Traditional Peak Normalisation:

Peak normalisation adjusts tracks based on their highest digital audio peak, bringing the loudest point to a target level (typically 0 dBFS). However, this method can create inconsistent perceived loudness between tracks because it doesn't account for how humans actually perceive volume levels.

Loudness Analysis (LUFS Normalisation):

LUFS (Loudness Units relative to Full Scale) normalisation uses the ITU-R BS.1770 algorithm to measure how humans actually perceive loudness rather than just technical peaks. PlayIt Live analyses your tracks, calculates an offset gain for each track, and stores this in your database. When tracks are played, this gain is automatically applied to ensure consistent perceived loudness.

Why LUFS normalisation is better for broadcast:

Consistent Listener Experience: LUFS normalisation ensures that all tracks sound equally loud to listeners, eliminating the jarring volume differences that can occur with peak normalisation. This creates a smoother, more professional listening experience.

Industry Standard: LUFS is the broadcast industry standard adopted by radio stations worldwide. It's specifically designed for broadcast applications and aligns with international broadcasting standards.

Perceptual Accuracy: Unlike peak normalisation which only looks at technical levels, LUFS considers frequency content and how the human ear perceives different frequencies, resulting in more accurate loudness matching.

Professional Quality: LUFS normalisation prevents quiet tracks from sounding too soft and overly compressed tracks from sounding too loud, maintaining consistent audio quality throughout your broadcast.

One-Time Process: PlayIt Live runs loudness analysis in the background, processing each track only once. New tracks are automatically analysed as they're added to your library.

Implementation in PlayIt Live:

To use loudness analysis, go to Tools > Loudness Analysis, select your target loudness (default -16 LUFS), and click Start Loudness Analysis. The process runs in the background and can take several hours for large libraries, but only needs to be done once.