Check your Levels
The Statistics Panel in the audio encoder software provides valuable information in
three main categories. Firstly, the General Info section displays essential details about the encoding session,
including the name of the session, the time that has been taken for encoding, and the current status of the
encoding process. This allows users to quickly assess the progress and status of their encoding tasks.
Secondly, the Loudness Table provides comprehensive measurements for loudness, which may include loudness levels
such as integrated loudness, short-term loudness, and momentary loudness. These measurements help users ensure
that their encoded audio conforms to desired loudness standards or specifications, such as broadcast loudness
requirements or streaming platform loudness recommendations.
Thirdly, the Peak Table displays the peak levels for each channel of the encoded audio. This information helps
users identify any potential peak level issues, such as clipping or distortion, which may affect the audio
quality or cause audio artifacts.
The Statistics Panel serves as a valuable tool for users to monitor and analyze the audio encoding process,
allowing them to make informed decisions and adjustments to achieve desired audio quality and compliance with
loudness standards or specifications.
Figure 3 – 6 | Statistics Panel Ovwerview
1. General Information
The general information includes:
• Name: The name of the encoding session, which has been
customized by the user to easily identify and differentiate between different encoding tasks.
• Status: The current status of the encoding process, indicating
whether it is in progress, completed, paused, compromised or stopped.
• Max Peak: The maximum peak level detected in the encoded
audio, providing information on the highest amplitude reached during the encoding process. This helps
users identify potential peak level issues that may affect audio quality or cause audio artifacts.
• Time: The time that has been taken for the encoding process to
complete, providing an indication of the duration required for the audio file to be encoded.
2. Loudness Table
The Loudness Table provides comprehensive measurements of various loudness parameters
for the selected session, both before and after the encoding process. These measurements may include
Integrated Loudness (LUFS), Short-term Loudness (LUFS), and True Peak (dBTP) among others. The color-coded
display highlights any values that are not compliant with the EBU-R128 recommendation, with red indicating
potential issues. This allows users to quickly identify and address any loudness inconsistencies that may
impact the quality and compliance of the encoded audio file. The Loudness Table provides valuable insights
into the loudness characteristics of the audio file, enabling users to optimize the loudness levels and
ensure compliance with industry standards for broadcast or distribution purposes. The following are the
units of measurement:
• Program Loudness Integrated (PLI): This measures the
integrated loudness of the program content, indicating the overall loudness level.
• Loudness Range (LRA): This measures the dynamic range of the
program content, indicating the difference between the loudest and softest parts.
• Momentary Max (Mom Max): This measures the maximum loudness
level of short-duration moments in the program content.
• Short-Term Max (ST Max): This measures the maximum loudness
level over a short-term period in the program content.
• True Peak (TP): This measures the maximum peak level of the
audio signal, including inter-sample peaks. Note that the True Peak level of the input source is not
currently calculated, as this process is time-consuming. Optional True Peak level calculation for the
source will be available in a future version of the software.
In gapless album sessions, the Loudness Table displays both per-track and album-level
loudness measurements when Album Loudness measurement is enabled in the Shared Settings of the Configuration
Set. This allows verification of individual track compliance alongside the unified album loudness characteristics,
providing the necessary granularity for dynamic range analysis within the continuous album context:
Figure 4.2.1 – 2 | Inspecting Per-Track and Album Loudness in a Gapless Album
Session
3. Peaks Table
The Peak Table provides measurements of the peak level for each encoded channel
separately, expressed in dBFS (decibels Full Scale). This feature is particularly useful in detecting
unexpected peaks of energy in specific channels of the audio file. By displaying the peak levels of each
channel individually, users can identify any outliers or irregularities in the audio signal that may affect
the overall quality of the encoded file. This information empowers users to fine-tune their encoding
settings or make necessary adjustments to avoid clipping, distortion, or other undesirable audio artifacts
caused by peak levels exceeding the recommended threshold. The Peak Table serves as a valuable tool for
ensuring optimal audio quality and maintaining the integrity of the encoded audio files.l
