I don’t know if the function is still available on any new TV sets, but I once had a rear projection big screen model that had a volume limiter mode. No matter how loud the commercials or program normally might be, it would not allow the volume to go above what you set the maximum level for. It should be made available for every TV made today. Advertisers would hate it.
Oddly enough, this scenario can be just as annoying in the reverse. The local classical music station plays the music louder than the speaking bits. If I want to hear the news I have to turn up the volume, and then the music is louder than I like.
At this point in my life, I’d like to have closed captions kick on every time the characters start whispering! Westworld is the latest example of a show that has me pumping up the volume!
It used to be that in a show (be it at the theater or on television) the STORY was what mattered…. and the STORY consisted of what people were saying to each other…. SO…. the sounds were mixed in such a way that the DIALOGUE was made the most prominent in the sound track.
Now-a-days…. too damn many films and television programs have the STORY and hence the DIALOGUE be SECONDARY or TERTIARY to either a) the music they layer on the soundtrack, b) the various explosions and other peripheral noise, or the damn CGI that is used in place of actual acting to allow folks to do things impossible in the natural world.
This is why we have 75% of the films at the theaters being based on comic books (lots of action, lots of booms, little story) and the typical Stars Wars films have 90-95% battle scenes and perhaps MAYBE 5% story.
My hearing is poor after years of inner ear problems so I have the subtitles on all the time. It does p*ss me off that some channels like SyFy won’t put them on their programmes.
If you have a center channel, it’s not so bad because then the music and dialogue each have a place. But if not, the music is always way too loud compared to dialogue.
Nowadays, it is not the advertisements that are annoying, it is the constant media whining … Hillary lost, Trump won, Congress is dysfunctional … all of the over-dramatization of half truths. It will only get worse as November elections near.
I was under the impression that the programmers were going to be forced to make the the commercials the same**loudness** as the shows, by law. They are extra loud because in the early days of TV people got up and went to the kitchen to get food, other the bathroom, and that way they could still hear the commercials!
I use the “CC” function to silence annoying voices. There is a Woman on one of the Military history shows that was at one time a Man. No judgment on her transition but I can’t abide her caricature of a contralto voice. The “CC” is also ineffective for the voices in my head.
I produced video and mixed sound for some 30 years. It’s plain to see that the children “producing” material today have NO freaking idea how to mix sound. Nobody has the brains to teach it correctly any more. Instead, everything is ‘make it louder’, instead of paying attention to the sound space. The sound HAS to mirror the visuals: when the actors are up front, their dialog has to be up front, and all other sound in the background. When the actors are to one side, so should the sound be there. But now, the so-called “mix” is done with the monitors up far too high, which causes hearing saturation – you can’t hear what levels things are actually running at, from source to source..
charliefarmrhere over 6 years ago
I don’t know if the function is still available on any new TV sets, but I once had a rear projection big screen model that had a volume limiter mode. No matter how loud the commercials or program normally might be, it would not allow the volume to go above what you set the maximum level for. It should be made available for every TV made today. Advertisers would hate it.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 6 years ago
Set it on a secondary language so you can learn as you watch.
Robin Harwood over 6 years ago
Turn it up to hear the dialogue, down to kill the awful music, and captions to follow the dialogue when the “background” music drowns it out.
drogers30 over 6 years ago
I use the CC to help me not to miss parts of the dialogue even though I have hearing aids I still don’t hear as well as I like
Kamino Neko over 6 years ago
I feel ya, Arlo. Either dialogue’s too quiet to follow, or music and commercials are so loud other people get ticked off.
Charlie Cook over 6 years ago
This is SO true. And it’s not just the music. Some shows have different scenes at different volumes. very frustrating. Great observation!
jarvisloop over 6 years ago
So far, my hearing is still excellent, so I know it’s not just me.
What I have noticed is that sitcoms such as “Big Bang” have crystal-clear dialogue, as do the news programs.
However, shows such as “Walking Dead” seem to specialize in slurred speech and mumbling.
