60 points by ghoomketu 3 months ago | 58 comments
The goal is to ensure that sudden loud noises don't become overwhelming and quieter parts sound reasonably the same.
My reason for doing this is because it's so hard to watch movies these days because of the inconsistent volume levels (2x harder at night).
Any suggestions or recommendations on specific products or solutions would be greatly appreciated! Any DIY suggestions are also welcome too.
shadyfroyo 2 months ago
Lots of pro audio boxes out there.
A MiniDSP box where you can implement a compressor is fun, you can also tune just about everything else with it.
https://docs.minidsp.com/product-manuals/flex/dsp-reference/...
mcallaster 2 months ago
You can have four different presets for different signal processing. The important part is that you can set them up how YOU want. Proprietary black box DSP parameters labeled as “night mode” or “movie mode” are hardly descriptive enough for my taste.
It is also worth mentioning that if you decide to get a Dirac model/license, it is locked to the device instead of the purchaser. This is big deal for resale value, as many receivers lock licenses to the purchaser (and aren’t readily transferrable to new gear).
I am a big fan of what they are doing in the space. I recently purchased a HTX from them for my living room and I have been as happy as a clam.
neuralRiot 2 months ago
madphilosopher 2 months ago
* Alesis 3630
* DBX 166 or 266
* FMR Audio Really Nice Compressor
Explore the various demos on YouTube to see what these are about. The compressor goes between your audio source and your amplifier. I personally use the Alesis 3630 for normalizing the audio in my ham radio transceiver setup.
not_your_vase 3 months ago
2 - Use a PC for your video needs. Most video players support the same function (VLC, GOM player, Kodi... look for "dynamic range compression" and similar options). A 10 years old mid-tier machine will play everything including UHD, so this solution is fairly cheap. If you get a cheap IR-USB remote, you won't even have to mess with keyboard and mouse.
rollcat 2 months ago
I would like to second this recommendation. I've put my work desk in the living room; the 43" screen doubles as a (non-smart!) TV; instead of futzing with remotes I have a wireless mouse, an on-screen keyboard, and a macOS/iOS shortcut to switch the display between 2x (couch mode) and 1.5x (desk mode), which could also take care of audio routing, DND, lights, etc.
Using a real mouse + virtual keyboard is so much faster than ANY remote I've ever used, and if you're not into clicking, you can type with a "real" wireless keyboard[0]. Another upside, is you get to watch things in the browser - with a proper ad blocker - instead of half a dozen confusing TV apps. Setting everything up takes a bit more effort than plugging a stick into an HDMI port, but it immediately starts paying off.
[0]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/microsoft-all-in-one-media... via friend's recommendation, they have a very similar setup with a projector and MS Windows.
not_your_vase 2 months ago
In the evening, when I watch a movie, it's just my personal preference - I like to kind of disassociate from computers. A remote helps. Also, being able to change the volume blindly, without looking at the remote is something that other interfaces have yet to emulate.
Of course not saying that everyone should use it - if a mouse is better for you, go for it, what do I care :D But remotes definitely have a place with today's HTPCs also IMO.
yellow_lead 2 months ago
AngryData 2 months ago
adrianmsmith 2 months ago
I've had a good experience with Logitech K830. Illuminated keys, I've dropped it so many times in the 10 years I've owned it, even spilled coffee all over it, still works well.
diggan 2 months ago
Well, or get a compressor/limiter that you can jank into any signal chain, so you don't have to buy a whole new amplifier. You can find cheap compressors/limiters for like under $100 I'm sure.
LM358 2 months ago
randomfinn 2 months ago
It's been a while since I looked into this in detail, but iirc the decoder must automatically enable dynamic range compression when it's set to two channel output. So avoid configurations where you first convert the audio to 5.1 channel PCM or analog, and then apply downmixing or virtual surround.
If you're using a surround system, most receivers have a night mode as mentioned by others already. Some have also an adaptive system that adjusts the dynamic range based on your volume setting - turn it up and you get the full dynamic range, turn it down and the dynamic range is compressed more as you set the volume lower to try to keep the dialog audible. Many receivers include a microphone for automatic settings, and after calibration know the actual output level. The Dolby Digital bitstream (and I think DTS) include a flag to indicate the overall dialog level, and based on these a receiver can do quite a good job. Some I think go only by the DD metadata, others have a compressor that can be applied to any input.
shermantanktop 2 months ago
Unfortunately modern receivers have preamps that do a ton of digital decoding, input switching and other stuff, making the audio signal between the preamp and the amp impossible to get to. That leaves you with receiver features like night mode, as suggested by others.