Loudness Log

A loudness log is a text file that logs the averaged loudness over the course of an audio file with timestamps. With the loudness log you can make sure that your files meet the loudness standards.

NOTE A more elegant method is the graphical visualization of the course of the loudness in the loudness meter (Loudness Meter).

Generate a loudness log when saving a file

1. Use the Save As dialog to save your file.

2. Select the Save loudness log next to media file check box if you want Sound Forge Pro to analyze the loudness of your file and create a log file that summarizes its loudness values. The loudness log is created using the same folder and base name as your sound file with _loud.txt appended to the name. The log will record the file name, format, loudness metering mode, and loudness values throughout the file.

Loudness logging is performed after the plug-in chain, but before any codec is applied to your rendered file. Because audio compression may affect audio levels, choose Tools > Generate Loudness Log to create a log after saving to a compressed format.

When the Enable surround processing for files with 6 channels check box on the Status tab of the Preferences dialog is active, surround processing is applied during loudness measurement (a gain of ~1.5 dB is applied to the left and right surround channels). When the check box is cleared, all channels contribute equally to the loudness measurement.

Generating a loudness log for a data window

1. Select the data you want to analyze.If no data is selected, the entire file is analyzed.

2. Select Tools > Create Loudness Log.

   The loudness log is created using the same folder and base name as your sound file with _loud.txt appended to the name. The log will record the file name, format, loudness metering mode, and loudness values throughout the selection or file. If the Open editor when new loudness log is generated check box is selected on the Status tab in the Preferences dialog, the log will be automatically opened in your default text editor.

Select the Enable surround processing for files with 6 channels check box on the Status tab of the Preferences dialog if you want to treat audio with six channels as surround audio when measuring loudness (a gain of ~1.5 dB is applied to the left and right surround channels). When the check box is cleared, all channels contribute equally to the loudness measurement.