• 4am@lemm.ee
    ·
    8 months ago

    Home releases and streaming need a reduced dynamic range mix as a selectable audio channel. TV compressors almost never cut it.

    • JackbyDev@programming.dev
      ·
      edit-2
      8 months ago

      What's worse is TVs that lie and say they have 5.1 surround and force the streaming to use it. Shout out to Netflix and Prime for letting you manually select Stereo though.

    • Dave.@aussie.zone
      ·
      8 months ago

      The issue is when dynamic range exceeds the buffer you have in your viewing environment.

      So you can easily mix a movie with 45dB dynamic range, and you have been able to distribute that to the masses for 30+ years. And so you can also accurately and easily portray a stage whisper at 50dB and then have an action sequence peaking at a modest 95dB in a relatively soundproofed cinema with 30 speakers and a couple of thousand watts behind it.

      But for me to hear that movie on my TV in my 65dB environment means the next action sequence is now 110dB, well past the capability of my TV speakers to accurately reproduce, and also well past the level where I would consider it to be fucking loud.

      If you're mixing audio for a home release you need to compress your dynamic range to 30dB or so to suit. The number of viewers that have a sound system and a viewing environment that can comfortably allow 45dB of range is very, very, small, and if those people want to complain about the lack of dynamic range, they can get themselves an expander and go nuts.

      • TankieTanuki [he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        Good room acoustics can make dialogue discernible at lower speaker volumes.

        • Dave.@aussie.zone
          ·
          8 months ago

          Oh absolutely. A simple "home theatre room" kind of setup can do wonders, but even at that point you're starting to get beyond what the average person has.

  • JackbyDev@programming.dev
    ·
    8 months ago

    Or your TV/sound system adjusts the volume automatically but spoils when dramatic things are about to happen by suddenly getting quiet.