Methods and systems for determining audio loudness levels in programming

A method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, comprising:

• retrieving a stored program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting;
• identifying dialog of the audio of the asset by:
• dividing the audio into time intervals;
• determining a loudness of each time interval;
• and
• identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses by creating a histogram of the loudnesses of the intervals;
• determining a loudness of the dialog;
• comparing the determined loudness to the first loudness setting;
• re-encoding the asset at a second loudness setting corresponding to the second loudness, if the first loudness setting and the determined loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount.

A method of correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, comprising:

• retrieving a stored program asset, the asset comprising audio having an encoded DIALNORM setting;
• demultiplexing the audio from the retrieved asset;
• decompressing the audio;
• identifying dialog of the audio by:
• dividing the audio into time intervals;
• determining a loudness of each time interval;
• and
• identifying time intervals with high, intermediate and low loudnesses by creating a histogram;
• determining a DIALNORM of the dialog;
• comparing the determined DIALNORM to the encoded DIALNORM setting;
• re-encoding the asset at the determined DIALNORM if the encoded DIALNORM and the determined DIALNORM are different by more than a predetermined amount;
• and
• storing the asset with the re-encoded DIALNORM.

A system for correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, the system comprising:

• memory to store the program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to:
• retrieve a stored program asset,
• identify dialog of the asset by:
• dividing the audio into time intervals;
• determining a loudness of each time interval;
• and
• identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses;
• determine a loudness of the dialog;
• re-encode the asset at a second loudness selling corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount;
• and
• discard time intervals with high and low loudnesses.

A system for correcting an audio level of a stored program asset, the system comprising:

• memory to store the program asset, the asset having audio encoded at a first loudness setting;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to:
• retrieve a stored program asset,
• identify dialog of the asset by:
• dividing the audio into time intervals;
• determining a loudness of each time interval;
• and
• identifying time intervals with intermediate loudnesses by creating a histogram of the loudnesses of the intervals;
• determine a loudness of the dialog;
• and
• re-encode the asset at a second loudness setting corresponding to the determined loudness, if the first loudness and the second loudness are different by more than a predetermined amount.