It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

Chuck ! wrote in message
news:zaQaj.261484$Fc.202074@attbi_s21...
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck



I'm quite happy , if watching off air, to zap to another channel for a few
minutes.
But I would like an auto insert "PIP" of the otherwise viewed channel so as
not to miss the after-ad return.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

In article zaQaj.261484$Fc.202074@attbi_s21,
Chuck ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Have you heard the results of these built in ones? Ok, I suppose, if your
standards stop at AM radio quality.

The snag with this sort of device is it has to have a fast attack time to
work and a fairly slow recovery. And will work on any programme peak - not
just commercials. Make it fast attack and fast recovery and background
sounds will pump up and down - most unpleasant.

The *only* way you can get smooth transitions between the vast variety of
programme material - and the variety of commercials - is buy having a
human rehearse that transition and adjust things accordingly. (Advertisers
- who fund the programmes - would not be happy if their product was
quieter than the progs). But playout systems are largely automated these
days to save on labour costs.

--
*Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article zaQaj.261484$Fc.202074@attbi_s21,
Chuck ! wrote:

It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?


Have you heard the results of these built in ones? Ok, I suppose, if your
standards stop at AM radio quality.

The snag with this sort of device is it has to have a fast attack time to
work and a fairly slow recovery. And will work on any programme peak - not
just commercials. Make it fast attack and fast recovery and background
sounds will pump up and down - most unpleasant.


I am replying without first searching the web, but I do remember seeing
adverts over the years for a variety of ALC devices for TVs; the good ones
IIRC used to inspect the vertical interval for clues to program changes,
and also used timing heuristics to predict commercial placement. I
believe that such a device using learning algorithms with human training
input would have been _very_ effective, after all, at least in the U.S.
on major networks, a human can very easily predict when commercials occur
and when the level is excessive.

Regards,

Michael

On Dec 21, 11:01*am, msg wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article zaQaj.261484$Fc.202074@attbi_s21,
* *Chuck ! wrote:

It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. *Why
would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

*Have you heard the results of these built in ones? Ok, I suppose, if your
standards stop at AM radio quality.

*The snag with this sort of device is it has to have a fast attack time to
work and a fairly slow recovery. And will work on any programme peak - not
just commercials. Make it fast attack and fast recovery and background
sounds will pump up and down - most unpleasant.

I am replying without first searching the web, but I do remember seeing
adverts over the years for a variety of ALC devices for TVs; the good ones
IIRC used to inspect the vertical interval for clues to program changes,
and also used timing heuristics to predict commercial placement. *I
believe that such a device using learning algorithms with human training
input would have been _very_ effective, after all, at least in the U.S.
on major networks, a human can very easily predict when commercials occur
and when the level is excessive.

Regards,

Michael- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

There is special commercially available equipment made to reduce/
compress the spacing between words without changing the pitch of the
voice, so that the density of the sound is higher. The actual volume
is the same, but the increased density of the sound makes it seem
louder. This of course only works on prerecorded commercials, as a 35
second commercial can be reduced to 28-32 seconds using the
compression technique. At one time I worked at a radio station and
this feature was an added-cost item for advertisers.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article zaQaj.261484$Fc.202074@attbi_s21,
Chuck ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Have you heard the results of these built in ones? Ok, I suppose, if your
standards stop at AM radio quality.

The snag with this sort of device is it has to have a fast attack time to
work and a fairly slow recovery. And will work on any programme peak - not
just commercials. Make it fast attack and fast recovery and background
sounds will pump up and down - most unpleasant.

The *only* way you can get smooth transitions between the vast variety of
programme material - and the variety of commercials - is buy having a
human rehearse that transition and adjust things accordingly. (Advertisers
- who fund the programmes - would not be happy if their product was
quieter than the progs). But playout systems are largely automated these
days to save on labour costs.

Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the satellite
feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over
the place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely
audible. You can tell they're local option because either the subject
is a local business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another
commercial before they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or
you have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

jak

Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the satellite
feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over the
place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely audible.
You can tell they're local option because either the subject is a local
business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another commercial before
they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or you
have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

jak

That's the same problem we have and it drives us crazy! Does anyone have a
newer TV with the built-in AVL feature, and how well does it work?

