Related Sections: Home Theater
SRS TruVolume tells blaring commercials to simmer down
Annoyed by commercials that are way louder than the TV shows they appear in? The audio mavens at SRS have a solution to this plague of noise: SRS TruVolume technology, which quiets down those ads to the same level as the show you're watching. The high-tech hushing is done via a special algorithm that puts all audio at the same reference level, and perceived volume is consistent. Loud signals aren't simply cut off — the algorithm shrinks the signal, so subtleties in the audio should be preserved.
Hearing a demo of SRS TruVolume in action up against a similar tech, Dolby Volume, SRS did much better in keeping the volume consistent among varied material, including clips of Everybody Loves Raymond and the evening news. But then again, this was a staged test.
How do you get it? The bad news: The algorithm needs to be built into your TV. The good news: It's being integrated in several sets right now, mainly Samsung and Vizio models. What about people like me who use a receiver and separate speakers for sound? Well, we're in luck, too — SRS is building a small standalone box that does the same trick. MyVolume (below) will hook up to your cable box via HDMI. It's due in a couple of months, no price yet.
This isn't the first stab at volume-leveling tech by a long shot, but if the demo is to believed, it might be the most effective. It doesn't hurt that SRS is an established brand whose tech is already integrated into all sorts of audio equipment. We look forward to the day when all TVs have this kind of tech, though by that time will we be watching ads at all?
Via SRS Labs
By Giggity at 2:02 PM ON 09/17/09
Its about damn time!
I thought TV's already had that, but they never seemed to work (at least my tv).
I never understood why commercials had to go to deafening levels. It doesnt sell the product any better than at normal volume levels.
By Mihos at 2:28 PM ON 09/17/09
ugh... I hate that. At least it reminds me to turn off my TV when I fall asleep watching "How Its Made"
By SRS Labs Inc. at 3:29 PM ON 09/17/09
Awesome blog post! We're very excited to be relaunching SRS TruVolume. We're working very hard to save the world from those really annoying loud commercial breaks and volume fluctuations. Its true other companies have attempted to create a solution, but none are as effective as SRS TruVolume. Check out our online demo to learn more. http://www.srslabs.com/content.aspx?id=229
By LS at 3:39 PM ON 09/17/09
As an engineer who mixes commercials, it's the advertisers who want to make sure their commercials are loud. The worst thing for them would be to buy airtime,and then have their message too soft to be heard. As the author correctly pointed out - it's all about perceived volume. Plus, they want you to hear their ad when you're heading off to the kitchen for another beer.
By BuzJones at 3:45 PM ON 09/17/09
I have an even better solution. I NEVER watch commercials of any kind, I just fast forward through them using my trusty DVR.
By HBKNAdam at 4:07 PM ON 09/17/09
Don't forget about Audyssey's Dynamic Volume in a number of receivers...
By Giggity at 5:33 PM ON 09/17/09
@ LS... Let me correct what I said before..
I do understand why they do it..but not why they cant keep the commercials at the same volume of the shows. Or if they have to..raise the volume a small percentage. Not the double-volume levels that they often do.
If I walk away to do something, I can still hear the normal show. The same would be for commercials.
Raising the volume suddenly (especially late at night when things are generally quieter) does nothing to get me to pay attention to an ad. If anything, it only makes me rush back and change the channel or lower the volume.
Then, my show returns and everything is too low. That just re-enforces a negative connotation to the advertisor since now it became an irritation factor.
Mind you, I am not complaining about the ads that are only slightly raised...only the ones that are obviously significantly increased..especially at night.
@Buz Jones...DVR only works after you hear a commercial start. In the meantime, you have that 1 sec of volume increase. Unless, of course, you are watching for the commercial breaks and can act before-hand.
By PeterD at 6:23 PM ON 09/17/09
I'm sold. Commercial volumes are a pet peeve of mine, and the really loud ones are especially infuriating. I especially hate that the worst culprits for me are DirecTV commercials -- and I already HAVE DirecTV.
The loud commercials just make me want to boycott the product, so I really wish advertisers would stop. I'd have sworn congress or the FCC had passed a regulation requiring volume levels to be consistent, but clearly I imagined it or lobbyists killed it. Or it's simply not enforced.
I'll gladly buy the HDMI standalone box when it's available -- my sound is through an HDMI receiver set up already.
By Raymondjram at 1:18 PM ON 09/18/09
When I was in college learning about operational amplifiers (Op Amps), I sketched a possible desgign using three op amps, and measuring the RMS value of the audio inputs.The last amp will supply negative gain to the audio amp when the audio signal was over a determined threshold. This is needed so the audio level for low volume signals would not be over-amplified. Now it could be done with DSPs and some code.
By Blakelevero at 4:34 AM ON 09/22/09
Dolby Volume is also available in 26 products with eleven companies (Anthem, ARCAM, AudioControl, Bryston, Emotiva, Harman-Kardon, Integra, Onkyo, Sherwood and Parasound as well as HDTVs from Toshiba).
By Michael at SRS Labs at 4:47 PM ON 10/06/09
Visit SRS Labs' TruVolume micro site to see our new TV commercial about loud commercials and to enter for your chance to WIN 1 of 3 NEW SAMSUNG Flat Screen TVs that feature this awesome new volume leveling audio solution. www.TruVolume.com
By dustyfarts at 10:38 AM ON 10/08/09
What ever happened to recording devices that would stop recording when sencing the constant hi output??
By John at 1:35 PM ON 11/30/09
Notice the audio of the commercial is actually clipping (topping out at the max, which distorts the signal). That's how they get the commercials to sound louder. So it's not just louder, it's bad quality audio. It should be illegal to do this.
By Kate at 9:37 PM ON 12/04/09
When will it be available? Where can I get one?
By Greg at 11:45 PM ON 01/21/10
Do I need a truvolume box for my satelite tv receiver and another for my DVR player. Or will a single truvolume box control both?
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Greg:
Do I need a truvolume box for my satelite tv receiver and another for my DVR player. Or will a single truvolume bo...More »