Sound editing

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riredale wrote on 12/30/2013, 10:39 AM
One factor that might frustrate viewers is that DVD players can do audio compression, and authors can tweak for that. So they might put in an explosion that is very loud compared to dialog, knowing that people who want an exciting experience will choose the "theater" setting in their DVD player menu while people who are watching late at night or in an apartment with thin walls can specify the "late night" setting in the player which will compress levels significantly (different players use different terminology).

But that's not the issue I had while watching a movie with my dad in Arizona. Instead, the music simply overwhelmed the dialog happening simultaneously. That's why I suspect maybe the mono component was being cancelled out or something.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 12/30/2013, 3:41 PM
"My 5.1 surround receiver only allows independent control of the LFE channel, which i find a bit odd since it doesn't have an LFE amp and requires a powered subwoofer, and pretty much all powered subwoofers have a volume control on them. *shrug*"

Allows you to control the LFE level from the comfort of your remote, without having to dash backwards and forwards to your sub to tweak. Somewhat vital as LFE effects can have wildly different production styles !

geoff
Rob Franks wrote on 12/30/2013, 4:05 PM
" But put in a DVD or Blu-Ray of a relatively new movie, and it's an entirely different story. I recently bought the entire Star-Trek movie set on Blu-Ray, and the sound mix is horrible."

Older dvd's were all dolby digital. Today you can get them as DTS or DD and there is a substantial dynamic range difference between DTS and DD. And of course with Blu Ray you go further up the ladder with DTS HD MA and 7.1 speakers.

As I said there are SOME mixes out there which are truly bad and compensation on center channel gain is required.... but I find it to be the exception as opposed to the rule.
Chienworks wrote on 12/30/2013, 4:16 PM
"Allows you to control the LFE level from the comfort of your remote, without having to dash backwards and forwards to your sub to tweak. Somewhat vital as LFE effects can have wildly different production styles !"

Ha! Lessee ... find 'setup menu' button on remote, enter setup menu, page down to surround settings, page over to levels, page down to LFE, select, left&right arrows to adjust, save. All the while trying to read the tiny little fluorescent display on the receiver. Yep, i'm sure to be able to adjust the LFE level before the explosion is over. Yup.

Nahhh, on my receiver it's intended as an initial room setup feature, not a 'adjust while you're watching the movie' thing.
Rob Franks wrote on 12/30/2013, 5:53 PM
"My 5.1 surround receiver only allows independent control of the LFE channel, which i find a bit odd since it doesn't have an LFE amp and requires a powered subwoofer, and pretty much all powered subwoofers have a volume control on them. *shrug*"

Sub amps are not built into home receivers because they are optional. If you have full range front speakers then you don't need subs because you can direct the sub channel to the front mains.

Most powered subs come with their own gain control because no one says you HAVE to connect them to a receiver with its own sub gain control. It's called a universal approach.

If you are having that much trouble with remote navigation then you may want to look at logitech Harmony (programmable) remotes.... but somehow I doubt it is that important to you.
Chienworks wrote on 12/30/2013, 6:03 PM
Oh, not important at all. Once i picked the desired LFE level during initial setup i've never really needed to change it since then.

I only brought this up to show that i do not in fact have the ability to adjust the dialog channel independently. It's only the sub that has independent control. So, i don't have that option for giving the dialog more 'punch' over the background.
Rob Franks wrote on 12/30/2013, 6:08 PM
"I only brought this up to show that i do not in fact have the ability to adjust the dialog channel independently."

Some do, and some don't. It depends on the quality.
Chienworks wrote on 12/30/2013, 6:09 PM
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!

Solution too simple and obvious to be ... well ... obvious: L-pads on the L/R front/rear speakers to reduce them, while leaving the center channel unaltered. That might do the trick.
Rob Franks wrote on 12/30/2013, 6:13 PM
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!
If you're not punching out too many watts then L pads will work out great. They're cheap too.