adverts are still too loud, and I still have to alter the volume levels beween different channels on the TV to get consistent results. The ITU might be better off publishing some setting guidelines for the Optimod...

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