Chuck wrote:
Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the satellite
feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over the
place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely audible.
You can tell they're local option because either the subject is a local
business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another commercial before
they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or you
have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

jak

That's the same problem we have and it drives us crazy! Does anyone have a
newer TV with the built-in AVL feature, and how well does it work?


You can call your provider. So far, I haven't gotten that far, but
IIRC, there are regulations about relative volume...might not apply for
cable, but over the air....

The issue is with the (less than) technical help the cable company (in
my case ComCast) employs to drop in the commercials.

jak

jakdedert wrote:

Chuck wrote:

Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the
satellite feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable
operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over
the place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely
audible. You can tell they're local option because either the subject
is a local business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another
commercial before they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or
you have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

jak


That's the same problem we have and it drives us crazy! Does anyone
have a newer TV with the built-in AVL feature, and how well does it work?

You can call your provider. So far, I haven't gotten that far, but
IIRC, there are regulations about relative volume...might not apply for
cable, but over the air....

The issue is with the (less than) technical help the cable company (in
my case ComCast) employs to drop in the commercials.

jak
TV is advertisements! They don't make money from their viewers by you
watching movies. They know you'll turn up the volume to
listen to the movie and get blasted from the commercials which places a
subliminal impact on your brain in hopes that when you are in the store,
you'll have some interest in that product and have no idea why!

You must remember, shock and fear are the best methods for programming
the brain! That is, if you got one!
It's all about the big green! or what ever color it is!


--
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

"Daily Thought:

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT
THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5"

jakdedert wrote:
The issue is with the (less than) technical help the cable company (in
my case ComCast) employs to drop in the commercials.

You mean "to play with all the shiny buttons."

--
Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Government officials and activists flying to Bali,
Indonesia, for the United Nations meeting on climate change will cause
as much pollution as 20,000 cars in a year.

In article ,
jakdedert wrote:
That's the same problem we have and it drives us crazy! Does anyone
have a newer TV with the built-in AVL feature, and how well does it
work?

You can call your provider. So far, I haven't gotten that far, but
IIRC, there are regulations about relative volume...might not apply for
cable, but over the air....

The big snag is there's no way of measuring loudness accurately. It's the
holy grail to develop a device which does so to all's satisfaction.
Conventional metering systems can read peak or average levels but don't
take into account the perceived loudness to the ear - or rather brain. And
the other big snag is that what is too loud to one isn't to another - just
think about the music your kids listen to. ;-)

The issue is with the (less than) technical help the cable company (in
my case ComCast) employs to drop in the commercials.

Again it depends on the programme preceding the ads. If a brash game show
etc chances are the ads won't sound louder. If some drama with a poignant
end chances are they will.

--
*Frankly, scallop, I don't give a clam

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article 6HWaj.262379$Fc.50372@attbi_s21,
Chuck ! wrote:

Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the
satellite feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable
operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over
the place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely
audible. You can tell they're local option because either the subject
is a local business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another
commercial before they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or
you have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

jak

That's the same problem we have and it drives us crazy! Does anyone
have a newer TV with the built-in AVL feature, and how well does it
work?

Mine has it but it sounds horrible, so it's never used. To be fair I'm an
audio type working in TV production so may be more critical than some.

--
*I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
jakdedert wrote:
The *only* way you can get smooth transitions between the vast
variety of programme material - and the variety of commercials - is
buy having a human rehearse that transition and adjust things
accordingly. (Advertisers - who fund the programmes - would not be
happy if their product was quieter than the progs). But playout
systems are largely automated these days to save on labour costs.

Here in Nashville--and I suppose many other places--there are a lot of
'local option' commercials. IOW, there's a commercial on the satellite
feed, but it gets pre-empted by one chosen by the cable operator.

Here, the audio levels on these local options commercials is all over
the place; usually WAY too loud, but sometimes (blessedly) barely
audible. You can tell they're local option because either the subject
is a local business, or sometimes you see just a 'blip' of another
commercial before they cut to the replacement.

Very annoying when you're listening to a movie with the volume up, or
you have the TV on as background to fall asleep by....

It's a world wide thing. I recently got a satellite receiver with dish
rotator and can receive some 5000 programmes. If you can call them that.
;-) And most attempt to get the picture levels near right but seem to let
the audio look after itself. Peak levels vary by over 30dB, some stereo
ones are out of phase or only transmit one leg and high levels of
distortion tend to be the norm with the smaller channels.

