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I just learned that
"volume" news from I
HATE THE MEDIA. For some reason I was under the impression
that the FCC had long ago banned the practice of raising television
commercials volume, but I could find no reference to it. Yes, it is my
ox being gored here; something that will test the principles of even
the staunchest
libertarian, which I am not, but almost. I farging HATE the
practice, so am tempted say yell hooray for congress!
First off, I have a hearing problem. When I watch television with
MoSup, she has the volume set at level 5. To accommodate me she
takes it
up to between 17 and 23, just to give you an idea. So at night,
after
she's gone to bed, the shows I'm watching at 23 that spike to level 50
during commercials don't just annoy me, they wake her and any babies in
the house, which leads to more annoyances.
But.
When it comes to gummint
interference into damn near anything that otherwise has a private
sector
solution, government ought stay the hell away.
This wasn't as much of a problem with my old Panasonic telly. It
had a volume leveling option that this SONY does not seem to have. The TV Ears I had (they broke, sigh)
automatically leveled the sound, so there are solutions outside of
ratbastard gummint. If there's a market for them, they'll come.
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I face the same hearing differential with my spouse as you. This rule change was the only thing done in years I can support, or at least won't oppose. There are bigger battles to fight.
ReplyDeleteAWM
Roger:
ReplyDeleteWith the old analog TV signals, a relatively simple pass band filter and clipping circuitry would ensure that all TV speaker volume did not exceed a certain level.
Now, with digitally encoded sound and video, some significantly more complex data processing will be required to do the same thing.
If someone can find a way to make a small, easy to install package to put inline between the cable and television, they may be able to make a fortune.... If the FCC doesn't disagree!
Cheers!
Armageddon Rex
The best solution, don't buy a TV! It eliminates crappy Hollywood programing AND loud commercials.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe same guys who have borrowed us $13 trillion in the hole now want to regulate television noise.
Sweetie has wired a separate speaker from the TV to sit beside his chair. It has an adjustment on it, as well. Works pretty good, so I don't have it blaring at me. Only problem--it kills conversation; because, he can only hear the speaker. You may find that a plus.
ReplyDeletemary
The sound issue is just one of many things pissing me off more and more. Paying as much as we do for cable and sat and it is still FULL of commercials. Especially towards the end of any movie. I do like the Bat Stain picture though.
ReplyDeleteTim
Hey Rex, that is damn good stuff to know. Thanks.
ReplyDelete"If there's a market for them, they'll come."
ReplyDeleteYou mean, if there's a market, the rat-bastid gummint will come molest it, right? I mean, that's what those rat-bastiges do, ain't it?
H
I use a set of Panasonic wireless headphones since I have bad hearing and the wife does not.
ReplyDeleteYou can still use Rex's solution if you use a DTV converter box. The programming's free, too. You just won't get as many channels.
ReplyDeleteMy solution to the noise problem is to use the mute button.
Rodger. I have found the solution for my bad hearing vs my wifes most excellent hearing is wireless head phones. I have the things on right now. The volume is adjusted to my needs while she is snoring away.
ReplyDeleteChuck from Tacoma
Funny enough I am doing my homework and with all the chillins around it makes it difficult to concetrate. So I dig out my hearpro for the range and it is marvelous! I decided to turn them on to see how it was different, yaknow, the kind that let you hear the range instructor but softens the bang bnag bang. I never noticed that you can actually turn up the volume on them and it keeps the loud parts down. I kept going up until my daughter came around the corner and said "Hi Dad" in a regular voice. Boy did I jump! haha
ReplyDeleteHere is a solution to your broken TV Ears since you probably already have a pair in your range bag.. Sound qual was crap though..
thoR~
III
Rodge, like you I thought there had been a law, regulation or something years ago. Perhaps from the FCC, but I don't remember.
ReplyDeleteI'm positive the practice was addressed, though. I'll research it.
MichigammeDave
I knew I had seen one of these. The "Terk Volume Regulator" [Mfr: VR-1] sells for $29.99, marked down from $49.99 at MCM Electronics.
ReplyDeleteFrom the cat:
" The VR-1 features advanced digital signal processing technology that automatically adjusts sound levels without introducing additional noises. With response as quick as .002 seconds, the VR-1 delivers consistent audio levels when sudden loud noises such as explosions are present. The VR-1 is easy-to-install and is compatible with any A/V deviced."
mcmelectronics.com order #:33-9635
From what I remember, the FCC regulated how much commercials could change the volume. The advertisers complied, but they 'packed' the commercial with more noise, and less empty space in the spectrum, effectively defeating the dictate.
tomw
Mute Button?
ReplyDeleteferhevinsake; it's not so hard...
Tivo thingie/DVR + FF?
[*I* won't watch any other way. CanNOT stand the wasted time staring at muted bullhockey.]
And YES there was a law about broadcast commercials being significantly louder than programming. likely did not apply to Cable, tho...
e~C
It's actually all a matter of dynamic range (the difference between "quiet" and "loud"). The loudest parts of a TV show or movie (explosions, car crashes, etc) are no louder than the loudest commercial you hear (there is in fact a physical limit to the loudest volume that can be transmitted).
ReplyDeleteAll audio signals coming down whatever transmission medium you have access to are compressed, reducing the dynamic range in order to increase signal-to-noise ratio.
Actual programming is only compressed a certain amount (less now in the digital era) in order to create drama when it's needed; the difference between "quiet" and "loud" is reduced, but still significant. Commercials, OTOH, are compressed all to hell, pretty much eliminating all dynamic range. The quietest part of a commercial is the same volume as the loudest part, and it's all pushed right up to that aforementioned limitation.
Therefore, commercials being louder is actually the free market at work. The FCC put a regulatory limit on the maximum volume that could be transmitted (slightly quieter than the physical limitation). It applies to programming and commercials equally. Advertisers just figured that nothing prevents them from staying just below that upper limit, giving a giant middle finger to the FCC while obeying every rule.
Anon2112 - audio engineer
Which brings us back to "Solutions Never Come From Gummint."
ReplyDelete