Weiss Enginering Ltd.
DSP501/DSP502
4.10
The Schwede Loudness EQ
This plugin is based on the patent: ”Equalizer, audio system with such an equalizer and method for equal-
izing a sound mix” by Bernhard Schwede
1
His design describes an audio equalizer with a special concept.
In general Schwede’s algorithm aims the purpose of an aurally linearized equalization of a sound mix.
The idea is based on the psychoacoustic characteristics of the human hearing and and its anatomy. Our
auditory sensitivity is frequency dependent, which also effects the perception of loudness. This sensitiv-
ity regarding the loudness can cause an unauthentic sound experience when listening at home to audio
recordings for example of a concert hall. So Schwede’s concept tries to overcome these non linearities of
the human sense of hearing with a equalizer design which creates an optimized compensation curve based
on the psychoacoustic and anatomical theory.
1
Basically this equalization consists of seven bands with predefined parameters deduced from Schwede’s
design
1
. Ten different setting options of the EQ plugin are presented. The users select the EQ setting option
depending on the current listening level they enjoy the most with their audio equipment.
These ten options are described with
dB
levels. Some example comparisons shall illustrate the
dB
levels.
Setting
60
dB
could be compared with the loudness of a
verbal communication
,
70
dB
for example with a
vac-
uum cleaner
.
80
dB
can be visualized with
street traffic
,
90
dB
with a
heavy truck
and
100
dB
with a
sawmill
.
4.11
The Weiss M/S Control
→
to be announced
User Manual and
34
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