Dolby Laboratories DP570 - Manual (Page 66)

54 Dolby ® DP570 Multichannel Audio Tool User’s Manual
Using the DP570 in Postproduction Typical Activities
7.2 Typical Activities
The DP570 is used in the monitor chain to emulate consumerʹs listening environment.
7.2.1 Measuring Dialogue Level
As the mix is nearing completion, use the dialogue level indicators during a representative
period of speech to determine and select the Dialogue Level value for the program. The
measured value from program material appears in yellow numbers (
–26 in Figure 7‐2). The
Dialogue Level value set in the software appears in green numbers ( –27 in Figure 7‐2).
Figure 7-2 Dialogue Level Controls
If it is necessary to change the value in the software, press the Accept button. The system
will transfer the number appearing in the measured value window to the dialnorm value
window, and set the parameter automatically.
In most cases, selecting and measuring a representative period of speech within the
program will serve as a good example of the overall dialogue level throughout the
program, provided good mixing practices are observed. In some cases, (documentaries,
location sound, and so on), it may be difficult to match the dialogue level from section to
section. In these cases, while the dialogue level indicators on the DP570 can help, your ears
are the best tool to achieve the best balance.
In most cases, short‐term measurements are best for monitoring during editing as they
provide a measurement over each ten‐second period of program audio and do not average
the measurement over a long period of time. For a longer section of program that will be
played back once, an infinite measurement can be used as it will integrate the measured
value of the signal until the meter is manually reset, and, over the single pass, will return
the average level of the program (presumably speech content) for that section. For more
information on the measurement modes, see
Measuring the Average Loudness of
Identified Clips on page 31.
For 5.1 programming, measure the Center channel, as most of the important speech content
occurs in this channel. For stereo programs, measure both the Left and Right channels.
7.2.2 Monitoring the Dialogue Level
As you work, check the dialogue level indicator—the yellow numbers shown in
Figure 7‐2—frequently.
Once a Dialogue Level value has been selected, either short‐term or infinite measurements
can be used depending on your preference. See
Measuring the Average Loudness of