Dear Hollywood, please stop using bass drops in movie trailers.

EliteRetard · Dec 23, 2015

Eug said:
Tron: Legacy had the best soundtrack, but that's just because I liked the music with its incorporation of the sounds and themes from the originals.

I don't think anybody was complaining about Tron. That's one movie that should have a techno sound/feel to it. And they did a good job methinks, there's a ton of really bad techno.

JSt0rm · Dec 23, 2015

I was referring to the Wilhelm scream in tron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-6P5_Bw9k

That is a creative use and one most people wont catch. This is the only way the scream should be used now. Although the new starwars gets a pass for nostalgia.

EliteRetard · Dec 23, 2015

JSt0rm said:
I was referring to the Wilhelm scream in tron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-6P5_Bw9k

That is a creative use and one most people wont catch. This is the only way the scream should be used now. Although the new starwars gets a pass for nostalgia.

Didn't realize there was a copyright on screams. The one in Tron sounds different enough I wouldn't say they were the same even side by side like that. Similar sure, but either heavily altered or entirely different screamer.

JSt0rm · Dec 23, 2015

its the same scream. its the same original file. As for copyright. Nobody holds it or would know what to do with it at this point. Its one of those weird files like the amen break thats just out there for all.

Charmonium · Dec 23, 2015

JSt0rm said:
Like we can have a dynamic range that is real wide in film because we listen loud. What that usually means is we turn things down but an explosion in your face will be loud.

Modern music has very little dynamic range because they listen at lower levels and try to maximize the loudness of the digital file. Modern film cant go that route because all dub stages have been calibrated to 85dbu (at mix position) with pink noise that is at -20dbfs (in the digital world.) and it pipes out of dac converters that have a variable trim that a -20db sine wave at 1khz read 1.223 volts.

The idea is and has been nobody in a theater can turn the volume down so we have to mix the film so that it isnt too loud. The catch is that is really only going to be true in the middle of the theater. The back of the theater will have too much surrounds and the front well yeah the front could get very loud.

I didn't really understand most of that but I think what he meant by mixing is that the db level of the speech tracks isn't sufficiently distinguishable from the music and sfx. If you mix both kinds of tracks to be at the same level, you're going to lose some dialog. I notice this all of the time with television and it varies greatly by station. Some stations and channels mix the speaking tracks to be louder than the background. Others tend to mix them more evenly and you need subtitles if you want to make out every word, every time.

JSt0rm · Dec 23, 2015

its not the channels its the client(tv show) who dictates the levels mostly. If you have a surround sound system and its hard for you to hear the dx (dialog) track then maybe look at your center. If its in stereo you may be getting hard at hearing. Dunno. Most tv is mixed in the same way. However the calibration is different. 82dbu@-20dbfs pink.

This means its a bit louder then film but you have control over the volume.

Charmonium · Dec 23, 2015

JSt0rm said:
its not the channels its the client(tv show) who dictates the levels mostly.

That may be so, but I've noticed remarkable consistency with the dozen or so channels I watch. And I'm not sure there is really that much distinction between channels and shows since aren't most tv shows subsidized by the channel they air on? You can't mean that the channels have no control even if that weren't true since they decide what airs and what doesn't.

For example, The CW is part owned by CBS. But there is a huge difference between most CW shows and those on CBS.

JSt0rm · Dec 23, 2015

Actually I did misspeak a bit. Channels do have compressors on all the content they broadcast. However these should not really come into play if the tv show is mixed properly.

for instance, NBC has final cut approval you also need a variance to go over/under the 44 minute show length. But they normally are not interested in sitting in on an audio mix unless its a pilot they like or whatever.

Broadcasters decide on what shows they think will be most popular with the demographic they hold. They "order" so many shows. From around 8 to 24 shows per season is the norm. If its a popular show they will order more of that show and the show may have leverage to ask for more money for the product.

JSt0rm · Dec 23, 2015

and all of those channels sound the same because they must average a loudness over time not to exceed a certain number. I work on the creative side so this is getting into where I dont know much but you can read here about it if you like.

http://www.tvtechnology.com/audio/0014/lkfs-amp-the-calm-act/208806

Subyman · Dec 23, 2015

I first noticed that crap in BF3. Boat fog horn effect crossed with some dubstep BS.

