[MLA] Normalizing on Tidal

[Thomas Lund]

Hi Eelco,

The catch is to get metadata safely out of the system alongside audio. It’s not as attractive to use an upstream NormL gain control and then (analog) interfacing to the amp and speaker.

I agree with your 2+3. In case streamers use a fixed target, we have to convince them that one-size-fits-all doesn’t cut it. There needs to be a target setting at -16 LUFS or lower. To me, that’s more important than if we get the whole NormL enchilada from day one.

cheers,
Thomas


> On 26/02/2016, at 09.34, Grimm | Eelco <eelco at grimmaudio.com> wrote:
> 
> 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...
> _______________________________________________
> MLA mailing list
> MLA at grimmaudio.nl
> http://grimmaudio.nl/mailman/listinfo/mla_grimmaudio.nl