Compression for home stereo

[daav]

Hey quick questions for your thoughts.

Being a h8er of the crazy volume levels that come during commercials on TV, i was wondering if there is any reason to think that it might be possible to add a compressor to the system to tame this. Would one have to do wsomething with the signal level first ?

Daav

 

[scrubs]

You can definitely put a limiter or compressor with fast attack on your home stereo/theater system. The compressor is expecting a line-level signal, so I would place it between your output device (TV, DVD player) and amp.

 

[Tifstorey]

When they come on, get the remote and click mute or turn it down, DIY compression

 

[Track Rat]

If you have cable, some Motorola converters have compressors built into them. Only three settings though (off light and heavy) but it does work OK.

 

[daav]

Thanks guys, I think i am going to pickupa cheap outboard compressor and try this out some day soon. I have a lot of disparity int he fditigal music in our house as well, especially the occasional live stuff, this might help avoid the same kinds of level jumps i see there from time to time.

Daav

 

[bennychico11]

http://broadcastengineering.com/automation/dolby-solution-inconsistent-loudness/
similar to dialnorm, but for home usage and for a much wider taming of volumes.

the major reason people complain about audio volumes of commercials, is because of dynamic range differences between program and broadcast commercials. When you're watching a TV drama where there's a lot of whispering or low talking and then all of a sudden you jump into a commercial, yeah, there's bound to be a level difference. Especially sine a commercial is made to be someone talking loud at you all the time (like a car commercial). It's like jumping from a classical recording recorded in the early 20th century to a more recent pop rock song.

 

[mrT]

When they come on, get the remote and click mute or turn it down, DIY compression

riding the fader whilst surfing the channels...

 

[Tifstorey]

riding the fader whilst surfing the channels...

The crazy new extreme sport to hit the homes eh?

 

[rayc]

Compression as cause & cure - is that irony?
Mate, I wouldn't use it. Esp not on your music. The results would be YUCK - but then if you prefer the sound of an MP3 to CD, LP or cassette you might like the result. Reach for the mega bass button anyone?