Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
2) In contrast with (1), concerts where the announcers are - it would
seem - employed because they have a speaking voice as loud as an
orchestra going full-belt! - i.e. announcements that are far too loud
compared with the actual music.

This is a prime example of how it's impossible to suit everyone. A casual
listener would want everything at near the same level (it seems). A
serious listener would want the music at a reasonably realistic level
which then makes the speech too loud.

--
*Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article ,
Nick wrote:
Most DVD players I've seen (old and new) have a neighbour friendly mode
that does exactly what you want.

It's somewhat easier to compress the dynamic range on a feature film since
it will start out with a fairly wide one. TV, on the other hand, is
already compressed.

This obviously doesnt help with other
sources though.

--
*Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

Thank you for all those suggestions everyone, I will try a few out!

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

Slightly OT, I'm glad to hear that someone else uses the same tactic as
myself for loud adverts. If lots of us did it, they would soon get the
message.

Dave W.

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
snipped

3) Adverts being much louder than programs. (Fortunately, this is easily
fixed with a mute button on the remote control. :-) )

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article ,
Dave W. wrote:
Slightly OT, I'm glad to hear that someone else uses the same tactic as
myself for loud adverts. If lots of us did it, they would soon get the
message.

The advertisers who pay for the programmes you're watching want their ads
heard. If no one watched them, there'd be no ITV - it's as simple as that.
As regards them being too loud, it rather depends on the programme
material before them, and there isn't the effort put into balancing
programme etc junctions, and never has been.

FWIW, adverts actually peak rather less than programme material already.

One day, perhaps, there will be some form of way of measuring subjective
levels and correcting them automatically, but I can't see them being
perfect, as these things vary from person to person.

--
*When you've seen one shopping centre you've seen a mall.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article , Dave W.
wrote:
Slightly OT, I'm glad to hear that someone else uses the same tactic
as myself for loud adverts. If lots of us did it, they would soon get
the message.

The advertisers who pay for the programmes you're watching want their
ads heard. If no one watched them, there'd be no ITV - it's as simple as
that.

I'd vote for that. :-)

As regards them being too loud, it rather depends on the programme
material before them, and there isn't the effort put into balancing
programme etc junctions, and never has been.

FWIW, adverts actually peak rather less than programme material already.

They may do. However as you imply below this brings us back to metered peak
power not really telling you how loud something sounds. My impression is
that adverts are often compressed and processed to give more impact and
'loudness'.

One day, perhaps, there will be some form of way of measuring subjective
levels and correcting them automatically, but I can't see them being
perfect, as these things vary from person to person.

Mind you, this all pales compared with last night's prom on BBCTV4...

Just after the start of the 3rd movement of the Mozart. Sudden cut to an
advert for another programme. Interrupted the music, then back again just
as abruptly. No comment or apology right after the concert finished,
either. Does no-one at the BBC actually *watch* what they are broadcasting?

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
The advertisers who pay for the programmes you're watching want their
ads heard. If no one watched them, there'd be no ITV - it's as simple
as that.

I'd vote for that. :-)

So you'd be happy with more than doubling the licence fee to get rid of
advertising on ITV? I think you could hold your first supporters meeting
in a phone box...

As regards them being too loud, it rather depends on the programme
material before them, and there isn't the effort put into balancing
programme etc junctions, and never has been.

FWIW, adverts actually peak rather less than programme material
already.

They may do. However as you imply below this brings us back to metered
peak power not really telling you how loud something sounds. My
impression is that adverts are often compressed and processed to give
more impact and 'loudness'.

They are indeed. And that is precisely the intention of the people making
them. Would you expect otherwise if you were commissioning an ad?

One day, perhaps, there will be some form of way of measuring
subjective levels and correcting them automatically, but I can't see
them being perfect, as these things vary from person to person.

Mind you, this all pales compared with last night's prom on BBCTV4...

Just after the start of the 3rd movement of the Mozart. Sudden cut to an
advert for another programme. Interrupted the music, then back again
just as abruptly. No comment or apology right after the concert
finished, either. Does no-one at the BBC actually *watch* what they are
broadcasting?

No. It's all done automatically - and even if it weren't, the child they'd
employ would have no authority to alter levels.

--
*Am I ambivalent? Well, yes and no.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 14:19:04 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
The advertisers who pay for the programmes you're watching want their
ads heard. If no one watched them, there'd be no ITV - it's as simple
as that.

