film sound?

[el duerino]

I have often noticed that films seem quite quiet on TV. Then when the adverts come on they are noticeably louder. Is this deliberate or my TV playin up? Has anyone else noticed this kind of thing?

[frizzytwig]

I know what you mean, I have to rush for the remote when the adverts come on so I dont wake the kids. Its probably something to so with dolby, digital , surround sound blah blah blah

[africaking]

this is standard, films are recorded at a diffirent frequency, but when played you have to turn up the volume just to hear them properly same as on a VHS, adverts are porbably run at same frequency but no1 has bothered to adjust volume controls at ITV or the likes

[Headtime]

A BBC Sound engineer explained this to me once, and it's due to the audio compression that is used when an adverts soundtrack is created. It's nothing to do with compression as we understand it computer terms, but by compressing the audio signal you elevate the quiet parts of the soundtrack so they are at a similar volume level to the loud parts. This makes the sound much more punchy and full, which is what advertisers want. What it means to you the listener is that adverts seem much louder. Although in effect they are not louder, there just is no quietness in them. I hope that kind of makes sense...I tried to find you a link that explains it better, but Google just turns up loads of pages about digital compression, which is not the same thing.

[el duerino]

cheers, that would make sense.

[ICEMANSAV]

I think it more to do with advertising, wanting their products to be plugged any way possible but then I am a cynic

[Headtime]

Hi, found a link explaining 'compression'; http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/pages/Compressio n.htm It might be a bit technical, but you might find it interesting. Cheers

[Kev_UK]

Try watching ITV then turning over to BBC1, the sound is much louder. I'm sure they turn the volume up for the Eastenders theme tune.. maybe it is so people know it is starting if they're in another room LMAO

[Rubrick]

I agree with the last answer. Most people "leave the room" during ads and the advertisers want to make sure that people can still hear their ads when they are not there. Okay, the compression explanation sounds plausible but I don't think that that is the only reason why.

[625]

As previous posters have suggested, it is to do with compression. The same technique is used my most radio stations so that they appear the loudest on the dial. (Why? I don't know.) The trick is that the sound isn't actually louder but it is only perceived to be so. I understand C4 now have "perceived loudness" meters to monitor the output of programmes and commercials!

[jfrog96j]

It's been that way since the 80's. there is something written that says ads can go up to 5 decibles louder so you'll pay attention to the ads!!