[MLA] Normalizing on Tidal

[Grimm | Eelco]

Hi Thomas,

> BTW, I’m promoting the NormL principle everywhere, but the ideal is of course to have access to a late gain control in a *system*, especially if interfacing from the streaming device is analog. Hopefully Apple has listened...

Well, Tidal did so for sure. If a company like Roon Labs has the replaygain data, any Tidal integrator has and they are free to implement Norm-l.

In the end that is perhaps the largest step that Tidal set: offering the raw loudness data to app builders that integrate Tidal support, in stead of rendering the loudness data directly in their API (at their own default target level).

I will check with someone who is deep into this streamer code stuff how the loudness metadata rendering in Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz etc is done. 

So it all boils down to three questions for streamers:
1. Do you offer the raw loudness metadata + raw audio data to downstream services via your API?
2. In your own apps: what is the internal target level?
3. If the loudness level of a track is lower than that target level, what happens?

I will try to find the answer to question 1. Questions 2 and 3 will be answered soon when we finished our research project for the TV show. I will keep you updated.

All the best,
Eelco

PS Florian: will there be a loudness panel again at AES Paris? I would be happy to present the results of the research project...