Charmonium · Dec 23, 2015

I get the feeling that we're talking at each other. But let me ask this since it just might be my own ignorance. Can't you boost voice tracks and lower background and music such that you get the same overall loudness? It sounds like you're saying that loudness is loudness regardless of how tracks are mixed. But I can't understand how that could be true or how to reconcile that with my own experience.

RaistlinZ · Dec 23, 2015

JSt0rm · Dec 24, 2015

Charmonium said:
I get the feeling that we're talking at each other. But let me ask this since it just might be my own ignorance. Can't you boost voice tracks and lower background and music such that you get the same overall loudness? It sounds like you're saying that loudness is loudness regardless of how tracks are mixed. But I can't understand how that could be true or how to reconcile that with my own experience.

Yes we do that

We take all of the elements and balance the levels against each other. The issue comes from a couple of things.

1. Your playback system could have something wrong with it.

2. You could be losing your hearing.

3. Dialog is always king... until it isnt. Sometimes other things are going to take over. Its more rare in a tv show though.

But rest assured people pour many man hours over how this stuff you watch sounds.

Charmonium · Dec 24, 2015

JSt0rm said:
1. Your playback system could have something wrong with it.

It's interesting that you say that. I can run the sound through either the tv or the 7.1. And on the audio system, I can either use the Polk monitor speakers or the headphones. Things are a little clearer going through the receiver and then the speakers but the Polks aren't really great speakers. However the sound is much clearer with the head phones. Even using cheesy earbuds.

JSt0rm · Dec 24, 2015

would bet you are having issues with your playback. A 7.1 system will be in 5.1 most of the time and you can always gain your center channel up and get more dx. I suspect you may be taking the 2.0 stream and doing something weird in the receiver. Possibly spend some time asking in the subforum for that. Sometimes my stuff gets backwards and I'm watching it like a hawk and know exactly how to set it up.

Charmonium · Dec 24, 2015

JSt0rm said:
would bet you are having issues with your playback. A 7.1 system will be in 5.1 most of the time and you can always gain your center channel up and get more dx. I suspect you may be taking the 2.0 stream and doing something weird in the receiver. Possibly spend some time asking in the subforum for that. Sometimes my stuff gets backwards and I'm watching it like a hawk and know exactly how to set it up.

Thanks. I didn't do a very good job matching my speakers in this setup. the front and side speakers are decent bookshelf speakers but the center channel and rear are much more compact.

Also, I normally have 7.1 simulation turned on (yamaha receiver). I'll haver to try setting it to stereo mode and just using the front speakers.

JSt0rm · Dec 24, 2015

the center is the most important speaker. It does a lot of the work.

Always set the receiver to pass through without process the signal. it should have a display to show what the incoming signal is. 2.0 to 2.1 is ok. but 5.1 should just be 5.1

2.0 to 7.1 would be bad.

Charmonium · Dec 24, 2015

:thumbsup:

Phoenix86 · Dec 24, 2015

Not one mention of the newspaper prop.

Gunbuster · Dec 24, 2015

Please use the correct name: Inception Horn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=830I9w7I7wM

Exterous · Dec 24, 2015

Obviously you people don't appreciate dramatic sound effects. And clearly the only way to be dramatic is to let the bass rattle your entire body - or, as I like to explain it, the bad man caressing your entire tiny body with hands shaking with anticipation while you suck on the lollipop he gave you in exchange for a promise not to tell anyone

zinfamous · Dec 24, 2015

JSt0rm said:
noted.

:beer:

Eug · Dec 24, 2015

Eug said:
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe light earplugs to quiet the sound.

P.S. The other thing I hate is this jump landing everyone has.

Ah. Apparently it's called a 3-point landing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgOtPXDyKjA&feature=youtu.be

It is often accompanied by a head flip, and of course, often with a big bass boom too (although not usually the bass drop).

Dear Hollywood, please stop using bass drops in movie trailers.

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