Harmonisation on the R128 Loudness recommendation is contributing to a wealth of installations involving Jünger Audio C8000 loudness control systems and T*AP TV audio processors across Germany.
The success, says Jünger Audio, can be attributed in significant part to the loudness products’ use of the proprietary Level Magic algorithm, which is based on a simultaneous combination of an AGC, a Transient Processor for fast changes, and a ‘look ahead’ Peak Limiter for continuous unattended control of any programme, regardless of its original source.
Capable of using any kind of I/O (analogue and digital) sources, as well as SDI, HD/SDI, Dolby 5.1 and all its related metadata, Level Magic is available in a variety of configurations to suit different applications. It complies with ITU, EBU and ATSC Loudness standards.
Jünger Audio’s CEO, Peter Pörs, commented: “Our frame-based C8000 audio loudness control system and our new T*AP TV Audio processors have been installed in numerous broadcast facilities throughout Germany, Switzerland and France. The reason we have gained so much traction in these markets is because broadcasters have recognised the benefit of using our proprietary Level Magic adaptive control algorithm, which is incorporated into all our loudness products.
“Broadcasters like the fact that Level Magic can adjust the audio level from any source at any time, with no pumping, breathing or distortion. As a result it has become the algorithm of choice for line and real time processing nationwide, particularly amongst German public broadcasters such as ARD and ZDF who are actively involved with the EBU.”
ARD has installed a Jünger Audio C8000 system with Level Magic and Dolby to handle the playout for all of its transmission channels distributed via the Star Point in Frankfurt. The system is linked to the automation system to ensure maximum flexibility in audio control and to guarantee proper Dolby encoding under all circumstances. ARD is also using Jünger Audio equipment for its DVB playout and all satellite channels for MPEG audio, as well as for the AC-3 stream. Regional public programming has installed the new T*AP TV audio processors to fulfil this function.
Meanwhile, ZDF has installed a C8000 system with Level Magic and Dolby AC-3 encoding for playout of its transmission channels and for 3SAT, a German speaking channel reaching audiences in Austria, Switzerland and Germany that is cooperatively run by the public broadcasters in each country.
Other broadcasters to have selected Jünger Audio equipment for loudness control include the German/French broadcaster ARTE and Astra Playout Services in Munich. Elsewhere, Pro7/Sat 1 is using a C8000 system with Level Magic and Dolby for ingest at its Munich transmission centre and for playout across all of its channels, while RTL Group has deployed a C8000/Level Magic/Dolby system for ingest and playout at its Cologne Broadcasting Centre run by CBC.
“We are now receiving a lot of enquiries from the smaller independent commercial TV stations that are planning to install new hardware in order to comply with the EBU R128 recommendations,” said Pörs. “This interest is also extending to production companies that are aware of the need to make sure all material they produce for the broadcast companies is R128-compliant.”
www.junger-audio.com
