Digital Audio Loudness Measurement Using Block-Level LUFS Differences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loudness measurement schemes, such as LUFS, fail to accurately indicate perceived loudness due to their insufficiency in accounting for dynamic differences between audio files, leading to degraded consumer listening experiences and increased skip rates.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides a digital audio file into blocks, determines the LUFS for each block, calculates differences with a reference value, and generates an indicator from these differences within a specified time length, allowing for more accurate assessment of perceived loudness and dynamic variance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional LUFS measurement schemes are used, then loudness evaluation is simplified and standardized, but measurement precision of perceived loudness deteriorates due to inability to account for dynamic differences
Solution Approach 1:
The audio file is divided into multiple blocks of fixed time length (e.g., 400ms or 50ms). LUFS values are calculated separately for each block, allowing dynamic variations throughout the audio to be captured. This segmentation enables the system to measure perceived loudness more precisely by considering temporal dynamics rather than treating the entire audio as a single integrated value.
2Measurement precision
If integrated LUFS is used for loudness evaluation, then processing efficiency is improved, but accuracy of perceived volume indication deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates LUFS values for each block and stores them as metadata. This preliminary action allows the indicator generation to occur quickly during playback or sequencing operations, maintaining processing efficiency while enabling accurate perceived volume assessment through the use of pre-computed block-level LUFS data.
3Ease of operation
If conventional loudness measurement is used, then audio files can be compiled and sequenced quickly, but consumer listening experience deteriorates due to inaccurate loudness matching
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter used for loudness evaluation from a single integrated LUFS value to a derived indicator based on block-level LUFS differences. This parameter change enables more reliable perceived loudness matching while maintaining ease of operation, as the indicator can be automatically calculated and applied during audio compilation and sequencing processes without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for digital audio measurement such as perceived loudness. An example of the method includes dividing, by a processor, a digital audio file into a plurality of blocks in a time sequence at a first time length; determining, by the processor, a respective Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS) for each block; determining, by the processor, a difference between the LUFS of each block with a reference value; and generating, by the processor, an indicator from one or more of the differences of the plurality of blocks within a second time length.