diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 632760c1c380e82cef0c7c9d90b46d0b67385e82..7d7a0b726cb603d6032c28c1fbac925229394cbb 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 variables:
+  LTV_DIR: "/usr/local/ltv"
+  EVS_BE_TEST_DIR_BASOP: "/usr/local/be_2_evs_basop"
   REFERENCE_TAG: "20231128_Update_Ittiam"
   BUILD_OUTPUT: "build_output.txt"
   SCRIPTS_DIR: "/usr/local/scripts"
   EXIT_CODE_NON_BE: 123
   EXIT_CODE_FAIL: 1
-  TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR: "tests/codec_be_on_mr_nonselection"
+  LONG_TEST_SUITE: "tests/codec_be_on_mr_nonselection tests/test_param_file_ltv.py tests/renderer"
+  SHORT_TEST_SUITE: "tests/codec_be_on_mr_nonselection"
+  USE_REF_ENC: "1"
+  TEST_SUITE: ""
+  LEVEL_SCALING: "1.0"
   IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: ''
   MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE:
     description: "Type for the manual pipeline run. Use 'pytest-mld' to run MLD test against reference float codec." # Not implemented yet, but may be good to have a manual pipeline trigger
@@ -12,6 +18,8 @@ variables:
     options:
       - 'default'
       - 'pytest-mld'
+      - 'pytest-mld-long'
+      - 'evs-26444'
 
 
 default:
@@ -35,6 +43,16 @@ workflow:
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'pytest-mld'
       variables:
         IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Run MLD tool against float ref: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'pytest-mld-long'
+      variables:
+        IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Run MLD tool against float ref (long test vectors): $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == 'evs-26444'
+      variables:
+        IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'EVS 26.444 test: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'schedule' # Scheduled in any branch
+      variables:
+        IVAS_PIPELINE_NAME: 'Scheduled pipeline: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'        
+
 
 stages:
   - build
@@ -73,8 +91,9 @@ stages:
   # create short test vectors
   - python3 tests/create_short_testvectors.py
   # create references
-  - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --update_ref 1 -m create_ref -n auto
-  - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --update_ref 1 -m create_ref_part2 -n auto
+  - python3 -m pytest $TEST_SUITE -v --update_ref 1 -m create_ref -n auto
+  - python3 -m pytest $TEST_SUITE -v --update_ref 1 -m create_ref_part2 -n auto
+
 
 .update-scripts-repo: &update-scripts-repo
   - cd $SCRIPTS_DIR
@@ -89,6 +108,21 @@ stages:
 .remove-unsupported-testcases: &remove-unsupported-testcases
   - sed -i '1649,1655d' scripts/config/self_test.prm
 
+
+.apply-testv-scaling: &apply-testv-scaling
+  - echo "Applying level scaling in scripts/testv using scale=$LEVEL_SCALING"
+  - tests/scale_pcm.py ./scripts/testv/ $LEVEL_SCALING
+
+.update-ltv-repo: &update-ltv-repo
+  - cd $LTV_DIR
+  - git pull
+  - cd -
+  
+.copy-ltv-files-to-testv-dir: &copy-ltv-files-to-testv-dir
+    - cp "$LTV_DIR"/*.wav scripts/testv/
+    - cp "$LTV_DIR"/*.met scripts/testv/
+    - cp "$LTV_DIR"/*.csv scripts/testv/  
+
 .rules-pytest-mld:
   rules:
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == "pytest-mld"
@@ -96,6 +130,17 @@ stages:
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event' && $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "main" # only have MR pipelines for MRs to main
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push'
       when: never
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'schedule'
+      when: never
+
+.rules-pytest-mld-long:
+  rules:
+    - if: $PYTEST_MLD_LONG # Set by scheduled pipeline
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == "pytest-mld-long"
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push'
+      when: never
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event'
+      when: never
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------
 # Job templates
@@ -120,47 +165,34 @@ stages:
     - if [ ! -d "$TESTV_DIR" ]; then mkdir -p $TESTV_DIR; fi
     - cp -r scripts/testv/* $TESTV_DIR/
 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------
-# Build jobs
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------
-
-# ensure that codec builds on linux
-build-codec-linux-make:
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web'
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event' && $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "main" # only have MR pipelines for MRs to main
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push'
-      when: never
-  extends:
-    - .build-job-linux
-  script:
-    - *print-common-info
-    - make -j
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------
-# Test jobs 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
-ivas-pytest-mld-enc-dec:
-  extends:
-    - .test-job-linux
-    - .rules-pytest-mld
+.ivas-pytest-mld-anchor: &ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
   stage: test
   needs: ["build-codec-linux-make"]
   timeout: "30 minutes"
   script:
     - *print-common-info
     - *update-scripts-repo
+    - if [ $USE_LTV -eq 1 ]; then
+    -    *update-ltv-repo
+    -    *copy-ltv-files-to-testv-dir
+    - fi
     - *remove-unsupported-testcases
+    - if [ $LEVEL_SCALING != "1.0" ];then
+    -   *apply-testv-scaling        
+    - fi
     - *mld-test-setup-codec
 
