Dynamic Loudness Compensation

B. Duncan (1) and M. Burgin (2)(1) Greystone Industries, London (2) Shuttlesound Ltd, London SW18 'thinner', more distant and 'muddy' when the volume is turned down.The psychoacoustic effects of 'loudness' leads discerning users of sound equipment into a clear preference to listening at a specific SPL.In recording studios, for example, producers and engineers are forced into monitoring at a set level, to maintain a definate reference of instrumental tonality, throughout production and mixdown.By contrast, in everyday life, it's often impractical to replay recorded music at it's original SPL.In the home and in night-clubs for example, music originally performed and recorded with '0' weighted SPLs of 95 to 115dBC may have to be replayed at levels not exceeding 80dBC SPL or below, for the sake of allowing sociable conversation, or avoiding disturbance to others.