deep owl Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 I don't normally watch TV, but over the last few months I've been using Netflix. Watching Bones, Lie To Me, and Supernatural quite a bit and noticing a few things. Biggest thing is the level of dialogue vs. level of music. Intro and ending music pretty much blows everything else away. Transitional music gets a bit loud too. Point is I find myself turning my master volume up and down quite a bit. I've considered that this may be due to the acoustics of my room or possibly a psychoacoustic effect but I've also heard several other people say the same things about their experiences at their own homes. I have to wonder if the post mixers on shows like mixing this way or if they're answering to higher ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Dialog/music/exf level decisions are made by producers/directors/big wheels,etc. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deep owl Posted November 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 I kinda figured that. I was an editor for 8 years doing corporate video and it was definitely 'edit by committee' as well as choose and mix shite royalty free music. I think the viewing public would appreciate an 'easy on the dynamics' mix for apartments and suburban homes. Dialog/music/exf level decisions are made by producers/directors/big wheels,etc. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Beatty Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 +1 for riding the levels on these shows as well. Most were probably mixed in a DTS or Dolby surround environment with the proper speaker arrangement and calibration. For broadcast there's only an EBU loudness compliance standard to keep programs within the same loudness ballpark, but that goes out the window when the dialogue within a show is mixed low in comparison to the music. If there were a way to monitor 'dyanmics' and create a standard for broadcast or at least if there was a best practice other than to taste I'd be interested to learn from post people with more experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 " For broadcast there's... " stuff that is about levels and loudness, but not necessarily mixes. also, broadcast loudness regulations do not apply, I believe, to cable/satellite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 The "auto" setting on TVs sucks too, so that's not an option. My dad has his TV set that way. When there's silence, the TV gains up to a nice hiss. When there's "dynamic" volume, it clamps down. Awful. Lots of people watch TV with other people in the house, or kids in bed, or neighbors through thin walls. It's infuriating that TV has such a big dynamic range. And it drives me crazy when dialog scenes sound like they're in a dance club. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afewmoreyears Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 They do this because they are hoping to draw attention AWAY from the dialog and it's horrid content.... I can't watch much of anything .... 98% of it stinks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 It not just us that it bothers, I've seen a few people use a compressor / limiter on the output of their cable box. They usually seem happy with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 For broadcast there's only an EBU loudness compliance standard to keep programs within the same loudness ballpark, but that goes out the window when the dialogue within a show is mixed low in comparison to the music. Although the point of this EBU recommendation (R-128) is exactly what's being discussed here. To average the loudness of a program so that consumers don't get a feeling of "jumping volume" all the time. And it's not simply a matter of balancing loud music at the end with quiet dialogue in the middle. Averaging measurements are taken all the time at preset intervalls. Plus the overall level has been reduced and, ironically, it allow for more dynamic sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchman Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Crappy mixing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Reineke Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Crappy mixing +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 (edited) " To average the loudness of a program so that consumers don't get a feeling of "jumping volume" all the time. " a major impetus was consumers perceiving "commercials" as typically louder than the "programs". Edited November 27, 2013 by studiomprd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 " To average the loudness of a program so that consumers don't get a feeling of "jumping volume" all the time. " a major impetus was consumers perceiving commercials as typically louder than the programs. Yes, that's right. The commercials are part of the program, in a way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.