[BC] DTV Audio Levels

[Rich Wood]

On this list and others there have been many comments about the 
amazing lack of control of audio in digital.

One problem suggested was that networks get plugged directly into the 
transmitter and the local station has no control. The level problem 
is all local as they cut away from the network. Either they have no 
control or they're not paying attention. Spots, in particular, are 
almost painfully louder than other material and local programming 
varies the same between local and network. In addition, the levels 
between stations vary dramatically. I can't watch TV without the mute 
button at my side.

I realize that with multiple video formats and Dolby Digital it's 
become a much more complex world. I find local cutaways almost always 
far louder than the network feed. With the signal now being one big 
digital stream, is it designed so audio and video can't be separated 
to allow audio control? That doesn't make any sense to me but worse 
things have happened. Is it the change from 5.1 by a station not 
equipped to handle it locally?

Even levels between local elements are all over the place.

By far the worst offender is DirecTV. It seems to me they have 
control over everything they deliver.

What's going on? I know it's annoying the daylights of a lot of 
people. I may have to resort to cable where they scrunch everything.

Rich