I'd vote for that. :-)

So you'd be happy with more than doubling the licence fee to get rid of
advertising on ITV? I think you could hold your first supporters meeting
in a phone box...

I don't think that is what Jim was saying. He was voting for an end to
ITV. I'd vote for that too... the "3" button on my remote is totally
unworn.

As regards them being too loud, it rather depends on the programme
material before them, and there isn't the effort put into balancing
programme etc junctions, and never has been.

FWIW, adverts actually peak rather less than programme material
already.

They may do. However as you imply below this brings us back to metered
peak power not really telling you how loud something sounds. My
impression is that adverts are often compressed and processed to give
more impact and 'loudness'.

They are indeed. And that is precisely the intention of the people making
them. Would you expect otherwise if you were commissioning an ad?

If I were commissioning an ad, I would say - don't make the volume
jump when the ad starts - it makes people change channel to escape the
noise.

One day, perhaps, there will be some form of way of measuring
subjective levels and correcting them automatically, but I can't see
them being perfect, as these things vary from person to person.

Mind you, this all pales compared with last night's prom on BBCTV4...

Just after the start of the 3rd movement of the Mozart. Sudden cut to an
advert for another programme. Interrupted the music, then back again
just as abruptly. No comment or apology right after the concert
finished, either. Does no-one at the BBC actually *watch* what they are
broadcasting?

No. It's all done automatically - and even if it weren't, the child they'd
employ would have no authority to alter levels.

People at the BBC watching the output died when quality control died.

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

In article ,
Don Pearce wrote:
I don't think that is what Jim was saying. He was voting for an end to
ITV. I'd vote for that too... the "3" button on my remote is totally
unworn.

Well, given that he was complaining about advert levels means he watches
it. As you say, you're not forced to. But if you wanted to watch it
without ads, my comment stands.

As regards them being too loud, it rather depends on the programme
material before them, and there isn't the effort put into balancing
programme etc junctions, and never has been.

FWIW, adverts actually peak rather less than programme material
already.

They may do. However as you imply below this brings us back to metered
peak power not really telling you how loud something sounds. My
impression is that adverts are often compressed and processed to give
more impact and 'loudness'.

They are indeed. And that is precisely the intention of the people
making them. Would you expect otherwise if you were commissioning an ad?

If I were commissioning an ad, I would say - don't make the volume jump
when the ad starts - it makes people change channel to escape the noise.

Once *again*, it depends on the programme it's following. If it were some
brassy LE with heavy closing music under riotous applause, the ad ain't
going to sound louder. After some poignant drama, yes. But the advertisers
don't know where their ad is going - most of the time.

One day, perhaps, there will be some form of way of measuring
subjective levels and correcting them automatically, but I can't
see them being perfect, as these things vary from person to person.

Mind you, this all pales compared with last night's prom on BBCTV4...

Just after the start of the 3rd movement of the Mozart. Sudden cut to
an advert for another programme. Interrupted the music, then back
again just as abruptly. No comment or apology right after the concert
finished, either. Does no-one at the BBC actually *watch* what they
are broadcasting?

No. It's all done automatically - and even if it weren't, the child
they'd employ would have no authority to alter levels.

People at the BBC watching the output died when quality control died.

It's the same industry wide.

The *only* way you'd get decent programme /ad junctions would be by
having a skilled human rehearsing and adjusting the transition. Then the
money bags would complain their ad wasn't loud enough. And that skilled
human would be in the looney bin in short order - being forced to watch a
whole shift of mainly rubbish.

--
*Time is the best teacher; unfortunately it kills all its students.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Automatic volume control pre-amp
 

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 18:05:16 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

People at the BBC watching the output died when quality control died.

It's the same industry wide.

The *only* way you'd get decent programme /ad junctions would be by
having a skilled human rehearsing and adjusting the transition. Then the
money bags would complain their ad wasn't loud enough. And that skilled
human would be in the looney bin in short order - being forced to watch a
whole shift of mainly rubbish.

I remember a time not so long ago when ITV stations would never run a
programme trail during a mid-programme ad break in another programme.
There were good reasons and they still apply.But they no longer follow
this dictum.

We are also far down the nasty slippery slope of programme
sponsorship. This results in the bland crap programmes we all know and
loathe.

As a general rule, I would say there is enough good material in the
world to fill perhaps two TV channels for 24 hours a day. I'm actually
being generous here, and I could argue that there isn't even enough
for one. With a few notable exceptions, ads do nothing to make the
situation better

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com