--
*Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:35:11 GMT, "Chuck" !
wrote:

It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to
adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody
ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck


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.

Ross Herbert wrote:
On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:35:11 GMT, "Chuck" !
wrote:

It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to
adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody
ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. Why
would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck


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

In article ,
jakdedert wrote:
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.

Sounds like those ads are being made on a low budget without the use of a
decent sound engineer.

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

Then you'll understand the problem. We're one of the first skills to go
when the bean counters get control. They can't see the results of our work
on a spreadsheet. Obviously not enough members of the public complain
about poor sound.

--
*How much deeper would the oceans be without sponges? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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.

In article ,
Ross Herbert wrote:
I've been a sound engineer for over 30 years. I know what loud is, and
I know what compression sounds like.

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.

It's quite enlightening that near everyone talks about ads being 'too
loud' rather than the progs being too quiet. Shows really where they're
coming from. And that, as I said, it's very much down to the individual
how much they annoy. Which makes it near impossible to satisfy everyone.
Except the advertisers who are the paymasters.

Here in the UK we have the BBC which is licence fee funded. So doesn't
carry commercials. But it does carry adverts for its own programmes etc
and these are equally as guilty of often sounding louder than the progs
either side. Only real advantage is they don't interrupt the programme.

--
*Who is this General Failure chap anyway - and why is he reading my HD? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
It's quite enlightening that near everyone talks about ads being 'too
loud' rather than the progs being too quiet.

One of my pet peeves is audio engineers whose way of thinking seems to go:
My equipment has 650 dB of dynamic range and I'M GOING TO USE EVERY dB
OF IT! Then there are the directors who repeatedly make sure that at least
ten really quiet, whispering, nearly-no-sound scenes are immediately and
rapidly followed by massive explosions. or jet plane takeoffs.

--
Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Government officials and activists flying to Bali,
Indonesia, for the United Nations meeting on climate change will cause
as much pollution as 20,000 cars in a year.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Ross Herbert wrote:
I've been a sound engineer for over 30 years. I know what loud is, and
I know what compression sounds like.

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.

It's quite enlightening that near everyone talks about ads being 'too
loud' rather than the progs being too quiet. Shows really where they're
coming from. And that, as I said, it's very much down to the individual
how much they annoy. Which makes it near impossible to satisfy everyone.
Except the advertisers who are the paymasters.

Here in the UK we have the BBC which is licence fee funded. So doesn't
carry commercials. But it does carry adverts for its own programmes etc
and these are equally as guilty of often sounding louder than the progs
either side. Only real advantage is they don't interrupt the programme.

I noticed that you were in the UK, and should have taken that into account.

I'm really complaining about a specific situation here that probably
will not translate to your experience in Jolly Ol'.

jak

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:40:39 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Ross Herbert wrote:
I've been a sound engineer for over 30 years. I know what loud
is, and
I know what compression sounds like.

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.

It's quite enlightening that near everyone talks about ads being 'too
loud' rather than the progs being too quiet. Shows really where
they're coming from.

???

You appear to be inferring that the problem lies with the viewer. If
your logic is correct then the viewer should determine the volume
setting by the loudest material being broadcast, ie. the
advertisements. That way they would have difficulty in hearing the
real program material and then be forced to complain to the
broadcaster that they wanted the program sound level cranked up....
Yeah, I'll go along with that....

Have a good Christmas.

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

It's a bit out of date.

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.

There's no reason why you can't do the same thing with prog material. As
indeed is done with things like game shows and sit coms. But it is rather
inappropriate for serious drama, etc.

