On the same day that well over 100 professionals participated in the EBU Loudness Workshop in Geneva, the EBU published EBU Tech 3343, which describes in practical detail the fundamental shift in the history of audio in broadcasting taking place now: the shift from peak normalisation to loudness normalisation as the levelling method. With the publication of EBU Tech 3343, the EBU PLOUD Group once again provides a practical helping hand to broadcasters wanting to get rid of a major source of audience irritation: the jump in audio levels at the breaks in programmes, between programmes and between channels.
Florian Camerer (ORF) mixing to -23 LUFS (with the meter covered!).
Besides the practical guidelines just published, the main Loudness advice is provided in the EBU Loudness Recommendation (EBU R128), which basically recommends the use of an EBU Mode Loudness meter and a target level of -23 LUFS, the EBU Mode loudness metering specification (EBU Tech 3341), and the Loudness Range descriptor (EBU Tech 3342). Test signals are also available. On the day before the EBU Workshop, audio product manufacturers used these same test signals to test their meters, comparing the results to what was expected. The large majority of implementations showed to adhere to the EBU Mode specifications. Some more work on true peak meters may be necessary, something which the EBU Loudness Group is now looking into. This very cooperative way of working together, is exemplary for the spirit of the EBU Loudness Group's work.
The day after the Workshop the Loudness party continued in Madrid. There, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE organised a Loudness Seminar to inform the Spanish audio industry on the audio paradigm shift and to discuss its implementation. For more information on this topic, contact: Frans de Jong (EBU) .