Editing Dynamic range compression (section)

=== Broadcasting ===
Compression is used extensively in [[broadcasting]] to boost the perceived volume of sound while reducing the dynamic range of source audio. To avoid [[overmodulation]], broadcasters in most countries have legal limits on instantaneous peak volume they may broadcast. Normally these limits are met by permanently inserted compression hardware in the on-air chain.

Broadcasters use compressors in order that their station sounds louder than comparable stations. The effect is to make the more heavily compressed station jump out at the listener at a given volume setting.<ref name=broadcastbridge>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebroadcastbridge.com/content/entry/7278/using-compression-for-recorded-and-live-audio|title=Using Compression for Recorded and Live Audio - The Broadcast Bridge - Connecting IT to Broadcast|first=The Broadcast|last=Bridge|date=November 23, 2016|website=www.thebroadcastbridge.com}}</ref> This is not limited to inter-channel differences; they also exist between programme material within the same channel. Loudness differences are a frequent source of audience complaints, especially TV commercials and promos that seem too loud.

The [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) has been addressing this issue in the EBU PLOUD group, which consists of over 240 audio professionals, many from broadcasters and equipment manufacturers. In 2010, the EBU published [[EBU R 128]] which introduces a new way of metering and [[Audio normalization|normalizing audio]]. The Recommendation uses [[ITU-R BS.1770]] loudness metering. {{as of|2016}}, several European TV stations have announced their support for the new norm<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2011/loudness-france-chooses-ebu-r128|title=Loudness: France chooses EBU R128 to bolster audio laws|date=25 October 2011|website=[[European Broadcasting Union]]|language=en|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/sky-confirms-formal-adoption-of-r128-loudness-specification/|title=Sky confirms formal adoption of R128 loudness specification|last=Davies|first=David|date=9 December 2013|website=SVG Europe|language=en|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> and over 20 manufacturers have announced products supporting the new ''EBU Mode'' loudness meters.<ref name="EBU3341">{{Citation |url=https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/tech3341 |title='EBU Mode' metering to supplement EBU R 128 loudness normalisation |date=2016-01-25 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |series=Version 3.0 |language=en |id=EBU Tech 3341 |access-date=2019-11-03}}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=Does not support manufacturers|date=October 2020}}

To help audio engineers understand what loudness range their material consists of (e.g. to check if some compression may be needed to fit it into the channel of a specific delivery platform), the EBU also introduced the ''Loudness Range'' (LRA) descriptor.<ref name="EBU3342">{{Citation |url=https://tech.ebu.ch/publications/tech3342 |title=Loudness range: A measure to supplement EBU R 128 loudness normalisation |date=2016-01-25 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |series=Version 3.0 |location=Geneva |language=en |id=EBU Tech 3342}}</ref>