BBC launches probe to find out why so many of us can't hear actors on TV

[bananas]

BBC launches probe to find out why so many of us can't hear actors on TV

By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 8:22 AM on 02nd June 2009

Viewers are turning off modern television shows because background noise and music are drowning out voices.

Hit programmes including Panorama, Ashes to Ashes, Newsnight, Waking the Dead and Mistresses have all come under fire from viewers unable to hear what is being said.

Now the BBC is backing a major study into the problem of 'ambient sound' after pressure from influential lobby group Voice of the Listener and Viewer.

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VLV chairman Richard Lindley warned this was not just a problem for the elderly, but middle aged and younger viewers as well.

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‘It's clearly not just a few people that struggle with this, it's a big issue and what the BBC should be doing is listening to audiences.’

Engineers, audience research experts and a representative from the VLV will study how background sounds affects the ability of both young and old to pick out basic speech in programmes shown in the UK.

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John Cleese recently said he no longer went to the cinema because he found it harder to pick out voices from ambient sound.

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[Richard D]

1. Glad I'm not the only one . . .

. . . there's been many times when I've been watching DVD's where I had to back up a few times to get a line. A few of those times I had to turn on sub-titles cause there was just no way to get it. Part of the blame must fall on the actors who can, despite their training, mumble from time to time.

[MaineDem]

2. I thought it was the accents that caused me not to understand

It's very possible it was that I couldn't hear.

I thought it was funny that "Ashes to Ashes" had subtitles - in English!

[On the Road]

3. I am Glad Someone is Aware of This

I apparently have some special problems with ambient noise, but audibility is an enormous issue with TV shows, BBC included.

The other thing that contributes is that the range of volume is so wide. It creates a problem whenever you try to limit the volume so as not to disturb others. It's not just explosions and gunfire, but high-volume background music which requires adjustment. Then the program switches to dialog which is often inaudible. It's a special problem if your kids are asleep, because you alternate being straining to hear and rushing for the mute button. There needs to be a "max volume" control on remotes that prevents these spikes.

[angstlessk]

4. wow, maybe it's NOT my age, but their engineering? phew! there are some voices I can

never make out and if it is prevalent in a movie or show I just cut it off. too irritating to even bother!

[DJ13]

5. Its called "the sound mixing person is an idiot"

The age of MTV has created an entire generation of younger people who mistakenly believe that music should no longer be a backround sound to drive the plot.

They think the music IS the plot.

[shadowknows69]

8. Bingo

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. Movies are much worse than TV programs

Movies have such widely varying sound levels that if I play it loud enough to hear the quiet voice parts, the loud parts rattle neighbors' windows a block away.

[NV Whino]

7. Subtitles are your friend

I even watched Wall-e with subs the other day. :rofl:

[NashVegas]

9. Soundtracks Have Gotten Out of Hand

Watch a pre-1970s movie sometime, and it's odd to be watching a film where there isn't music underscoring every bit of dialog in every scene.

In action movies, especially, every sound is amplified to help you stay on the edge of your seat.

All these additional sounds distract you from noticing how weak many scripts really are.

[semillama]

10. I wonder if it's possible to take a cue from video games?

There's usually an audio option on most modern games that allow you to adjust the relative volumes of dialog, sound FX and music. That would be a great feature for digital media.