Sound levels - dialogue and action scenes

[admin_exported]

I have a PS3 and a surround sound amp & speakers (5.1).

I get really annoyed watching films where I can hardly hear the quiet dialogue / speech scenes - so I turn the volume up. Then when an action scene kicks in, the volume is so loud that it nearly blows my head off. I spend my time watching films constantly turning the volume up and down.

I have set up my surround sound amp with all the correct time delays.

Is it just me? Or do all DVDs / HDs / Blu-Rays not have the correct volume balance levels between action scenes and dialogue scenes?

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is there anything I can do to fix it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[professorhat]

Are you able to set the volume levels on each channel separately? If so, turn up the volume level on the centre speaker so it's louder than the others. This is what I do and ensures dialogue comes through loud and clear whilst action sequences don't cause my neighbours above me to have heart attacks (though occasionally I do go very loud if the film warrants it!).

 

[Clare Newsome]

Dolby has a technology - Dolby Volume - that deals with such issues of dynamic range.

Haven't yet seen it in many products yet - just demos. Am hoping they fit in the Sky box so the advert breaks don't burst in so dramatically..

Many AV receivers also already have a 'night mode' or similar, which also reduce dynamic differences - definitely worth having a listen to.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

I heard the other day that some watchdog has advised ITV (hopefully the others will follow) to lower the volume on it's adverts. By the way Clare and anyone else; when I watch Sky Sports HD Premier matches with DD, the sound during some sections of the programme (just before and after the adverts), the sound is barely audible. Has anyone else come across this?

 

[tvmog]

[quote user="Gerrardasnails"]I heard the other day that some watchdog has advised ITV (hopefully the others will follow) to lower the volume on it's adverts. By the way Clare and anyone else; when I watch Sky Sports HD Premier matches with DD, the sound during some sections of the programme (just before and after the adverts), the sound is barely audible. Has anyone else come across this?[/quote]

I have noticed a volume problem returning to DD programmes from ad breaks from time to time on a variety of different HD channels. Also DD certainly seems to require a higher volume setting on my amp than normal stereo which most ads are broadcast in. Not sure whether it is a broadcast issue, a Sky Box problem, or even a problem with my amp.

The TV companies are shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to the volume of ad breaks as I (and I suspect many others) find it a lot easier to just mute and ummute the whole thing rather than adjust the volume to a reasonable level and then readjust when the programme starts again.

 

[Anonymous]

Dynamic range is a big problem for home viewing - it's one of those things (like screen ratio) designed to directly compete with the in-home experience. It's better (or should be better) in the Cinema..... Compression helps at home - either in the mix or imposed by the amp - but the introduction of uncompressed master tracks will certainly not improve the neighbour-friendliness of the all-in aural experience. As far as TV ads go, it's normal for TV companies to increase the volume and deny it later. I've done it. It's common practice. It's a pain in the butt, but muting is good solution!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your replies people - much appreciated.

I will try out some of the suggestions 🙂