Loudness Dialog Overview

The Loudness processor applies a filter compensation curve to the signal in an inverse relationship to the output Volume control setting, i.e., the higher the output Volume setting, the less compensation is applied. The user may fine-tune the amount of loudness compensation using the Compensation Adjustment slider and adjusting "by ear," or by measuring SPL levels in a particular room, then using the slider to adjust the loudness filter relative to the SPL of the room and system gain structure. See topic, Loudness Calibration , for more information.

The Loudness dialog window contains the following elements:

• Graph - displays the compensation curve being applied to the signal. These curves are read-only, and are not adjustable from the graph.

• Compensation Adjustment slider - from a center zero-point, slide to the left to adjust for less compensation (filter curve is reduced), or to the right for more compensation (filter curve is increased). The slider position is translated into a dB value, displayed in the Compensation readout box contained in the Advanced Calibration section. In dB, when less compensation is applied, it compensates for more perceived loudness, therefore the dB value increases as less compensation is applied. The opposite is true for adding more compensation. The slider has a 48dB range. With the center point being 0dB, the slider range is from +24dB (full left) to -24dB (full right).

• Advanced Calibration: SPL value - the Advanced Calibration section contains an SPL readout box that provides the summed value of the Compensation Adjustment slider and the output channel Volume control, with a +90dB offset that corresponds to the average loudest listening level.