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NEW: Loudness

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Matt:
Introduction
Loudness provides a more natural sounding volume control based on the frequency response characteristics of human hearing.

Human hearing does not have a flat frequency response as volume changes.  You can read more about this phenomenon here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher%E2%80%93Munson_curves

When the Loudness feature is enabled in Media Center, it uses (roughly) the ISO 226:2003 curves as the volume is decreased to provide a more linear sounding volume.

This feature was added to Media Center 18.0.91.

Instructions
To use Loudness, you must also use Internal Volume.  This is because the Internal Volume provides the internal headroom necessary to do frequency corrections without clipping.  Also, Loudness requires knowing the volume level in decibels, which is only possible with Internal Volume (System Volume reports in percent, and there's no standard conversion to decibels that works with all hardware).  More on volume here: http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Volume

To enable loudness, click the little speaker to the left of the volume slider and check 'Loudness'.  The setting is also available from the main menu (under Player > Volume) and also in Options > Audio.

If you set the 'Reference level' for Internal Volume in Options > Audio, this will also define the zero point for Loudness.  Loudness correction makes no changes at or above the reference level (defaults to 100%).  It only engages as the volume goes below the reference level.

Technicals
At the reference level (100% by default), no correction is applied.  As the volume is lowered, frequency correction is applied.  Roughly speaking, the bass is turned down about half as much as the rest of the audio when the volume goes down.  The same is done, but to a lesser extent, at high frequencies.  This 'U-shaped' volume is roughly the inverse of the differences between ISO 226:2003 curves as the volume is reduced.

If you're curious, you can play pink noise (Tools > Advanced Tools > Create Test Clips...) and watch DSP Studio > Analyzer as you change the volume.  You'll be able to see the frequency correction taking place.

Doing a perfect job of loudness correction would be extremely complex.  It would likely need a real-time microphone at the listening position.  So it's important to remember this solution is an approximation.  It's a hopefully good approximation, but it's not aiming to account for all the complexities of the loudness issue.

More
The discussion that led to the addition of Loudness can be found here: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=76060.0

Mikkel:
You have done a great job, indeed. This is a huge improvement on perceived sound quality - and a necessary step towards good sound reproduction for those who do not listen to music or watch movies at the mixed sound level.

Not enabling this function certainly takes life out of the music and movies at lower volumes.


Best regards,
Mikkel

J-a-k-e:
Question, what is the best way to set the reference volume? I see in the other thread the idea of -20db pink noise at the 83db for the Reference point with a DB meter or equivalent was suggested, is this still the case? Also is internal volume taken into the equation.
Thanks

stewart_pk:
Just tried it, sounding good so far, thanks heaps!

fluidz:
Sounds way fuller on my Yamaha hs80m speakers, where did that sub come from, I don't remember buying one! lol.

Using reference 65%. Only problem i have now is i can hear the thud from the bass in my living room downstairs, not sure about the neighbours, yet.  :o

Thanks for this feature.  ;D


Update : Lowered the reference to 45, as loud as i push the speakers, and the bass sounds much better, not thudding as much, just a nice lift, more airy :)

Not quite sure what I'm doing to be honest, lol.

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