While EBU R128 aims to measure global perceived loudness, irrespectively of the audio material, Dolby Dialogue Intelligence is a patented technology designed to specifically measure the perceived loudness of dialogue elements in the audio. It is therefore targeted towards broadcast applications.
Dialogue Intelligence replaces EBU R128’s level-based gate with a speech-content ratio based gate. The algorithm computes several low-level features for the incoming signal in speech channels. These are then combined into an overall speech percentage figure. When speech content is detected, Integrated Loudness is computed from the speech channels which have a speech content ratio above a certain threshold.
When other material is detected, i.e. not speech, standard EBU R128 Integrated Loudness computation is employed.
The current speech content is displayed as text below the current gate status.
Additionally, color coding indicates the speech content ratio.
Speech : speech content present
: high speech content
: medium speech content
: low speech content
: other material present
The sophistication of the algorithms employed in Dialogue Intelligence incurs an overall latency of 2048ms (approx. 2s).
When Dialogue Intelligence is enabled, the display of other Loudness values is compensated to make sure meter readings are consistent. Other real-time meter (RMS, TruePeak) displays are not compensated, as we feel in this case maintaining the best reactivity to the incoming signal is more important.
All meter statistics are time-aligned.
Channels taken into account by the algorithm are determined based on the current channel configuration.
For mono/stereo signals, all channels are taken into account. For surround configurations, only Left/Right and Center channels are taken into account, if present.
Dialogue Intelligence computation only affects I (Integrated) Loudness values. Toggling Dialogue Intelligence on and off forces a reset of the meter values.
Created under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Use of this Software does not convey a license nor imply a right under any patent, or any other industrial or intellectual property right of Dolby Laboratories.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Dialogue Intelligence is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
PATENT LIST - DIALOGUE INTELLIGENCE
PATENTS
| Country | Patent Number |
| AUSTRALIA | 2003263845 |
| CHINA | ZL03819918.1 |
| FRANCE | 1 532 621 |
| GERMANY | 1 532 621 |
| HONG KONG | 1073917 |
| ISRAEL | 165938 |
| JAPAN | 4585855 |
| MEXICO | 252,228 |
| MALAYSIA | MY-133623-A |
| SINGAPORE | 109865 |
| TAIWAN | I306238 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | 1 532 621 |
| UNITED STATES | 7,454,331 |
PATENT APPLICATIONS
| Country | Application Number |
| CANADA | 2,491,570 |
| INDIA | 1936/KOLNP/2004 |
| SOUTH KOREA | 2005-7003479 |
| UNITED STATES | 12/948,730 |