Level Detection

With the logic system of the mixing device you can monitor level and correlation of up to 48 audio signals at the same time. The number of level detects depends on your hardware. For more information see Functional Range of the XC2/XD2/XS2 Core Devices with Firmware 9.0. To configure these level detects, in the project tree, select <Device>/Logic/Level Detects.

Level detectors are configured accordingly to control logic functions that are activated if the level of the monitored audio signal exceeds a set threshold. These logic functions are available in the Logic Sources window under Level Detect/LV <serial number>: <Name> or Correlation Detect/LC <serial number>: <Name>. For each entry in the Level Detects list, in the Logic Sources window one entry each is inserted in Level Detect and Correlation Detect section.

You can output the state of the logic functions for example via a GPO or have it shown with an LED of an user defined key on the console or on a TFT View.

Level Detects Page, Configuring a new Peak Programme Metering

To insert a new level/loudness/correlation detector to the Level Detects list, click Add. To remove a selected entry from the list, click Remove. Both functions are also available by right-click in the list.

To adjust the potentiometers in the Level Detection and Metering Section, click on the desired potentiometer. Hold the mouse button and move the cursor to the left or the right to change the value. Alternatively, click on the desired potentiometer and change the value using the following keys:

The level detects can also be used inverted as logic source in logic functions or GPOs to detect undershootings. By an AND concatenation in a logic function with the logic source Pulse 1 (or 2, 3) also flashing functions when exceeding or falling below a certain level can be configured.

The correlation detects can be used as logic source to recognise whether both parts of a stereo signal are similar (1) or at least relative (0.1-0.9). In the negative range, the logic source shows faulty stereo signals (-1 to 0) that can not be used for mono.

To configure a PPM level detector, follow these steps:

1. In the Level Detects list, select the level detect which you want to configure.
2. In the Edit Level Detect area, type an appropriate name in the Label box. This label may be up to 16 digits long.
3. Select the measuring mode Level Detect
4. To assign an audio source, click select. The Audio Sources window opens.
5. In the Audio Sources window, select the audio signal that you want to monitor and click Assign. Alternatively you can double-click on the desired audio source or drag it to the Source box.
6. If Stereo is selected, additionally, the following channel is also used for monitoring. In most cases, this is the right channel of a stereo signal.

Settings in the Level Detection section:

1. At the Level potentiometer define the desired threshold value. You can select a value between -40 dBint and +23 dBint in steps of 1 dB.
2. Independent from the set threshold value at the Level potentiometer, you can set a value between -1.0 and 1.0 for the correlation monitoring at the Correlation potentiometer. If this value is exceeded, the logic function Correlation Detect/LC <serial number>: <Name> is activated.
3. At the Hold Time potentiometer you can define how long the logic functions Level Detect/LV <serial number>: <Name> and Correlation Detect/LC <serial number>: <Name> remain active after the threshold is exceeded. You can set the hold time between 0.1 s and 100 s.

Settings in the Metering section:

1. With the Attack potentiometer you can define how quickly the PPM display in the TFT displays react. You can set this attack time between 0 ms and 250 ms.
2. With the Release potentiometer you can set the release time of the PPM display in the TFT displays. You can set this time between 0.1 s and 2.5 s.

For creating a 5.1 surround peak meter see PPM 5.1 Channels.

True Peak metering with 8-times oversampling is available. This feature can be used the same way as a usual PPM meter (Level Detect). For the True Peak metering usage, the PPM meter TFT Element has a new scale type: Digital True Peak +3..-60dB.

To configure a True Peak level detector, follow these steps:

1. In the Level Detects list, select the level detect which you want to configure.
2. In the Edit Level Detect area, type an appropriate name in the Label box. This label may be up to 10 digits long.
3. Select the measuring mode True Peak Meter
4. To assign an audio source, click Select. The Audio Sources window opens.
5. In the Audio Sources window, select the audio signal that you want to monitor and click Assign. Alternatively you can double-click on the desired audio source or drag it to the Source box.
6. If Stereo is selected, additionally, the following channel is also used for monitoring. In most cases, this is the right channel of a stereo signal.

The Settings in the Level Detect and Metering Sections are the same as described in PPM Metering above.

Also, VU Meters are available.

1. Go to Level Detects and select the level detect which you want to configure.
2. In the Edit Level Detect area, type an appropriate name in the Label box.
3. Select the measuring mode VU Meter
4. To assign an audio source, click select. The Audio Sources window opens.
5. In the Audio Sources window, select the audio signal that you want to monitor and click Assign. Alternatively you can double-click on the desired audio source or drag it to the Source box.
6. If Stereo is selected, additionally, the following channel is also used for monitoring. In most cases, this is the right channel of a stereo signal.

Settings in the Level Detection section:

1. At the Level potentiometer define the desired threshold value. You can select a value between -40 dBint and +23 dBint in steps of 1 dB.
2. At the Hold Time potentiometer you can define how long the logic functions Level Detect/LV <serial number>: <Name> remain active after the threshold is exceeded. You can set the hold time between 0.1 s and 100 s.

The loudness metering is available for all 52/XC/XD/XS Cores.

The loudness metering in DHD consoles follows the EBU R128 standard.

To configure the R128 loudness meter in Toolbox software,

1. select <Device>/Logic/Level Detects. Add a new level detect and in the Edit Level Detect area select EBU R128 Loudness Meter. Assign for example the PGM Bus as Source for the R128 Loudness Meter.

R128 loudness meter configuration

2. In the project area, select <Device>/TFT Views. Select an existing TFT Master view or add a new one. On the Design tab, drag a Loudness Meter element from the Available Elements list to the View Presentation area.

• Loudness Meter element contains only the bar (incl. peak display and short value arrow)
  • short value graphically shown as a small triangle on the left side
  • true peak display on top of the meter bar (oversampled x4, -1dBFS)
• if required, Momentary, Short, Integrated, Loudnes Range values (M, S, I, LRA) can be added as extra Label Elements - size, label and colour can be customized
• start, stop and reset are available as key function, gating (triggered by external sources) can be realised via virtual keys.

• The Main Bar function can now be configured as Momentary (standard value) or Short
• The Triangle function can now be configured as Short (standard value), Momentary or Off

3. On the Edit tab, select the Data Source for the Loudness Metering elements.