--
*If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Dec 21, 10:35*pm, "Chuck" ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's have AVL built-in to adjust
volume increases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarket volume-leveler all these years. *Why would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

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On Dec 21 2007, 9:35 am, "Chuck" ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's haveAVLbuilt-in to adjustvolumeincreases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarketvolume-leveler all these years. Why would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

Devices have been around for years. I first started making my own when
the cable company could not control the volume of different channels.
Huge changes between channels. I also bought a couple devices over the
years. One nice one had an adjustable compression switch. You can also
route the audio through a VCR which has built in automatic level
control. I built one unit with the standard level control chip, and a
few more with led or lamps and light sensitive resistors.

greg

"g" wrote in message
...
On Dec 21 2007, 9:35 am, "Chuck" ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's haveAVLbuilt-in to
adjustvolumeincreases during commercials, but I am very surprised nobody
ever
built a "good" add-on aftermarketvolume-leveler all these years. Why
would
it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

Devices have been around for years. I first started making my own when
the cable company could not control the volume of different channels.
Huge changes between channels. I also bought a couple devices over the
years. One nice one had an adjustable compression switch. You can also
route the audio through a VCR which has built in automatic level
control. I built one unit with the standard level control chip, and a
few more with led or lamps and light sensitive resistors.

greg

Can you please post a chip number for this.

Regards

In article
,
g wrote:
On Dec 21 2007, 9:35 am, "Chuck" ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's haveAVLbuilt-in to
adjustvolumeincreases during commercials, but I am very surprised
nobody ever built a "good" add-on aftermarketvolume-leveler all these
years. Why would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

Devices have been around for years. I first started making my own when
the cable company could not control the volume of different channels.
Huge changes between channels. I also bought a couple devices over the
years. One nice one had an adjustable compression switch. You can also
route the audio through a VCR which has built in automatic level
control. I built one unit with the standard level control chip, and a
few more with led or lamps and light sensitive resistors.

Personally I'd rather have the level changes than put up with an automatic
device pumping.

greg

--
*Heart attacks... God's revenge for eating his animal friends

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
g wrote:
On Dec 21 2007, 9:35 am, "Chuck" ! wrote:
It's nearly too late now since the new TV's haveAVLbuilt-in to
adjustvolumeincreases during commercials, but I am very surprised
nobody ever built a "good" add-on aftermarketvolume-leveler all these
years. Why would it be so hard to build a good yet inexpensive one?

Chuck

Devices have been around for years. I first started making my own when
the cable company could not control the volume of different channels.
Huge changes between channels. I also bought a couple devices over the
years. One nice one had an adjustable compression switch. You can also
route the audio through a VCR which has built in automatic level
control. I built one unit with the standard level control chip, and a
few more with led or lamps and light sensitive resistors.

Personally I'd rather have the level changes than put up with an automatic
device pumping.

Normally a good unit has very little pumping. It depends on the material. Worse case
is when there is a large change in hiss or noise. I also have a DBX device that can either
increase levels changes or compress them. The best peak unlimiter type
of device is a Pioneer unit I have. I have made peak unlimiters, but the Pioneer
is the champ, but I never heard a Carver peak unlimiter. You can also put a peak unlimiter after
a AVL device, but highly dynamic music can be anoying.

Most recently I have used an automatic volume control to play unmatched MP3's
as a automatic DJ type of deal at parties. I could not have done it without
editing all the MP3's. Sounds great as most music is a continious stream without
many pauses, which can cause pumping.

greg

In article ,
GregS wrote:
Personally I'd rather have the level changes than put up with an
automatic device pumping.

Normally a good unit has very little pumping.

Absolutely bound to do so if it can react quickly enough for peaks. It
will pump any background up and down. If it has a slow recovery time to
avoid pumping then you'll be complaining about not being able to hear the
quiet parts.

It depends on the material.

Indeed - and it shows up most on speech based progs like drama where there
is often a reasonably constant background sound effect. Least on pop
music. But most don't watch only pop music on TV. And those that do won't
notice the ads being louder, because they won't be ...


Worse case is when there is a large change in hiss or noise. I also have
a DBX device that can either increase levels changes or compress them.
The best peak unlimiter type of device is a Pioneer unit I have. I have
made peak unlimiters, but the Pioneer is the champ, but I never heard a
Carver peak unlimiter. You can also put a peak unlimiter after a AVL
device, but highly dynamic music can be anoying.

So you're one of those the broadcasters cater for with Optimod type
devices? I hate those things with a passion.

Most recently I have used an automatic volume control to play unmatched
MP3's as a automatic DJ type of deal at parties. I could not have done
it without editing all the MP3's. Sounds great as most music is a
continious stream without many pauses, which can cause pumping.

Glad I wasn't there. ;-)

--
*Gravity is a myth, the earth sucks *

Dave Plowman London SW
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