Loudness Maximizer
4
SPL’s digital audio processors
are designed in cooperation
with
Spectral Design
of Bremen, Germany, who are responsible for
the DSP programming.
Concept:
The Loudness Maximizer is the first digital 19-inch
dynamics processor to utilize new psycho-acoustic algorithms
which are designed to maximize subjective loudness and to
exploit effectively up to 99.9% of the available headroom with
guaranteed clip-free performance. Even a normalized sound file
can be made subjectively louder without changing the essential
character of the sound, yet if the user wants even more loudness,
the Loudness Maximizer can be coaxed into producing audible
changes in the sound, which are optimized to be useful in a crea-
tive sound design context.
The DSP-algorithm constantly analyzes the input signal and com-
putes the data for the most unobtrusive dynamics processing
using an algorithm developed from extensive psycho-acoustic
and audiometric research. The dynamics processing is not simply
limited to Peak-Limiting nor Compression, but is an intelligent
combination of both, where the characteristics of the input signal
determine the processing, interactively and automatically. The
Compressor used within the Loudness Maximizer treats the audio
as an entity and utilizes a static (no-knee) compression characte-
ristic that operates without steps. The use of a multi-band design
was specifically avoided, because splitting up audio into several
bands, then remixing them after processing usually affects the
coherence of the signal and causes intermodulation, resulting in
sound coloration.
The Limiter works after the Compressor and is designed to cut
peak levels effectively by creating a minimum number of invalid
samples.This is achieved by re-calculating the original peak-curve
on a lower level, but maintaining its shape, where the Soft/Hard
control provides access to the sound of the Limiter. Using the
Soft
position creates a rounded bell with virtually no invalid samples.
You can gain more loudness by turning the control to
Hard.
Operation:
The handling of the Loudness Maximizer is very
easy. Only three control parameters and one switch function are
necessary to adjust the loudness maximization process.Most of
the parameters are set automatically by the programme material
itself. The algorithms are optimized so that the process is as trans-
parent as possible.
DESIRED GAIN sets the maximum level change. Adjustable
values range from 0dB to +15dB. The Done LED-bar shows how
much of the desired gain change was achieved by the Loudness
Maximizer. The Soft/Hard control adjusts the sound character of
the Limiter. You can gain more loudness by turning the control to
the Hard position, which increases the risk of audible distortion.
The MORE DENSITY control allows to sweep from Peak-Limiter
performance to Compressor performance. The higher the value
the more compression is applied. The BOOST button increases
loudness by an additional 2dB.
Introduction
Maximizing the subjective
loudness without sound colo-
ration
A „look ahead“-signal analysis
computes data for most
unobstrusive limiting and
compressing.
Easy and intuitive operation
