TV commercial volume

[jcl]

Hi All,
I recently replaced my avr with a Yamaha A800 and around the same time i switched to Direct tv. I now notice that I find on many channels that the commercials are much louder than the regular programming. More so than before.

My previous avr had Audyssey dynamic volume. When I set it up I remember being unimpressed. So I didn't think I would miss it. That was on time warner cable.

Now I'm wondering if I've made a mistake going with the Yamaha, or if I've made a mistake going with direct tv.

Does anyone have similar experiences either with dynamic volume or direct tv?

 

[Warpdrv]

Those volume controls weren't designed to reduce commercial volumes like we were all first led to believe.

Don't sweat it, A law was recently passed that goes into effect soon...
Calm ACT
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Best definition I have found of enforcement.....

When Will the CALM Act Take Effect?

The CALM Act gives the FCC until December 15, 2011 to create and adopt rules - federal regulations -- by which the CALM Act will be enforced. One year following the date on which the FCC's CALM Act regulations are adopted, TV broadcasters, including all standard, cable and satellite broadcasters, will be required to comply with the regulations.

 

[Sliver]

So if I ready Warpdrv's response above correctly...assuming that everyone doesn't comply until near the end of the 'grace period'....it won't be until around December 15th of 2012 until everyone has to comply. I've got a few Yamaha receiver's myself and have been dealing with the volume issue for years so will be looking forward to it.

 

[highfigh]

Hi All,
I recently replaced my avr with a Yamaha A800 and around the same time i switched to Direct tv. I now notice that I find on many channels that the commercials are much louder than the regular programming. More so than before.

My previous avr had Audyssey dynamic volume. When I set it up I remember being unimpressed. So I didn't think I would miss it. That was on time warner cable.

Now I'm wondering if I've made a mistake going with the Yamaha, or if I've made a mistake going with direct tv.

Does anyone have similar experiences either with dynamic volume or direct tv?

Does your receiver have a "night mode"? That should reduce the dynamic range. BTW- the Audyssey Dynamic Volume Control DOES reduce the louder passages, somewhat.

 

[sholling]

I don't know if Verizon FIOS-TV is just normalizing audio better than most or if it's my choice in channels or if Audyssey Volume is helping a bit because I rarely notice it anymore and when I do it's minimal.

BTW here's an article on how advertisers boost perceived volume during commercials and why it's difficult to filter out.

Link

As far as TV spots being louder? TV shows are very dynamic: Dialogue, music, sound design all weaving in and out. They are mixed with a dynamic range that is very wide and natural sounding. TV spots are mixed as loud as possible using lots of different compression techniques that get the overall volume super loud, but usually with a huge loss in dynamic range. (abuse of Waves plugins are usually to blame) If you look at the waveform of what I've described, it's "bricked":

Even if said legislation is passed, I wonder how it would be enforced, since the peak level of the show vs the TV spots are the same. It the dynamic range that is different.

 

[Adam]

Maybe they crank up the volume out of necessity. These days, it seems like most of the commercials are for prescription drugs targeted at folks that probably can't hear very well anymore...

 

[agarwalro]

I don't have Direct TV but my friend does and when setting up his system, I'll noticed a menu setting to normalize the audio (under Preferences or Audio). I'll be at his place this evening and look it up.

No idea what it does for the audio quality during programs.

 

[Pyrrho]

It is what the "mute" button on your remote control is for. Even better is to use a DVR and never watch anything when broadcast, and use the skip ahead 30 seconds (or whatever time your DVR will skip), and never hear the damn things again.

If you must watch the comercials and cannot be bothered with using the "mute" control, use the "night mode" (or whatever it is called with your model) on your receiver. That will compress the dynamic range, thus reducing the problem.

But if you do that, if you want to hear the proper dynamic range of other things, you will need to have it not selected for those other sources.

 

[jcl]

Thanks to all who replied.

As to the mute button, I use it when watching TV, however my daughter usually does not. In fact, she sometimes wants to watch the commercial.

I've found Yamaha has 'Adaptive DRC' which I believe is for this purpose. However, it's not as simple as 'turning on night mode'. It's a setting buried in the menus that's set on/off per input. Wish it was as simple as hitting a button on the remote to turn it on/off.

Seems to cut the commercial volume pretty well, we'll see how it impacts regular programming.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks to all who replied.

As to the mute button, I use it when watching TV, however my daughter usually does not. In fact, she sometimes wants to watch the commercial.

I've found Yamaha has 'Adaptive DRC' which I believe is for this purpose. However, it's not as simple as 'turning on night mode'. It's a setting buried in the menus that's set on/off per input. Wish it was as simple as hitting a button on the remote to turn it on/off.

Seems to cut the commercial volume pretty well, we'll see how it impacts regular programming.

Some Yamaha remotes have a couple of preset memory buttons for switching between various settings quickly, once one programs them. Look for that on yours, and you may be able to program in what you want to do. I can do this with my RX-V2700; I do not know about yours, though you might be able to reprogram a couple of "Scene" buttons to be able to do that with a particular source.

 

[agarwalro]

I don't have Direct TV but my friend does and when setting up his system, I'll noticed a menu setting to normalize the audio (under Preferences or Audio).

Main Menu - System Setup - Audio Preferences.

There is an option for 'Audio Leveling', set to 'Enable'.

 

[Warpdrv]

Main Menu - System Setup - Audio Preferences.

There is an option for 'Audio Leveling', set to 'Enable'.

Does this work for those annoying commercials... ??

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I don't know if Verizon FIOS-TV is just normalizing audio better than most or if it's my choice in channels or if Audyssey Volume is helping a bit because I rarely notice it anymore and when I do it's minimal.

BTW here's an article on how advertisers boost perceived volume during commercials and why it's difficult to filter out.

Link

I have Fios also and there are some stations that are really bad...I don't have audyssey.

 

[jcl]

Main Menu - System Setup - Audio Preferences.

There is an option for 'Audio Leveling', set to 'Enable'.

I looked for this but don't seem to have it, just a choice of language, sound effects (for menus), and dolby digital.

The adaptive drc seems to do an ok job, and now that I know how it's set it's not that inconvenient to turn on and off.

 

[agarwalro]

Does this work for those annoying commercials... ??

It made no difference what so ever in my friend's system (which is connected using a digital connection to the receiver). Perhaps the setting has some affect on the analog outs from the DVR. Too bad since most of us use the digital outs.

I looked for this but don't seem to have it, just a choice of language, sound effects (for menus), and dolby digital.

It could be DVR model specific.

 

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