It took long enough. Canadian TV is an annoying business. Mostly due to commercials. I rarely watch anything that has commercials. I’m pretty much stuck with them because I watch sports. I’ve gotten pretty good at hitting the Mute button when a commercial begins. But I’m not always quick enough. The loud, clangorous sound of a commercial screams often before my finger reaches Mute.
But all this will change next September when the CRTC will limit the ear bleed volume of commercials, something the US did in December, 2010. This is great news for all of us, especially those who watch television late at night or have hearing problems. Neighbours all over Canada will be applauding this move.
Commercials use a process similar to that used by modern sound engineers for making popular music seem louder and at first blush ‘more exciting’. It’s also what makes so much of today’s music sound harsh and annoying.
Too many modern engineers compress the highs and lows, overwhelming the subtlties of the midrange. This pushes the volume up high, giving the process the nickname ‘loudness wars’. These techniques rob the music of its warmth and presence. It’s no wonder so many people are buying up vinyl records for that homogeneous, organic sound so evident with analog. Now television viewers will also be spared. It won’t be analog but it will be free of discordant volume jumps.
Hopefully TSN will correct its issue with its own promos that are so loud and piercing that I often watch games with the sound off. Helps with those annoying talkers on CFL broadcasters, too. (Volume off works wonder with HNIC, too!)
H/T: @AntoniaZ
