inconsistent ambient noise level in the high-end TV production world at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · May 14th, 2011, 04:51 AM

Noticed in the last few years that on many professional shot/produced etc. shows, the ambient sound levels are not even.

For instance, watching "The Office" recently, when people are talking, it drops out completely (or way down). When they stop, becomes very audible. Sometimes even between words.

Is this the mix or some kind of compression effect during transmission? Or my TV?

Greg Miller · May 14th, 2011, 11:12 AM

Very unlikely that it's your TV.

No way to be entirely sure about the track, without listening directly to the track. But I don't know of any good reason it would have been mixed that way.

Most likely it's compression at the TV station to keep the levels more consistently higher. Bad audio practice (in terms of accurate fidelity), but typical broadcasting practice.

May 14th, 2011, 04:51 AM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	inconsistent ambient noise level in the high-end TV production world Noticed in the last few years that on many professional shot/produced etc. shows, the ambient sound levels are not even. For instance, watching "The Office" recently, when people are talking, it drops out completely (or way down). When they stop, becomes very audible. Sometimes even between words. Is this the mix or some kind of compression effect during transmission? Or my TV? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 14th, 2011, 11:12 AM	#2
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,786	Re: inconsistent ambient noise level in the high-end TV production world Very unlikely that it's your TV. No way to be entirely sure about the track, without listening directly to the track. But I don't know of any good reason it would have been mixed that way. Most likely it's compression at the TV station to keep the levels more consistently higher. Bad audio practice (in terms of accurate fidelity), but typical broadcasting practice.