You know what really grinds my gears?

[Truant]

No seriously, this is something that has been driving me crazy lately.

Why the fuck do we not have some kind of standard for the decibel level of commercials broadcast on television? I'll have the television set at a volume where I can hear the program if I focus on it, or very easily talk over it at a perfectly normal voice level. Then comes a commercial that is literally at screaming levels (i'm not exaggerating for once).

Before it gets stated, compression (or whatever clever name each brand calls it) is not a solution i'm interested in. I don't want the shows, movies, and music I enjoy on my television to be compressed because commercials are at such rediculous levels. I just want things to be at a reasonably level volume.

I totally understand why they do it. It gets your attention, and that's what they're trying to do. If everything sounds the same, it's easier to tune things in/out. That's why major record labels are mixing new cd's at higher decibel levels, so they stand out on the radio and get your attention (that's a whole other rant). Find some other way to get my attention besides attempting to blow the speakers out on my tv, please.

[VariaVespasa]

Actually I believe there ARE laws about that. Not how loud they can be quite, but how much louder than the regular broadcast they can be. Pester the FCC or the tv station?

[Spang]

I won't purchase anything from those companies.

[Winnow]

I don't see many commercials anymore since I download everything but what bothers me most is when commercials put sounds like a ringing cell phone or a knock on the door to get your attention.

Some of the higher end TVs have "normalize audio" as an option which prevents commercials from being louder. I use the normalize option on the Video Player Application I use on my PC (KM Player from Korea) to keep all the various video sources the same noise level. Works great!

[Siji]

I won't purchase anything from those companies.

My thoughts exactly. I make it a point not to spend my money on companies with annoying advertising, and especially those that send me unsolicited email.

[Truant]

Some of the higher end TVs have "normalize audio" as an option which prevents commercials from being louder.

That's compression I was mentioning above. Audio compression literally compresses the dynamic range, making the louds softer and the softs louder so that everything is in a middle. But audio compression in the actual show/movie I'm watching annoys the piss out of me (esp in music).

[Winnow]

That's compression I was mentioning above. Audio compression literally compresses the dynamic range, making the louds softer and the softs louder so that everything is in a middle. But audio compression in the actual show/movie I'm watching annoys the piss out of me (esp in music).

Ah, OK. I use it on my laptop where speakers aren't that great to begin with but the audio levels vary quite a bit between the encodings I encounter. I can see where that would suck if used with a quality home theater.

[Demags]

what bothers me most is when commercials put sounds like a ringing cell phone or a knock on the door to get your attention.

The one that really pisses me off is when they put a siren in a radio commercial. Pretty much the only time I listen to radio is when I'm in my vehicle, and hearing a siren automatically has me scanning for an emergency vehicle. I would like to see them make that practice illegal.

Locally comcast is really bad for volume changes during commercials and from channel to channel. I guess the guys in the head end are too busy screwing up the cable alert system to equalize the channel volume, nothing like watching a show for 58 minutes to have them do the weekly test so you get to miss the climax of the show.

[Psyloche]

I've actually had this happen while watching movies on DVD. Usually it's when music kicks on or something that really doesn't need to be that loud. So I'll turn down the volume, annoyed, only to have to turn it back up because when the music/LOUD NOISES (not explosions btw, those typically aren't that loud and require a volume lowering since they aren't that long either!) finally subside, I can't fucking hear whoever is talking.

[Boogahz]

Locally comcast is really bad for volume changes during commercials and from channel to channel.

The only channel I notice this with while using AT&T's Uverse is GolTV. Holy crap the noise levels are off. I might have my TV turned up to 25-30 during games, but commercial breaks play at the same volume when the TV is set at 8 or 9. At least you know when the commercial breaks are coming during soccer matches

[Canelek]

Uggg, the fucking sirens in radio ads makes me want to do teh murder. =/ That shit should be outlawed. Also, every ad out there now mentions high gas prices,,,,that is getting a bit old. I also hate jingles! I will no longer eat at Outback. Arghghghggg21@@@ angerangeranger! Oh oh and the mortgage ads, fucking sweetsauce jesus!

[Funkmasterr]

Speaking of commercials... What really pisses me off is when I go to the movie theater and pay 9 dollars to go see a movie, and have to sit through 30 minutes of previews, which now include TV show ads and commercials.

[Spang]

Show up 30 minutes late. Problem solved.

[Funkmasterr]

Show up 30 minutes late. Problem solved.

That's the thing! It varies so much from theater to theater and sometimes just depending on the movie that you don't know for sure! Tricky bastards.

[Spang]

Then wait for the DVD.

[Boogahz]

Go to the Alamo Drafthouse. The pre-show stuff is generally based around the movie you went to.

For the Hulk, it was showing scenes from the old TV series. For 300, they showed the 300 best fight scenes from movies! For MI3, they showed how nuts Tom Cruise and scientologists were in interviews and stuff.

There are still your normal "new release" previews, but they place their own previews for upcoming events between the new release previews less annoying.

[Gzette]

What really really pissed me off the other night was during an episode of Family Guy on TBS this douche bag from another show, Bill Engvall, literally walks out into the middle of the fucking screen with a remote and pauses the show and starts pitching his stupid ass show. I vowed that second to never ever watch that show, not that I would watch any show starring someone with the dubious distinction of riding that unfunny retard Jeff Foxworthy's coattails. But it really incensed me. It basically put in a commercial in the middle of the broadcast.

[Funkmasterr]

What really really pissed me off the other night was during an episode of Family Guy on TBS this douche bag from another show, Bill Engvall, literally walks out into the middle of the fucking screen with a remote and pauses the show and starts pitching his stupid ass show. I vowed that second to never ever watch that show, not that I would watch any show starring someone with the dubious distinction of riding that unfunny retard Jeff Foxworthy's coattails. But it really incensed me. It basically put in a commercial in the middle of the broadcast.

