Howtosignalprocessing
- How is perceived loudness measured?
- What is the perception of loudness?
- How is loudness perceived by the brain?
How is perceived loudness measured?
LUFS metering is the most accurate way of measuring perceived loudness because it resembles human hearing more closely than other meters. For example, the human ear has different sensitivities to sound at varying frequencies. We perceive volume changes in mid frequencies more acutely than low and high frequency ranges.
What is the perception of loudness?
The perception of loudness is related to sound pressure level (SPL), frequency content and duration of a sound. The relationship between SPL and loudness of a single tone can be approximated by Stevens's power law in which SPL has an exponent of 0.67.
How is loudness perceived by the brain?
Each frequency of a complex sound maximally vibrates the membrane at one location. Because of this mechanism, we hear different pitches within the sound. A louder sound increases the amplitude of the vibration, so we hear loudness. Signals sent to the brain from auditory nerve are then interpreted as sounds.
