Why do they crank up the volume for the adverts
Discussion
As it happens, the broadcasting code (or whatever it's called) forbids turning up the volume during ad's. But you're absolutely right, some of the channels push the rules to absurd extremes.
Part of the reason they get away get away with it is a thing called "dynamic range". In most of the modern world sound is compressed and adjusted so that everything is at a comfortable loudness. (iPod and MP3 played a big part in this.) However, in the cinema there's a much wider dynamic range and movies are shown with quiet bits you can still hear, normal bits which are clearly audible and VERY LOUD BITS as well. The TV channels claim that when they show a movie on TV their ad's are no louder than the loudest bits of the movie - even though those loud bits may represent only a fraction of the whole.
Practical answer? Record everything and watch it on replay, skipping the ad's.
Part of the reason they get away get away with it is a thing called "dynamic range". In most of the modern world sound is compressed and adjusted so that everything is at a comfortable loudness. (iPod and MP3 played a big part in this.) However, in the cinema there's a much wider dynamic range and movies are shown with quiet bits you can still hear, normal bits which are clearly audible and VERY LOUD BITS as well. The TV channels claim that when they show a movie on TV their ad's are no louder than the loudest bits of the movie - even though those loud bits may represent only a fraction of the whole.
Practical answer? Record everything and watch it on replay, skipping the ad's.
Strictly speaking they're not turning the volume up, they mastering the audio to be louder. The peaks are no higher but the lows have been raised to be closer to the peaks (and everything in between has been squashed accordingly), so it sounds like the volume has been turned up. It's bloody annoying.
MitchT said:
Strictly speaking they're not turning the volume up, they mastering the audio to be louder. The peaks are no higher but the lows have been raised to be closer to the peaks (and everything in between has been squashed accordingly), so it sounds like the volume has been turned up. It's bloody annoying.
Annoying is an understatement, its noticeable with the TV sound but when the AV system is on its a race for the remote, the amp is fairly powerful (Nad M25) so the lift in volume is massive, maybe recording is the only answer, Film four are easily the loudest.It seems to me that C4/Film4, for they are the worst culprits, especially in HD, appear to reduce the sound volume of their films rather than increase the volume for the ads. I usually find I have to increase the sound to hear the dialogue properly on their films, which makes the ads seem louder than they otherwise would be. I don't have this issue on other non-film shows or other channels.
God, I thought it was just me going deaf. (And it might be), but the bloody speaking bits are lost against the background music, or noise, or usually gun fire. 
On a different note, I've been watching 'Yes prime minister' on iplayer. What fantastic dialogue in that, and no problem hearing it.
On a different note, I've been watching 'Yes prime minister' on iplayer. What fantastic dialogue in that, and no problem hearing it.
I think good old terrestrial tv has some rules. Meanwhile the wild west internet has none.
Youtube video has the sudden advert at 3 times the volume . Google do evil is the mantra they peddle I think.
No chance I would buy a product that blasted my ears google t
ts in your big empty fancy hq cos u are all sat at home lol.
Youtube video has the sudden advert at 3 times the volume . Google do evil is the mantra they peddle I think.
No chance I would buy a product that blasted my ears google t
ts in your big empty fancy hq cos u are all sat at home lol.Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff