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
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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.
L o u d n e s s M a x i m i z e r