I have seen that a few times now too and I also thought it was one of the most obnoxious things I have EVER seen on TV.

[Fairweather Pure]

All of the intrusive "right corner" watermarks, and especially the animated ads, are one of the reasons I hate watching TV.

I read and interview with the creators of South Park where they were pretty pissed when Comedy Central made them alter an episode in order to accommodate the channel logo on the lower right corner.

[Bagar-]

Speaking of commercials... What really pisses me off is when I go to the movie theater and pay 9 dollars to go see a movie, and have to sit through 30 minutes of previews, which now include TV show ads and commercials.

I like the ads in the theater about how you can pay to put an ad up. Those are fun.

[Winnow]

All of the intrusive "right corner" watermarks, and especially the animated ads, are one of the reasons I hate watching TV.

The HUGE Dr Who ad that took up 1/8th of the screen in one of the early BSG Season 4 episodes drove me nuts. It was the there entire fucking show.

Also, Universal HD has a spinning globe in the corner. Bad enough to have a logo but to also animate the logo makes it even more distracting.

[Funkmasterr]

Speaking of commercials... What really pisses me off is when I go to the movie theater and pay 9 dollars to go see a movie, and have to sit through 30 minutes of previews, which now include TV show ads and commercials.

I like the ads in the theater about how you can pay to put an ad up. Those are fun.

yeah, those are good too.

[Arborealus]

If you meet Billy Mays on the road...kill him...

I also loathe the animated teasers/logos.

Another thing that chaps my ass is when they quarter screen the credits...

[Gzette]

Another thing that chaps my ass is when they quarter screen the credits...

That I don't mind. In fact I encourage it. It's just a list of names. And if I cared enough to know who the best boy grip was, I'd look it up on the internet. If I was so curious who the caterer was, maybe I'd call the studio.

[Spang]

The names in those lists are of the people that make the show happen.

[Aslanna]

Another thing that chaps my ass is when they quarter screen the credits...

That I don't mind. In fact I encourage it. It's just a list of names. And if I cared enough to know who the best boy grip was, I'd look it up on the internet. If I was so curious who the caterer was, maybe I'd call the studio.

Sometimes I may be interested in what a certain song was as those are credited a lot of the times. And you can't read shit when they squish it down and make it scroll at ludicrous speed. I'm not sure why you would encourage that. What do you get in return? Ads for a show you're probably already planning on watching? Whoo hoo that's awesome!

[Funkmasterr]

Another thing that chaps my ass is when they quarter screen the credits...

That I don't mind. In fact I encourage it. It's just a list of names. And if I cared enough to know who the best boy grip was, I'd look it up on the internet. If I was so curious who the caterer was, maybe I'd call the studio.

Sometimes I may be interested in what a certain song was as those are credited a lot of the times. And you can't read shit when they squish it down and make it scroll at ludicrous speed. I'm not sure why you would encourage that. What do you get in return? Ads for a show you're probably already planning on watching? Whoo hoo that's awesome!

I'll agree that generally the only thing I care to look for in the credits is the songs (which are generally at the end of the credits.)

[Canelek]

Apparently, there is a new trend at the local Qdoba to fold burritos all fucked up. They end up looking like a square. A burrito should not look like a square. I tried to set that badbitch up right, but it proved difficult, since they oversteamed that cocksucker and it would not "reform" gracefully.

Normalize burritos in '08!


As far as screen credits. If you are going to show them, make 'em full screen. A lot of folks put hard work into those damn things and deserve their names displayed so one can see them. Maybe some of you are jaded that your names are not on the packaging of the hamburger or burrito you just assembled, but that ain't gonna happen. Most don't care about who the dolly grip or boom operator was, but that is part of the gig.

[Ashur]

I see what you did there sir! An excellent thread merge of this and the Enough with the Friggin Tomatoes thread sir! Well done!

I never get to watch TV, so I have no comment on the actual subject of the thread other than to say "Commercials suck!"

p.s. I had Chipotle yesterday and between the (not-well-drained) beans, the (not-well-drained) barbacoa, and the salsas that burrito flat out collapsed in an avalanche of wetness the first time I picked it up, so I ended up trying to eat it with a fork which was also useless because the tortilla was only wet in places. So I had to yank out parts of the tortilla and tear it with my hands. This never happens to me at Qdoba (The "Q" is for "Queso!"), even if you add in ze queso!

[Canelek]

Ah dude, that is a shame. Maybe we were not supposed to partake of burritos yesterday.... well, my burrito was functional, at least. However, I do not appreciate the lack of devotion of said Qdoba franchise employee. I want them to put the Q in CARING.

As for your unfortunate burrito debacle, I suggest doing what I do and get the salsa on the side.

[Noysyrump]

I just ate a tomatoe.... yum.

[Syenye]

I really hate it when I'm watching a show in HD, and the local station switches back to standard def to show weather and leaves it or forgets to switch back to HD. I'll figure out the tornadoes are here when the sirens go off, let me watch TV in peace.

[Aardor]

I really hate it when I'm watching a show in HD, and the local station switches back to standard def to show weather and leaves it or forgets to switch back to HD. I'll figure out the tornadoes are here when the sirens go off, let me watch TV in peace.

Yeah, that's terrible, I actually hate that they switch to SD at all to do the announcement. I was watching the NHL finals with a Pittsburgh fan, and they kept switching to SD to advertise Flyers' tickets (my local market). My friend actually called the number and complained that their advertisement was ruining the playoffs since it would take up part of the ice/switch it to non-HD.

For awhile, Sci-Fi would show the opening scene of Battlestar Galactica in SD, then kick it to HD during the opening credits. Annoyed the hell out of me!