http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/ Engadget HD Comments for http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jun 30th 2008 8:31PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 1st 2008 10:18PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 1st 2008 10:29PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070118-8654.html]]>Jul 1st 2008 11:53PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
(its one of those days when you just cant seem to type correctly)]]>Jul 1st 2008 11:54PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
Unfortunately, as the article says, programs have low audio levels (especially for dialogue) compared to action scenes or when the commercial comes on and runs full tilt with music and narration to grab everyone's attention.

One place where limiters are not in widespread use is at many cable company headends. The cable companies can insert, on non-local network channels (e.g. HGTV, Sci-Fi, TNT, etc.), a couple or more spots in a given hour on most of their channels once they receive a "cue" tone from the network provider. Their inserted commercial audio can be all over the map even between the spots they insert and it will vary from market-to-market depending on their level of quality control.

It's good to see a pretty well written article on the topic.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:04AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 2nd 2008 7:49AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
Commercials can absolutely be louder than the shows they are injected in. If you watch an entire segment of a show that is dialogue, and then get blasted by commercials that are at the max possible volume, then they will be louder than the show segment you just watched -- this isn't perception it is a fact.

If you happen to watch the one action sequence in the show, then you will also be blasted by it in the same way the commercials blasted you because they were both louder than the other 99% of the show. It isn't perception it is decibels..

Was the point of this article to say the loudest possible volume of a commercial cannot be louder than the loudest possible volume in a tv show? if so im shocked people were surprised to learn this.. but that also isnt entirely true thanks to cable companies like Sean T mentioned.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 8:43AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
So listen up advertisers, you want more people to actually watch and listen to your commercials, then stop hurting people's ears.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 9:27AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
If I was an advertiser, and encoded my sound so it came out in equal parts from all 5 surround points, I'd certainly get the viewers attention.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:08PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 2nd 2008 12:25PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/
I feel much better now.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 2nd 2008 5:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/01/loud-commercials-actually-not-that-loud-just-startling/Jul 4th 2008 1:11PM