DSTV - channel volume so different

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Frankie

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Is there any way to balance the volume on the DSTV channels - Discovery channel volume in particular is so much lower than the others.


BTW. I found more interesting programs on UK's free to view than what's available on DSTV.
 
You would need a special decoder with volume controls for each channel - i.e. nothing that DSTV sells. DSTV is just a compilation of mostly foreign channels. Nat Geo is from Romania in case you wondered.
 
Frankie said:
Is there any way to balance the volume on the DSTV channels - Discovery channel volume in particular is so much lower than the others.


BTW. I found more interesting programs on UK's free to view than what's available on DSTV.
Click to expand...

deal with it!!!
I`m so used to it changing volume button from one channel to the other.
 
You can change the volume of each channel under Menu, Advance Options...
 
Go to

Menu
Advance options
Tv Installations
Pin: 9949
Go to Option 1 (Tv Installion for TV 1)
Then go to option 4 (Volume Settings)
Then press ENTER on "DSTV"

Viola... :)
 
Spamhater said:
Open your eyes, it is there:eek:
Click to expand...
Not all decoders are created equal.
springbokkie said:
Go to

Menu
Advance options
Tv Installations
Pin: 9949
Go to Option 1 (Tv Installion for TV 1)
Then go to option 4 (Volume Settings)
Then press ENTER on "DSTV"

Viola... :)
Click to expand...
It's decoder dependant. That option on the dual view PVR is UHF Tuning. Regrettably as far as I can see there is no option to control the sound on this model.
Frankie said:
Discovery channel volume in particular is so much lower than the others.
Click to expand...
Until the adverts roll then its full volume. :o
 
Last edited:
springbokkie said:
Go to

Menu
Advance options
Tv Installations
Pin: 9949
Go to Option 1 (Tv Installion for TV 1)
Then go to option 4 (Volume Settings)
Then press ENTER on "DSTV"

Viola... :)
Click to expand...

Great thanks - that worked on my old single view decoder - this is the first time I've used the PIN number.

I'm thinking of getting the HD PVR @ R2500 from MAKRO to compliment my recent purchase of the SONY 40" LCD TV.
 
bwana said:
Until the adverts roll then its full volume. :o
Click to expand...
The ad people will tell you it isn't a deliberately higher volume. They are using compression techniques, which circumvent the leveling system used by the broadcasters. I believe they are complicit, but how would you prove it?
 
Goobie said:
Which channels do you pick up? Do you use your standard DSTV hardware?
Click to expand...

In SA I just subscribe to the standard Multichoice bouquet, and when in the UK my apartment has the decoder with only the free-to-view channels which is more interesting than SA's Multichoice.
 
Sackboy said:
The ad people will tell you it isn't a deliberately higher volume. They are using compression techniques, which circumvent the leveling system used by the broadcasters. I believe they are complicit, but how would you prove it?
Click to expand...

Hi, in audio, compression does raise perceived volume, What happens is the same thing radio stations do, The compressor takes the softest part of the audio and raises it to the loudest volume eg. -6db broadcast tv. So the audio can not breath it is sqeezed to the loudest possible volume without exceeding the limit.

This is the most commonly used In the production of all music, specially dance, house and hip hop music, You will notice that house music will sound much louder than classical. Classical would sound crap if it was overcompressed.

Now advertisors dont care about the audio sounding compressed the want impact so thats what they are doing.

It doesnt go over the limit that all programs have though its that they compressed the crap out of the audio, more correctly the type of compression they are using is called limiting.
 
Loop... said:
Hi, in audio, compression does raise perceived volume, What happens is the same thing radio stations do, The compressor takes the softest part of the audio and raises it to the loudest volume eg. -6db broadcast tv. So the audio can not breath it is sqeezed to the loudest possible volume without exceeding the limit.

This is the most commonly used In the production of all music, specially dance, house and hip hop music, You will notice that house music will sound much louder than classical. Classical would sound crap if it was overcompressed.

Now advertisors dont care about the audio sounding compressed the want impact so thats what they are doing.

It doesnt go over the limit that all programs have though its that they compressed the crap out of the audio, more correctly the type of compression they are using is called limiting.
Click to expand...

If I can manage to keep audio on FM at equal volume, compressed or not im sure dstv can. They just dont want to thats it

Slap in an orban FM/TV processor and expand the soft content up

SABC manage to do this quite ok apart from a few hiccups, but i think DSTV is too cheap (from the looks of it they dont even have operators on each channel - ads kicking in half way through a song on mtv etc)

If dstv was using terrestrial frequencies they would probably over modulate from the lack of processing

I remember they said their clients did this compression "badness" and they couldnt help it but their ads/promos were compressed just as bad
 
Multichioce are full of k@k from this perspective.. They're the ones doing all the compression on the signal...
 
Loop... said:
Hi, in audio, compression does raise perceived volume, What happens is the same thing radio stations do, The compressor takes the softest part of the audio and raises it to the loudest volume eg. -6db broadcast tv. So the audio can not breath it is sqeezed to the loudest possible volume without exceeding the limit.

This is the most commonly used In the production of all music, specially dance, house and hip hop music, You will notice that house music will sound much louder than classical. Classical would sound crap if it was overcompressed.

Now advertisors dont care about the audio sounding compressed the want impact so thats what they are doing.

It doesnt go over the limit that all programs have though its that they compressed the crap out of the audio, more correctly the type of compression they are using is called limiting.
Click to expand...

Your post is a bit backwards - you claim they're using upward compression (which is very rare), then at the end state they are limiting the signal...:confused:

In my experience, downward compression is the most common used. I can't see an argument for upward compression (which you are referring to) in broadcasting. Maybe you can shed some light? They would have to use upward compression passing through a limiter thereafter.

Downward compression merely acts as a limiter for higher signals, ensuring they do not extend over a certain level. Any signal below the compression limit is not affected at all, so it won't in fact be gaining lower signals at all. The threshold settings will also be set smooth to ensure no spikes in the audio compression, as is commonly used in dance music production. It merely gives the perception of lower signals being louder, however it does not in fact boost the lower range at all. If they were using upward compression and limiting, it often has the affect of a pipe-box flanger almost. Would sound like the sound was pumped through a pipe.

I highly doubt they are using upward compression of the lower signals, and then limiting it thereafter. If this were the case then movies (and in fact any shows) would sound shocking. Just think of a movie where the soundtrack was as loud as the actor's voice - or where the audio remains a constant level throughout - would add significant noise as well.

But I might be wrong. They might only be boosting the lower signals marginally, in which case it makes more sense to use downward compression in the first place...
 
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