Why do digital channels drop the volume after a commercial

[OUCaptain]

I've noticed this on my TV and others on both OTA and Direct TV. Right after the commercial when the show returns, often the volume starts very low and then slowly returns over about 5 - 10 seconds. Am I the only one that has noticed this?

For the record, quick google got me nothing

 

[krylon]

Why is this? Gay people need love, too. Don't hate.

 

[techs]

I've never noticed it.
However, I did once read a piece on how commercials equalize their sound into the spectrum that makes them appear louder.

 

[Barfo]

Originally posted by: techs
I've never noticed it.
However, I did once read a piece on how commercials equalize their sound into the spectrum that makes them appear louder.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: barfo

Originally posted by: techs
I've never noticed it.
However, I did once read a piece on how commercials equalize their sound into the spectrum that makes them appear louder.

They compress the dynamic range down to virtually zero so they can then boost the level of the entire sound without causing any clipping. It's been done in music since the early 90's. I was too young to even remember a time when music wasn't so highly compressed. I didn't even realize what was going on until I heard some examples. Here is a good youtube video that explains it:

The Loudness War

 

[Regs]

Yeah I've noticed this too with digital cable. I figured it had to do something about the compression like special k said. Could it possibly be the decoding of it too?

 

[Chronoshock]

HI BILLY MAYS HERE

But seriously, it's annoying. Remotes should have a button to raise/drop volume by 5-10dB for large volume changes

 

[Jeff7]

This has been going on long before digital cable.

Quiet show, then blast you to death with a loud commercial that only makes you want to go bomb their corporate HQ, rather than buy the product.

 

[SlitheryDee]

They're hoping you'll turn the volume up to hear the show, not noticing that it is returning slowly to its original volume anyway, and get blasted by the next commercial.

Edit: Actually I haven't "noticed" this, but it seems likely enough.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
This has been going on long before digital cable.

Quiet show, then blast you to death with a loud commercial that only makes you want to go bomb their corporate HQ, rather than buy the product.

Yeah, that's been going on as long as I can remember. That's not what I'm talking about. "then slowly returns over about 5 - 10 seconds" as in the volume after a commercial begins low and slowly returns to normal volume. It has nothing to do with blasting the commercials.

 

[OUCaptain]

Originally posted by: krylon
Why is this? Gay people need love, too. Don't hate.

very lame edit

 

[CKent]

You could always stop watching TV. It's so pointless...

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain

Originally posted by: Jeff7
This has been going on long before digital cable.

Quiet show, then blast you to death with a loud commercial that only makes you want to go bomb their corporate HQ, rather than buy the product.

Yeah, that's been going on as long as I can remember. That's not what I'm talking about. "then slowly returns over about 5 - 10 seconds" as in the volume after a commercial begins low and slowly returns to normal volume. It has nothing to do with blasting the commercials.

Maybe they use some kind of equalizing software that takes a little while to find the new "normal" level of the new track.