View Full Version : National Geographic Channel and DirecTV 101 Commercials
I've been watching NGC, as background fodder while I sit and read and everytime the DirecTV 101 commercial comes on it is booming sound, I have to lower the volume (it woke up my daughter BTW). Am I the only one that is getting this issue are there others having the same problem? On other channels?
litzdog911
06-07-09, 02:07 PM
You'll find many posts here about this. DirecTV's commercials often seem too loud.
Jeremy W
06-07-09, 02:42 PM
The problem is that the DirecTV commercials are in stereo, while the rest of the content is in Dolby Digital. Their commercials are too loud to begin with, but the reduced dynamic range makes it even worse.
You'll find many posts here about this. DirecTV's commercials often seem too loud.
If they know about it (I assume they do) and are not doing anything about it then they want to leave it as it is.
The problem is that the DirecTV commercials are in stereo, while the rest of the content is in Dolby Digital. Their commercials are too loud to begin with, but the reduced dynamic range makes it even worse.What is the dynamic range difference of Stereo vs. Dolby Digital? 96 dB versus 120 dB? You would think they would monitor that to ensure that audio levels would remain constant...I may have to invest in a new Denon AVR.
litzdog911
06-07-09, 05:07 PM
It's been a long-time complaint, so DirecTV must know about. I can only conclude they do it on purpose, for the same reasons that network TV has had louder commercials since the earliest days of television. They want to grab our attention.
dubber deux
06-07-09, 05:51 PM
What is the dynamic range difference of Stereo vs. Dolby Digital? 96 dB versus 120 dB? You would think they would monitor that to ensure that audio levels would remain constant...I may have to invest in a new Denon AVR.
I've been trying to get D* to address some video level issues on a number of channels (this adjustment is very easy to do!!!!!!) and after over a month and contacting some technical people at Broadcast Operations Center NOTHING has been done!
I'm certainly not feeling to good about D* seeing that they won't address basic headend technical issues . They are still better than the typical cable company but the gap is narrowing as D* seems less and less responsive to their customers legit concerns .
I've been trying to get D* to address some video level issues on a number of channels (this adjustment is very easy to do!!!!!!) and after over a month and contacting some technical people at Broadcast Operations Center NOTHING has been done!
I'm certainly not feeling to good about D* seeing that they won't address basic headend technical issues . They are still better than the typical cable company but the gap is narrowing as D* seems less and less responsive to their customers legit concerns .
Well, I am going to write them a letter and request further feedback towards the issue. It is invasive once it affects my living conditions. In this case due to the louder volume, and very abrupt change in volume, it woke my daughter. It was more than a decernable difference, more on the order of two magnitudes, where, when I turned down the volume to a repsectable level, when the original show came back on I was unable to hear it. I don't see video as being as invasive. However, if it is a simple tweak, then it should be done. Otherwise I will have to find other measures for dealing with it, as I am sure you will.
It's been a long-time complaint, so DirecTV must know about. I can only conclude they do it on purpose, for the same reasons that network TV has had louder commercials since the earliest days of television. They want to grab our attention.
I hope that is not the case, I hope they are unaware and that they are willing to fix it. I'll let everyone know what transpires.
veryoldschool
06-07-09, 08:49 PM
I hope that is not the case, I hope they are unaware and that they are willing to fix it. I'll let everyone know what transpires.
You should have been on the phone when DirecTV used it during the wait to get to a CSR. If the customer wasn't pissed to start with, they sure were by the time the CSR got on the phone. I had to hold the phone fairly far away from my ear [making it hard to know when the CSR finally picked up]
Does your TV have any dynamic sound level settings?
My Sony has this and while I don't like the DirecTV commercials, they haven't been "that bad", after turning this on to have all my receivers have the same level of sound [more or less].
In addition to substantial volume differences during commercials, I have noticed a dramatic variation in sound levels between local stations – which my DMA only receives in SD – and all other networks. Locals are much louder during normal programming as well as commercials.
william8004
06-07-09, 10:51 PM
I agree. I keep the remote in-hand waiting for that commercial to come on. It drives me nuts!
litzdog911
06-07-09, 10:56 PM
In addition to substantial volume differences during commercials, I have noticed a dramatic variation in sound levels between local stations – which my DMA only receives in SD – and all other networks. Locals are much louder during normal programming as well as commercials.
Different issue. SD channels use PCM 2-channel audio compared with HD channels that use Dolby Digital 2.1 or 5.1 audio. PCM audio is more "compressed" and has a louder average volume level than Dolby Digital audio.
ddrumman2004
06-08-09, 08:55 AM
Not only do I find the volume of D* commercials annoying but even the commercials(content) themselves get on my nerves!
You should have been on the phone when DirecTV used it during the wait to get to a CSR. If the customer wasn't pissed to start with, they sure were by the time the CSR got on the phone. I had to hold the phone fairly far away from my ear [making it hard to know when the CSR finally picked up]
Does your TV have any dynamic sound level settings?
My Sony has this and while I don't like the DirecTV commercials, they haven't been "that bad", after turning this on to have all my receivers have the same level of sound [more or less].
I got from the DVR->AVR->TV and all sound is played (in this zone and one other zone) through the AVR. The AVR doesn't have a specific dynamic range control, per se, though there are newer models that can adjust it when a non-nominal signal comes through. I would prefer that they fix the audio at the source versus getting new equipment. But as has been pointed out, I get the impression that they may (use this feature) not care as it is an attention getter. This of course is only an issue for live TV, I pass by the commercials when I am watching recorded content.
Different issue. SD channels use PCM 2-channel audio compared with HD channels that use Dolby Digital 2.1 or 5.1 audio. PCM audio is more "compressed" and has a louder average volume level than Dolby Digital audio.
It is still a difference in dynamic range right? The STB continues to provide the sound levels based on what it is given. If they can nominalize the entire set of permutations that would be nice.
Not only do I find the volume of D* commercials annoying but even the commercials(content) themselves get on my nerves!
Yeah, I'm not concerned with the content, only that when they do appear the sound get too loud that it wakes my daughter when she is napping. I am drafting a letter to DirecTV to see if I can get an answer, I will take it from the technical perspective on dynamic ranges for all permutations of signal types. I will post the draft for review and then post any responses I get.
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