Chinas NBTV chooses Jünger Audio for loudness control
Published: ASIA
CHINA: Five Jünger Audio D*AP LM4 four-channel digital audio processors have been supplied to Ningbo-based broadcaster NBTV in an effort to tackle loudness control across all of the company’s television channels. The sale was negotiated by Jian Gao, head of Jünger Audio’s China office, in conjunction with the company’s Shanghai-based sales partner Rotec China.
As elsewhere in the world, loudness control is fast becoming a key issue amongst Chinese broadcasters. Rotec sales engineer Tim Zhong, who headed the NBTV project, explained: ‘China’s regulatory body, SARFT, is set to issue its own standard on audio loudness. We believe that it will specify -24LKFS as the average loudness level. This is similar to the standard that has already been adopted in Europe and the US and for this reason many Chinese broadcasters, including NBTV, are implementing the ITU1770 standard.’
Speaking of the NBTV purchase, Mr Zhong described the broadcaster as ‘renowned for thoroughly testing all equipment before making a decision to invest. In this case it was looking to upgrade its automatic transmission equipment to incorporate loudness control and Rotec was approached to recommend suitable products.’
Shi-Song Wu, the director of NBTV’s Technical Centre, commented: ‘We installed five D*AP LM4 units in time for the recent Chinese New Year celebrations. Their performance has been great and we are very impressed with their ability to accurately control audio loudness. The combination of German reliability and precision engineering were key factors in our decision to invest.’
Another Chinese broadcaster implementing the ITU standard with Jünger Audio products is FJTV, a provincial station in Fujian. The broadcaster recently purchased three B46 processors, having already installed a number of the units in recent years, but according to Jian Gao, arrangements are being made for a possible switch to the D*AP LM4.
‘The B46 processor has been a good and affordable solution for Chinese broadcasters but it is being superseded by the D*AP LM4,’ Mr Gao explained. ‘We are now arranging for FJTV to trial the D*AP LM4 as it offers a lot more functionality including the ability to log loudness levels, which will be an important consideration for broadcasters if they are to comply with any new legislation.’