It’s maddening.
Doctor Toon over 6 years ago
We record everything on the dvr and watch it when we have time, doesn’t matter how loud the commercials are because we don’t watch them
My problem is when the dialogue is low and indistinct, then the action is sudden and LOUD
smgray over 6 years ago
Easily fixed. Turn the darn thing off.
Jim over 6 years ago
thought for a second he was avoiding joe buck broadcasting a football game.
Dani Rice over 6 years ago
Oddly enough, this scenario can be just as annoying in the reverse. The local classical music station plays the music louder than the speaking bits. If I want to hear the news I have to turn up the volume, and then the music is louder than I like.
assrdood over 6 years ago
I wonder….can the “closed caption” be somehow stopped for commercials?…. :)>
axe-grinder over 6 years ago
At this point in my life, I’d like to have closed captions kick on every time the characters start whispering! Westworld is the latest example of a show that has me pumping up the volume!
Ahuehuete over 6 years ago
I simply got tired of watching TV
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 6 years ago
It used to be that in a show (be it at the theater or on television) the STORY was what mattered…. and the STORY consisted of what people were saying to each other…. SO…. the sounds were mixed in such a way that the DIALOGUE was made the most prominent in the sound track.
Now-a-days…. too damn many films and television programs have the STORY and hence the DIALOGUE be SECONDARY or TERTIARY to either a) the music they layer on the soundtrack, b) the various explosions and other peripheral noise, or the damn CGI that is used in place of actual acting to allow folks to do things impossible in the natural world.
This is why we have 75% of the films at the theaters being based on comic books (lots of action, lots of booms, little story) and the typical Stars Wars films have 90-95% battle scenes and perhaps MAYBE 5% story.
It is annoying.
Zapbessacarr over 6 years ago
My hearing is poor after years of inner ear problems so I have the subtitles on all the time. It does p*ss me off that some channels like SyFy won’t put them on their programmes.
Mema Jean over 6 years ago
Its the shows that have their music louder than the actors that get me.
Daeder over 6 years ago
If you have a center channel, it’s not so bad because then the music and dialogue each have a place. But if not, the music is always way too loud compared to dialogue.
Scott S over 6 years ago
I’ve done that when Gina is on the phone. She gets to talking loudly but if I turn up the TV volume then she can’t hear the call.
RaydarA over 6 years ago
Too many commercials at first seem a part of the program. There is no pause, then the ad. One needs to have a fast trigger finger to hit mute on time.
B UTTONS over 6 years ago
Nowadays, it is not the advertisements that are annoying, it is the constant media whining … Hillary lost, Trump won, Congress is dysfunctional … all of the over-dramatization of half truths. It will only get worse as November elections near.
Ladylagomorph1976 over 6 years ago
I was under the impression that the programmers were going to be forced to make the the commercials the same**loudness** as the shows, by law. They are extra loud because in the early days of TV people got up and went to the kitchen to get food, other the bathroom, and that way they could still hear the commercials!
MeanBob Premium Member over 6 years ago
I use the “CC” function to silence annoying voices. There is a Woman on one of the Military history shows that was at one time a Man. No judgment on her transition but I can’t abide her caricature of a contralto voice. The “CC” is also ineffective for the voices in my head.
Vaporman over 6 years ago
I produced video and mixed sound for some 30 years. It’s plain to see that the children “producing” material today have NO freaking idea how to mix sound. Nobody has the brains to teach it correctly any more. Instead, everything is ‘make it louder’, instead of paying attention to the sound space. The sound HAS to mirror the visuals: when the actors are up front, their dialog has to be up front, and all other sound in the background. When the actors are to one side, so should the sound be there. But now, the so-called “mix” is done with the monitors up far too high, which causes hearing saturation – you can’t hear what levels things are actually running at, from source to source..
joedon2007 over 6 years ago
No flag day theme???
Ceeg22 Premium Member over 6 years ago
I can always hear the TV better if the captions are on