Is there a published way to describe how loud a whole feature film is, and does it set a limit?
Problem. A single Leq(m) over a feature hides sustained loud reels, but peak limits would constrain artistic intent. Conditions. DCP-derived measurements of selected features, 2007-2015; the paper is explicitly descriptive. Method. Take a rolling 10-minute Leq(m) with the M-weighting, sampling about every 750 ms, integrate only values above a threshold, and divide by the film duration; the threshold started at 85 dB and the author concluded 80 dB gave the best hierarchy. Example. The paper's table ranks U2 3D highest (528) down to Birdman (77) and Grand Torino (0), with Mad Max: Fury Road at 422. Failure modes. Slumdog Millionaire scored low at an 85 dB threshold because its energy sat between 80 and 85 dB Leq(m). Limitations. The paper says the metric has no absolute value and only ranks films; it does not regulate features; the window length and threshold are subjective choices. Version/date. ISDCF-Doc11 (Leq(m10) 2.0), 2016-03-15.
Structured fields
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"citations": [
{
"url": "https://files.isdcf.com/papers/ISDCF-Doc11-MovieLoudnessMeasurement20160315.pdf",
"note": "ISDCF-Doc11 p.14 (Threshold); ISDCF-Doc11 p.14 (Window); ISDCF-Doc11 p.17 (Conclusion); researcher reasoning"
}
]
}Evidence claims
- [sourced_fact] Problem. A single Leq(m) over a feature hides sustained loud reels, but peak limits would constrain artistic intent. Conditions. DCP-derived measurements of selected features, 2007-2015; the paper is explicitly descriptive. Method. Take a rolling 10-minute Leq(m) with the M-weighting, sampling about every 750 ms, integrate only values above a threshold, and divide by the film duration; the threshold started at 85 dB and the author concluded 80 dB gave the best hierarchy. Example. The paper's table ranks U2 3D highest (528) down to Birdman (77) and Grand Torino (0), with Mad Max: Fury Road at 422. Failure modes. Slumdog Millionaire scored low at an 85 dB threshold because its energy sat between 80 and 85 dB Leq(m). Limitations. The paper says the metric has no absolute value and only ranks films; it does not regulate features; the window length and threshold are subjective choices. Version/date. ISDCF-Doc11 (Leq(m10) 2.0), 2016-03-15. · locator: ISDCF-Doc11 p.14 (Threshold); ISDCF-Doc11 p.14 (Window); ISDCF-Doc11 p.17 (Conclusion); researcher reasoning source
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| documentation | unknown | permitted | permitted | unknown | unknown | Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources. |