Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> If you often consider the music/effects too loud _ http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1315396032 Message started by JohnW on Sep 7^th, 2011, 11:48am

Title: If you often consider the music/effects too loud _
Post by JohnW on Sep 7^th, 2011, 11:48am

When watching "television" (in any of its various forms) or perhaps listening to the Radio - if you consider the background (be it music/commentary or FX) to be 'too loud' , then it seems there may well be help "coming sometime soon"!

For those unaware ...

"A new dialogue enhancement technology that was the subject of a trial during the BBC’s recent coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championships will be previewed at IBC" writes David Davies.

"The new innovation allows TV and radio audiences to individually adjust the volume of dialogue, music or sound effects within a single broadcast programme.

Fraunhofer’s new technology works by facilitating efficient transportation of individual audio objects, such as a commentator’s voice or stadium atmosphere, in a compatible mono or stereo downmix. The audio encoder receives these objects and produces a single mix, as well as a stream of parametric side information. The transmission of the mix, plus side information, is extremely bit-rate efficient, as each audio object only slightly increases the overall bit-rate. The mix can be produced automatically or by a sound engineer. On the receiving side, the user is then able to adjust the volume of each object individually, to improve the intelligibility of the sports commentator.

The technology offers complete compatibility with existing transmission and playback equipment. Devices that are not capable of decoding the parametric side information will play back the mixed audio signal.

During a recent BBC experiment during Wimbledon 2011, users of a specially-designed media player were able to listen to Radio 5 Live’s online stream and adjust the audio volume levels of the commentator or background ambience during live coverage of the match for a tailored audio experience. User reaction was said to be positive."

All Credit for this information to TVBE (part of intentmedia.co.uk) and their IBC daily reports.

Title: Re: If you often consider the music/effects too loud _
Post by Peter_Neill on Sep 7^th, 2011, 11:56am

Why not go the whole hog and just transmit a raw multitrack feed and let the viewer/listeners do their own mix.

The Beeb could then do away with sound mixers altogether.

~(8(|)

Title: Re: If you often consider the music/effects too loud _
Post by Administrator on Sep 7^th, 2011, 11:58am

Our forum already has a discussion regarding this topic:-

http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1253100883

Entitled "Where's The Mute Button"!

Writing from a completely neutral viewpoint (naturally) why can't the audio balance be correct when the programme's made?

Answers on a postcard, or preferably to this forum.

We don't all have
perfect hearing,
perfect audio equipment,
perfect listening environment.

Title: Re: If you often consider the music/effects too loud _
Post by david en france on Sep 7^th, 2011, 4:10pm

Why do we need the music at all in speech based or sports programmes? The Burghley Horse Trials OB on Sunday was completely ruined by a thumping repetitive riff over the presenter's excellent commentary and updates. Birdsong would have been better but what was wrong with the atmos itself? Counytryfile is another programme where absolutely unnecessary and intrusive "music" is inappropriately dominant. And have news reporters been told not to bother paying attention to levels in interviews ? Never mind the mute button, where's the "off" switch?

Title: Re: If you often consider the music/effects too loud _
Post by F.M. on Sep 9^th, 2011, 8:57am

A number of years ago in the 1990's I was a recording operator in the BBC in Glasgow. Part of my duties was the technical review of presentation trailers. I failed a whole batch one day because the sound was peaking 8 and a half on the (ppm) meter. I was trained to beware if the meter hit 7.My line manager at that time told me to 'pass' the trailers
as the presentation department wanted them that way!
'Where's the Mute Button' indeed!! :o