TC Electronic LM2

LM2 is a stereo loudness and true-peak level meter for use in post and live production, broadcast ingest, linking and transmission.

LM2’s front panel displays the numbers that reveal whether or not a certain broadcast standard is being met. It is also possible to bring up the Stats display for even more details, or LM2 can be connected to a PC or Mac via USB to get realtime Radar screen picture via the included Icon application.

Delivery Specs and Metadata
Global broadcast guidelines now recognize the need for keeping audio transmission easy and predictable, the main facilitators being transparent normalization and fixed metadata. LM2 is designed to enable precision normalization and optimum use of dialnorm metadata in AC3 transmission in order to avoid level jumps between regular programming and promos or commercials.

Standard Compliance
LM2 comes pre-loaded with factory presets compliant with new ITU-R BS.1770, ATSC A/85, EBU R128, NABJ, OP-59, BCAP and more guidelines. LM2 is field-upgradeable and will keep compliant with global practices as they refine. Standards will be updated within LM2's warranty period – 5 years.

Connections
LM2 offers a variety of 24-bit resolution audio inputs and outputs: AES/EBU, TOS, SPDIF / AES3 id, ADAT and Analog. Digital I/Os are synchronous while analog I/Os are scaled in the analog domain for max utilization of converter dynamic range. Analog inputs can be trimmed at 0.01dB precision. LM2 may connect via USB to a PC or Mac for access to the Radar display, Logging, Remote Control, Preset Management, etc.

24/7 Logging
The radar can show the past 24 hours, but LM2 actually includes enough memory of its own that it provides detailed information one week back in time, even if it has had no connection to a computer. By dumping log files routinely to a PC or Mac, it is possible to import files into included, graphing templates, or user’s can simply design their own versions in Excel, Numbers, etc…

Ingest Normalization
The primary application for LM2 is loudness metering, but it does one more thing: automatic level offset of programs at (synchronous, 48-bit, fixed point engine). LM2 includes a true-peak limiter to avoid output overload when positive gain normalization is required. For fans of speech normalization, LM2 is designed to allow for users to measure a bit of regular dialog and normalize to that. Otherwise, LM2’s relative gate function automatically takes care of all sources. Presets are included.

For more information g o to www.tcelectronic.com/lm2.

Price: MSRP $1,800 US (ex.VAT)

Shipping: At IBC (10th-14th September 2010)