Dialnorm Metadata Adjustment for Consistent Audio Loudness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advertisements often have a reduced dynamic range compared to media content, leading to a perceived increase in loudness when transitioning from media content to advertisements, causing annoyance for viewers.
Innovation Solution
A system that modifies the metadata parameter, specifically the dialog normalization (dialnorm) parameter, by analyzing the dynamic range of audio data and adjusting it to maintain a consistent perceived loudness by reducing the dialnorm value for advertisements when their dynamic range is lower than that of media content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the dynamic range of advertisements is reduced to fit within allocated power, then power consumption is controlled, but perceived loudness increases causing annoyance to viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the dialnorm metadata parameter value dynamically based on the measured dynamic range of the audio content. When dynamic range is reduced (as in advertisements), the dialnorm value is adjusted to compensate, thereby changing the perceived loudness parameter to maintain consistency across different content types while preserving the power-saving benefit of reduced dynamic range
2Device complexity
If the dialnorm parameter is kept the same for advertisements and media content, then metadata simplicity is maintained, but perceived loudness fluctuation occurs causing viewer annoyance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the dynamic range before outputting the audio content. Based on this pre-analysis, the dialnorm metadata parameter is proactively adjusted to predict and prevent perceived loudness fluctuations, ensuring consistent viewer experience without requiring complex real-time processing during playback
3Loss of energy
If dynamic range compression is applied to advertisements, then power consumption is reduced, but audio quality and perceived loudness consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the dynamic range analyzer continuously monitors the actual dynamic range of the audio content and provides this information to the metadata parameter modifier. This closed-loop system allows the dialnorm parameter to be dynamically adjusted based on measured conditions, ensuring perceived loudness consistency is maintained while preserving the energy-saving benefits of dynamic range compression
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving first encoded digital audio data including a metadata parameter having a first value. The first encoded digital audio data has a first dynamic range. The method includes receiving second encoded digital audio data including the metadata parameter having the first value. The second encoded digital audio data has a second dynamic range. The method also includes outputting first decoded digital audio data including the metadata parameter. The first decoded digital audio data corresponds to the first encoded digital audio data. The method also includes outputting second decoded digital audio data including a modified metadata parameter having a second value. The second decoded digital audio data corresponds to the second encoded digital audio data.