     ### run pytest
     - exit_code=0
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --mld -n auto || exit_code=$?
+    - if [ $USE_REF_ENC -eq 1 ]; then
+    -    python3 -m pytest $TEST_SUITE -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --mld --dut_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod_ref -n auto || exit_code=$?
+    - else
+    -    python3 -m pytest $TEST_SUITE -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --mld -n auto || exit_code=$?
+    - fi
     - zero_errors=$(cat report-junit.xml | grep -c 'errors="0"') || true
     
-    - python3 scripts/parse_mld.py report.html mld.csv
+    - python3 scripts/parse_mld_xml.py report-junit.xml mld.csv
 
     - if [ $zero_errors != 1 ]; then echo "Run errors encountered!"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL; fi
     - if [ $exit_code -eq 1 ]; then echo "Differences encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_NON_BE; fi
@@ -182,43 +214,201 @@ ivas-pytest-mld-enc-dec:
       junit:
         - report-junit.xml
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# Build jobs
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
-ivas-pytest-mld-dec:
+# ensure that codec builds on linux
+build-codec-linux-make:
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event' && $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "main" # only have MR pipelines for MRs to main
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'schedule'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push'
+      when: never
+  extends:
+    - .build-job-linux
+  script:
+    - *print-common-info
+    - make -j
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# Short test jobs 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ivas-pytest-mld-enc-dec:
   extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld
     - .test-job-linux
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=1.0
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-dec:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=1.0
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-enc-dec-lev-10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=0.3162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-dec-lev-10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=0.3162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+
+ivas-pytest-mld-enc-dec-lev+10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=3.162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-dec-lev+10:
+  extends:
     - .rules-pytest-mld
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=0  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$SHORT_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=3.162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# Long test jobs 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-enc-dec:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=1.0
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-dec:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=1.0
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-enc-dec-lev-10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=0.3162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-dec-lev-10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=0.3162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-enc-dec-lev+10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=0
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=3.162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor  
+  
+ivas-pytest-mld-long-dec-lev+10:
+  extends:
+    - .rules-pytest-mld-long
+    - .test-job-linux    
+  before_script:
+    - USE_LTV=1  
+    - USE_REF_ENC=1
+    - TEST_SUITE="$LONG_TEST_SUITE"
+    - LEVEL_SCALING=3.162
+  <<: *ivas-pytest-mld-anchor
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# EVS 26.444 test job
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# check bitexactness to EVS
+be-2-evs-26444:
+  extends:
+    - .test-job-linux
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' && $MANUAL_PIPELINE_TYPE == "evs-26444"
+  tags:
+    - be-2-evs-basop
   stage: test
-  needs: ["build-codec-linux-make"]
-  timeout: "30 minutes"
+  timeout: "120 minutes" # To be revisited
   script:
     - *print-common-info
-    - *update-scripts-repo
-    - *remove-unsupported-testcases
-    - *mld-test-setup-codec
-
-    ### run pytest
-    - exit_code=0
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --mld --dut_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod_ref -n auto || exit_code=$?
-    - zero_errors=$(cat report-junit.xml | grep -c 'errors="0"') || true
+    - *update-scripts-repo    
+    - sed -i".bak" "s/\(#define EVS_FLOAT\)/\/\/\1/" lib_com/options.h
+    - make -j
 
-    - python3 scripts/parse_mld.py report.html mld.csv
+    # copy over to never change the testvector dir
+    - cp -r $EVS_BE_TEST_DIR_BASOP ./evs_be_test
+    - mkdir -p ./evs_be_test/output/decoded ./evs_be_test/output/bitstreams
 
-    - if [ $zero_errors != 1 ]; then echo "Run errors encountered!"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL; fi
-    - if [ $exit_code -eq 1 ]; then echo "Differences encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_NON_BE; fi
+    - python3 -m pytest tests/test_26444.py -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml -n auto || exit_code=$?
+    - if [ $exit_code -eq 1 ]; then echo "Differences encountered"; exit $EXIT_CODE_FAIL; fi
     - exit 0
-
-  allow_failure:
-    exit_codes:
-      - 123
+    
   artifacts:
-    name: "mld--sha-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA--stage-$CI_JOB_STAGE--results"
+    name: "evs-26444--sha-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA--stage-$CI_JOB_STAGE--results"
     expire_in: 1 week
     when: always
     paths:
       - report-junit.xml
       - report.html
-      - mld.csv
-    expose_as: "pytest mld results"
+    expose_as: "EVS 26444 result"
     reports:
       junit:
-        - report-junit.xml
+        - report-junit.xml