Steven Ramirez wrote:
I use Time Wanner Cable in New York City. And I notice that when
commericals come on the volume level is too high.

I could like to know if other people notice this?

Thank you

oldchip




Cable is horrible about this. Most of the commercials come in over
processed...that is, with average level driven closer to the peak, for
greater loudness.

Also, there's a good deal of spectral manipulation so the bulk of the
audio falls into the spectra where the ear is most sensitive.

It's a phenomenon that's been applied to commercial audio since the
early days.

This differs from most program audio which has higher dynamic range,
and often, but not always, less spectral manipulation, so the ear
doesn't fatigue through the program. So, there's a difference in
perceived level between commercial and program matter.

Also at issue, is that local commercials come in produced by smaller
houses, or in-house, with less attention to the audio. Levels can be
low. Production values different. And the entry level operators taking
in these local spots, or even locally produced access programs, don't
pay attention to the incoming audio, and take corrective measures to see
to it that levels are matched source-to-source.

And since cable doesn't, as a rule, process the audio for each
channel at the head end for level/loudness/spectral distribution, the
levels can vary not only source to source, but channel to channel, as well.

You'll notice similar issues with your DTV channels over the air from
your local stations.

CBS network feeds tend to be pre processsed to remove a lot of the
level variations at the network. As does CBS and ABC. Locally, though,
this can vary.

You can take some steps to correct this, yourself, though. If you
have a newer TV, in the Setup Menu, the audio portion has an audio level
control setting specifically designed to deal with these loudness
variations. Toshiba calls it StableSound. Others have similar names.
These can be effective, but a bit heavy handed.

Now, if you're using outboard audio for a home theatre setup, you can
install a compressor, or limiter yourself. FMR audio makes a product
called a Really Nice Compressor, with a street price of about $229. This
particular device has what FMR calls "Super Nice" mode: Gain control
without audible artifacts. Setting attack at a medium fast rate, release
medium slow and compression ratio at about 3:1 or less, and using no
more than 5db of gain control, in SuperNice mode, you can pull up the
lower audio without the huge pump up of noise you hear in most
installations, control the huge variations between program level audio
and commercial audio, still appreciate the more natural sound of the
less processed program audio, AND hear some of the very low portions
that otherwise would be nearly inaudible.

In the case of gain control devices, like equalizers, less is more,
so use it lightly for maximum benefits. If you can hear it working,
you're using too much.