Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546135
30 FA L L 2 0 2 6 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y Back to the main takeaways from the update to A/85: • Whichever loudness target is chosen, it is essential that the target should be the same for Long and Short-form Content in order to have smooth transitions between programming and commercials on any given platform. For example, if a platform normalizes its Long-form Content to -27 LKFS Dialogue Gated, it should normalize its Commercial Content to -27 LKFS Full-Program. • It is important to note that with the exception of the range recommended for streaming, the fundamental recommendations of A/85 have not changed. The new recommendations primarily clarify language and address misapprehensions that have slipped into broad industry practices and parlance. • Another noteworthy clarification is that ITU- BS.1770 is not a specification, but a technical white paper for the implementation of loudness measurement. A/85 is the North American loudness reference document. Details on normalization, metadata workflows vs. non- metadata workflows, and edge-cases with little or no dialogue are provided in the A/85 revision released on July 8. The ITSC is currently sending a letter to broadcasters and streamers to inform them of the updates, the correct implementations, and outline the specific areas that need review. We are also doing outreach to plugin manufacturers to ensure that any presets intended for use in the U.S. accurately reflect the recommendations laid out in A/85 (these have historically been as varied and confused as the loudness spec sheets have been…). So, if you run into any loudness specs that deviate from what's contained in this article, you can confidently say, "Your specs aren't CALM & CA SB576-compliant." And if you do, please feel free to include Standards @CinemaAudioSociety.org in your email chain. INDUSTRY TECHNICAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE: Jonathan Greasley CAS, Chair Jamie Hardt CAS, Co-Chair Danielle Dupre CAS Karol Urban CAS MPSE Lindsey Alvarez CAS Lucien Palmer CAS Marc Fishman CAS Peter Kurland CAS Scott Kramer