On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:44:45 -0600, jakdedert
wrote:

Ross Herbert wrote:

I don't think it is very easy to design what you are looking for -
at
least not so it is affordable.

As to why do the ads seem louder? - read this
http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s1264909.htm

In fact the maximum level of the ads is not greater than the normal
program material, its just that the ad level is more constant per
unit
time, thus the average level is greater than that of the program
material. Advertisers are aware of this trick so they ensure that
the
dialogue is constant throughout the ads.

That's probably true of national network shows broadcast over the
air.
I was referring to 'local option' commercials dubbed in by a cable
company. As I said earlier in the thread, often the difference in
level
is *downward*, not louder.

I've been a sound engineer for over 30 years. I know what loud is,
and
I know what compression sounds like.

jak

I have both free-to-air channels and cable TV. When watching cable and
the ads come on my wife looks up from her crocheting and says "you
don't have to turn the volume up"......

Not to dismiss your extensive experience in sound engineering, it
seems that it doesn't matter how the broadcast gets to you, the ads
still appear to be "louder". Maybe your cable TV company does try to
reduce the apparent level of ads.