NUGEN Audio is highlighting its DialogCheck speech intelligibility plug-in as a useful tool for podcasters and audio professionals.
“While poor dialog intelligibility has long been one of the biggest complaints among television and film audiences, it’s an even bigger challenge in podcasting, where usually there are no visuals or subtitles to fall back on,” it states.
NUGEN noted that listeners cannot rely on lip-reading or captions to follow along and make up for muffled or uneven speech.
“Every word must carry through cleanly, regardless of where or how someone is listening. That means every mix decision, from levels to noise reduction, directly affects how well the story is heard and understood.”
The company said its DialogCheck was developed in collaboration with Fraunhofer IDMT. The tool is sold on the NUGEN website for $399.
It uses automatic speech recognition, psychoacoustic modeling and a Listening Effort Meter to analyze how hard a listener must work to understand speech.
“In simple terms, it transforms something typically judged by ear into precise, visual data. The result is a clear reference point for audio professionals to make confident, data-driven mix decisions.”
The interface provides tools such as a bar meter, history graph and distribution view that allow engineers to evaluate episodes or segments.
“The plug-in syncs with the DAW timecode, so users can identify problem areas, adjust and instantly see the results reflected in updated intelligibility scores.”
NUGEN said this translates to faster, more consistent results and a better listening experience.
“It helps pinpoint when speech is being masked by background music and effects, or when noise reduction and EQ tweaks might be needed to bring voices forward. Once adjustments are made, running the mix through DialogCheck again confirms that clarity has improved, saving valuable time in the reviewing process.”
It can also be helpful in pre-production, helping podcasters evaluate mic choices, room acoustics and recording setups.
NUGEN CEO Paul Tapper gave a presentation at the NAB Show regarding speech intelligibility.
