The Crazy Rants of Samantha BurnsVolatile Volume
Can anyone explain why tv commercials are allowed to be much louder than the show you're watching?
I had to lower the volume on my tv by 3 notches just to get it to the same volume as the show is, but then the show was too quiet when it came back on, so I had to turn it up, turn down the commercial, turn up the show....
I know there are rules to how loud things should go, but why do the commercials have to piss everyone off? I certainly am not interested in purchasing a product that blasts in my ears. I end up changing the channel because it's too darn loud and I can't be bothered by fiddling with the volume all the time. Then, I not only don't watch the commercial, but I forget which show I was watching, so I watch something new. The channel even loses my support when they allow this annoyance to go on.
Think about it, whoever you are, and keep the commercials at a decent, non-ear-piercing volume.
Comments
I'd recommend a tivo unless you are channel surfing. Just wait 20 minutes (or less for a half-hour show) and then fast-forward through the commercials. Wala, no commercial volume idiocy.
I sure love me some tivo.
Posted by: Paul | September 22, 2005 10:03 AM
Oh my god!! Me and my other half discuss/complain about this all the time!!! It's so incredibly annoying! You have to turn down the volume when the commercials come on... Is it too much to ask them to sync up the volume so that it is the same no matter what's on?!
This is one of my major annoyances! One day i'm just gonna snap and blow the TV to smitherines with a shotgun!
Posted by: Lingo Slinger | September 22, 2005 10:20 AM
Technically speaking the advertisements are not louder, even though it seems that way.
This effect is caused by advertising producers applying a form of ‘audio compression’ so there is more sound power in the range where the ear is most sensitive, in order to increase its audible impact.
It is still annoying!
A post I made on my blog last year includes some links on this topic.
http://joehendren.blogspot.com/2004/12/tv-phone-in-polls-and-loud.html
to a certain type of audio compression being applied
Posted by: Joe Hendren | September 22, 2005 06:49 PM
I only found this site because I appeared on your random blogroll :)
Posted by: Joe Hendren | September 22, 2005 06:51 PM
I guess I don't watch enough commercials for their volume too bother me. Either that or that's the least of the problems I have with them. For the most part, I see commercial breaks as my chance to do the dishes or laundry or whatever else isn't getting done while I'm watching the TV. Or to see what is on the other channels. It just never occurred to me to watch the commercials.
Posted by: mrgumby2u | September 23, 2005 02:23 PM
I was going to say what Lingo Slinger said above, but he/she already covered it.
So I'll just second what Joe said: I just found your site because of a referral which must have come from your random blogroll. It's always nice for a mere reptile like me to get a link from a big ol' furry mammal.
Posted by: AlanDP | September 26, 2005 05:16 PM