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[IP] more on Audio levels



Begin forwarded message:

From: Matt Murray <mattm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: December 7, 2005 8:23:41 PM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx, gjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: mattm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] Audio levels
Usually, the local spots are inserted into the network feed by semi- automated switchers and tape decks. The network sends out a specific DTMF tones to trigger the machines (one to five second to pre-roll tapes pre-cued to that time amount) and the local switcher to cuts/ inserts the tape deck to air (cutting the network feed). Then another set of tones to return to the network one minute later. Typically this is three insertions an hour. DTMF=Dual Tone Multi Frequency
How often your local cable company goes over those decks is probably limited at best. So if the level at each machine strays, or the head- end makes an adjustment to the network, the local decks stay at the same level audio levels can and will be all over the map. It is probably different path configurations at each cable system, so don't engrave this in stone.
As Phil Spector created the "Wall of Sound," the limiters and compressors all along the network feed and cable systems, will make the spots seem louder than regular program material. I used to have this discussion with my wife. She didn't want to hear the reasons from the "audio guy." I gave upafter awhile.
Consider, master control does limiting and compression (L&C) leaving the playback. At the uplink, there might be a touch more. The cable systems downlink or at their head end might add L&C, and then your own TV has some "auto" level controls. The poor audio track has been beaten to death by the time you hear it. It always killed me, you work a ton of hours on a track, only to have it crushed by the time you hear it at home. 

Matt Murray
I still remember doing "direct-to-disk" recordings in the seventies. Analog at its best. 

The world is going Hi-Def to view it on an iPod?!?

MattM@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


----- Original Message -----

Begin forwarded message:



From: gjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



I thought I was alone!!!!  I knew we were not imagining things   It is
not just Comcast. We have Cox in our office - watch CNBC all day. The national commercials are at LEAST 50% louder than the programming. The 
local inserts are the worst, minimum of a double.  I kid you not!!!  I
am on my third remote because I am constantly picking it up to hit the
mute button.  I, and everyone else in the office, now have it muted
almost all day - not exactly what CNBC would like to hear.
I have called and made numerous complaints, but all they say is we need 
to move to digital.  Wrong answer.
What are the questions I should ask to get them to fix this? Who should 
I have my complaint elevated to?  Can they actually do anything about
it?  CNBC is an analog channel on the system.



Thanks.




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