WCMH-HD audio

[oldguy]

When is WCMH going to fix their HD audio?

Sometimes it is too low on main programs then blast out on commercials. Quite often it will fluctuate from low to lower.

On Today show all too often someone is asleep at the wheel when they switch away from a commercial back to main programming: ithere will be a significant delay in restoring audio.

Programming is great. Audio is lousy.

[festivus]

I noticed the audio level fluctuations during the local newscast this morning. Pretty aggravating.

[snodgrass23]

The issue with the commercials is more with the commercials that the station. The station may be able to put things in to regulate the volume, but the issue goes back to the higher dynamic range of the digital audio signal. Most shows will use an area of the range for their normal volume that leaves them more range to get louder if needed for effects or sounds that are supposed to get louder.

Commercials, though, will set their initial levels closer to the top of the range in an effort to get your attention. They know it makes it loud, but don't care as they want to grab your attention. There should probably be some type of regulation put in place for how shows and commercials set their audio levels.

[Reid]

I agree something is definitely funky. Normally I can set my volume for the 11PM news to 32 and it's plenty loud. Last night I could barely hear it at 40.

[hdtvnewbie]

What causes that cracking sound (sounds like static) when WCMH switches from an analog commercial break to return to an HD program? It's like someone's hitting a button to switch manually and is getting shocked by static, and we are hearing it.

[snodgrass23]

It's likely the audio processor switching between audio signals. Channel 10 was having a similar issue when we visited the news set.