My $.02 but I think that is a multi part issue. Now that theaters can handle the volume there is definitely a trend where louder is viewed as better so action scenes are mixed loud. Therefore theatrical mixes need to be remixed for home viewing as home theaters and TV's can not handle the dynamic range of movie theaters. There is usually a spec we receive from the studio where the mix can not go over a certain level for the home video delivery this differs slightly by studio. We will usually use selective volume adjustments and compression so the loud scenes don't get compressed to hell and raise the dialog a few db in spots to meet this spec. We also preview our home video mix on TV speakers and small home theater setups to verify the clarity. For example with Ocean's Thirteen we raised the dialog lowered the high speed elevator sounds and remixed and EQ'd the earthquake sounds so they can be heard in both TV speakers and home subwoofers.
The other part of the issue may be the home theater setup itself. In a movie theater the left center and right speakers are all the same size and spec. In IMAX there is a second center speaker just for dialog. Often the center speaker in home theater setups are smaller than the left and right speakers. Most of the dialog comes through the center speaker so if it is tiny and the left and right are huge the dialog will get drowned out. Also placement, I've been in homes where the center speaker is behind the TV or placed so far out of the way that the dialog gets muffled and reduced. Most flat screen TV speakers these days seem to be tiny and facing any way but forward using deflected sound to get the audio to the viewer. This can also greatly affect how the dialog is heard.
wallyfoggle16 karma
My $.02 but I think that is a multi part issue. Now that theaters can handle the volume there is definitely a trend where louder is viewed as better so action scenes are mixed loud. Therefore theatrical mixes need to be remixed for home viewing as home theaters and TV's can not handle the dynamic range of movie theaters. There is usually a spec we receive from the studio where the mix can not go over a certain level for the home video delivery this differs slightly by studio. We will usually use selective volume adjustments and compression so the loud scenes don't get compressed to hell and raise the dialog a few db in spots to meet this spec. We also preview our home video mix on TV speakers and small home theater setups to verify the clarity. For example with Ocean's Thirteen we raised the dialog lowered the high speed elevator sounds and remixed and EQ'd the earthquake sounds so they can be heard in both TV speakers and home subwoofers.
The other part of the issue may be the home theater setup itself. In a movie theater the left center and right speakers are all the same size and spec. In IMAX there is a second center speaker just for dialog. Often the center speaker in home theater setups are smaller than the left and right speakers. Most of the dialog comes through the center speaker so if it is tiny and the left and right are huge the dialog will get drowned out. Also placement, I've been in homes where the center speaker is behind the TV or placed so far out of the way that the dialog gets muffled and reduced. Most flat screen TV speakers these days seem to be tiny and facing any way but forward using deflected sound to get the audio to the viewer. This can also greatly affect how the dialog is heard.
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