Why are the commercials SO FUCKING LOUD and the TV shows' dialogue so quiet?

[JVS]

:grr:

[tigereye]

1. because you haven't had enough beer?

:hi: Just kidding -I agree, it's infuriating. I assume it's so people will "listen."

[JVS]

2. All it gets me to do is mute the TV and then turn away until I realize that I've missed several...

minutes of the program.

[tigereye]

3. yes, here too.

How are ya? What's new?


When my son watches tv or football I insist he mute the commercials. I just can't stand em. We probably should get TIVO or whatever it is called now.

[JVS]

4. I've got too much work, but otherwise I'm OK.

I look forward to getting to town for Xmas.

[tigereye]

5. I worked way too much this summer- fall seems to be a bit more quiet -

so far.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear JVS!

The advertisers, in their infinite wisdom, know that you will remember the things that annoy you...

So, they turn up the volume and it works!

[JVS]

7. The joke is on them. I can't afford anything!

[rug]

8. A bill to fix this was passed by the House in a voice vote.

The Ayes were louder.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1084

It's in a Senate committee now.

[Dr Morbius]

9. Because the COMMERCIALS are the important thing.

The only reason they broadcast the TV program is to make you tune in for the commercials. The commercials are the whole point of the program being on. The point is to make you want to consume, consume, consume, like a good American should.

Embrace the commercialism. Embrace the madness. Embrace the futility. And remember Coors is now offering "silver bullets" in the form of aluminum pint bottles.

[JVS]

10. I'd be happy to consume, but I must spare my ears!

[EFerrari]

11. That's the reason I don't watch channels with commercials.

They turned them up so loud, it hurts already. I'd rather hit myself on the head with a toaster.

[JVS]

12. If only I could train a dog to turn down the commercials and turn up the TV when the show is back on

[krispos42]

13. 'Cuz they make money on the commercials, not the dialogue.

BUY THIS, CONSUMER!!!!!

[JVS]

15. They should get my attention with gratuitous nudity.

Using noise is so uncivilized.

[krispos42]

16. But, noise is also omni-directional, and more portable.

Plus, it depends on the nudity. Salma Hyack nekkid would get my full attention :woohoo: , but so would Barbara Bush in the buff.


Different reactions, but with full attention. "Oh dear God!" would be said in both cases, for example, but with remarkedly different tonal inflictions.

And both would want me to rub something from a plastic container on my body. But, again, different compounds in different places. ;-)

I would also remember both experiences vividly.

[JVS]

19. If the TV ever shows me barbara bush (the elder) naked, I am destroying it.

[krispos42]

36. Swinging a chair blindly, no doubt...

:rofl:

[TK421]

14. I've been trying to figure that out for years...if you get an answer, let me know!

[Skittles]

17. because

commercials are allowed to be as loud as the loudest part of the preceding program - I think it stinks

[JVS]

18. Please kick their asses.

[Skittles]

21. certainly something should be done about it

I am tired of constantly having to control the sound *ARGH*

[NV Whino]

28. Ah, you've just explained

why the intro/closing music is so loud, about which I was going to complain.

[Iggo]

20. It's a signal to hit Fast Forward.

[JVS]

22. I live in real time

[mikeytherat]

23. Dynamic Compression

Seriously.

Commercials cannot be any louder than the TV show you you are watching, and they aren't - a commercial's dynamic range is simply compressed and, essentially, set "to the max."

During the TV show you are watching, there are scenes that are very quiet (whispering, quiet background noise, etc.) and scenes that are very loud (gunshots, people yelling). Now, imagine every scene is a "gunshot" or "people yelling" scene, plus someone is trying to sell you beer or detergent - that's your commercial.

mikey_the_rat

[JVS]

24. Who are the scientists/technicians who developed this and how can I break the kneecaps of them...

and their children and their children's children?

[guitar man]

29. that's pretty much it

the program segment's audio content might contain everything from crickets chirping in the background to massive explosions...a commercial just has to scream at you for 15 or 30 seconds...they know there's a limiter at the end of the chain and they will make it hit it as hard as they can.

[raccoon]

25. Be grateful you aren't living in the Stone Age when remotes didn't exist, and you had to

get out of your chair to turn the volume up and down.

[HEyHEY]

26. Aren't there laws against that?

[JVS]

31. A law that doesn't include swift kicks to the scrotum seems hardly a law at all.

[Evasporque]

27. Republican control of FCC for 8 years....that is why...

They loosend the allowable difference in gain...as well as allowing more minutes per hour of programming.

[JVS]

32. And where is the change after 18 months of Democratic control of Congress and the White House?

[Orrex]

30. In addition to all else, it's so that you can hear the commercials better in bars and restaurants

And doctors' offices too, for that matter.

[Bucky]

oops...

damn twitchy fingers

[Bucky]

33. I'm sorry...

...but I can't hear you!

[applegrove]

34. My dad is hard of hearing so we have the tv volume on high during the shows which then

is way to loud during the commercials so I always have to turn the volume up and down. That is my job.

[Digit]

35. When the commercials become too numerous and the volume becomes beyond annoying

I just give up on the damn show and turn the thing off.

Now I think twice before I even bother turning on the TV knowing what I will most probably have to deal with.

Combine that with the new policy of the radio channels giving you now FOUR frigging times to make note of a an advertised phone number and I turn it off and embrace the silence.
When they went to four, I could not tell you, but it is annoying as hell.

Embrace the silence, grasshopper (or put on music video you enjoy).