The TV/movie equivalent of the 'loudness wars' - whispered dialogue followed by deafening explosions

[mikeymikec]

I've been steadily upgrading my DVDs to BRs in recent years and got 'V for Vendetta' on a 4K BR offer (a dual-disc set with a 4K version and standard BR version), and was pleasantly surprised to find (I'm fairly sure anyway) that the stereo mix has been done properly so I just set a volume level which didn't constantly need adjusting. I had turned the volume up a couple of times so I make out the dialogue completely clearly and was awaiting the moment of having to rush for the volume control (particularly that moment in the final fight where magazines overly loudly hit the floor), and it just... didn't happen

It would be nice if this was part of a reformative trend across the industry. I'm going to double-check the DVD version to see what that's like.

 

[Charmonium]

I just use whatever feature will smooth out the fluctuations (ADR?)

A lot of purists don't like this since the sound level can be meaningful. But screw it. It's not worth enough to me.

 

[mikeymikec]

I just use whatever feature will smooth out the fluctuations (ADR?)

A lot of purists don't like this since the sound level can be meaningful. But screw it. It's not worth enough to me.

I once tried a sound normalization feature in VLC but it did strange and obviously artificial things to the audio.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Most DVD and Bluray are calibrated to sound like a movie theatre by default (though if you buy classic films from like the 30s through the 60s, the dialogue is generally going to be much more theatrical and clear.)

Most of the dialog usually comes from the center channel.
You could likely boost the center channel on your reciever by like 3-6 db and it will increase the volume of the dialog but wont really make the effects or music any louder since they generally come from the main L and R speakers, or surround channels.

 

[biostud]

I guess it all depends on your living situation and your sound setup. If you live in an apartment, don't want to disturb your family or your setup is not geared towards the mixed volume, you don't want to have too much variation, but otherwise it can give a more dynamic experience.

What is your sound setup/listening situation?

 

[sdifox]

Or your hearing is going.

 

[biostud]

Or your hearing is going.

WHAT?

 

[sdifox]

WHAT?

Let me type louder.

 

[Brainonska511]

Most DVD and Bluray are calibrated to sound like a movie theatre by default (though if you buy classic films from like the 30s through the 60s, the dialogue is generally going to be much more theatrical and clear.)

Most of the dialog usually comes from the center channel.
You could likely boost the center channel on your reciever by like 3-6 db and it will increase the volume of the dialog but wont really make the effects or music any louder since they generally come from the main L and R speakers, or surround channels.

I originally had a stereo setup, but adding a center channel did help a lot with audio clarity and not needing to constantly volume adjust. Haven't even played with the channel levels - just left it at the calibrated Denon default (using their setup mic).

 

[biostud]

Let me type louder.

*click* *click* *click* I've left my hearing glasses in the other room

 

[IronWing]

*click* *click* *click* I've left my hearing glasses in the other room

I have a cherry blue keyboard and my coworkers bitch about it. <clickity clickity>

 

[biostud]

I have a cherry blue keyboard and my coworkers bitch about it. <clickity clickity>

Cherry red here, but I have my own office, so I can only impress the students with my gaming keyboard and 34" UW screen

 

[BurnItDwn]

Cherry red here, but I have my own office, so I can only impress the students with my gaming keyboard and 34" UW screen

I still have a couple IBM Model M's with buckling springs and the USB to PS2 adaptors to use them on motherboards that are missing the ps2 connectors, but, I usually use a keyboard with "Kailh Box White" switches in it. They feel almost as good as the buckling springs. Its a 96% size 98 key layout, has the fuill 10key, and its a couple inches less wide than the Model M so it gives me a little bit more room for my mouse. I really like these switches. But, I miss my home and end keys (currently have to use "FN" combos with pgup or pgdwn).

 

[nakedfrog]

I've been steadily upgrading my DVDs to BRs in recent years and got 'V for Vendetta' on a 4K BR offer (a dual-disc set with a 4K version and standard BR version), and was pleasantly surprised to find (I'm fairly sure anyway) that the stereo mix has been done properly so I just set a volume level which didn't constantly need adjusting. I had turned the volume up a couple of times so I make out the dialogue completely clearly and was awaiting the moment of having to rush for the volume control (particularly that moment in the final fight where magazines overly loudly hit the floor), and it just... didn't happen

It would be nice if this was part of a reformative trend across the industry. I'm going to double-check the DVD version to see what that's like.

Rewatched that a few months ago, didn't feel too good about it (I mean, I still enjoy it, buuuuut...)
I still have a 5.1 setup, my receiver has a dialogue enhancement mode that works great.

 

[waffleironhead]

I had this problem for years and it was near 100% solved by increasing output from my center channel of my 5.1 setup.

 

[balloonshark]

I watch TV with headphones so I feel your pain. I'm constantly adjusting the volume on my headphone amp.

Prime video has a dialog boost option but I found it lowers the background sounds too much. I was watching a movie with a decent song and using dialog boost killed the music vibe.