Netflix introduces a new kind of subtitles for the non-hearing impaired

[Nathan]

You can read the full article here, but the part that caught my attention is:

"Streamers and device makers have been including speech or dialogue boost audio modes to help users better understand dialogue, too. There's no single reason this is now a problem that needs solving—rather, it's a confluence of things.
The performance style of actors in current TV shows and movies is more naturalistic and less elocutive than it once was, so characters are more likely to speak softly. Streaming services compress the audio more vigorously than is common in physical media, which can cause problems with intelligibility. The range of home audio hardware is far wider than ever before, so engineers and editors mastering shows and films face the near-impossible task of providing strong dynamic range and quality for those with high-end systems, but still making it sound good on cheap TV speakers."

I struggle to make out the dialogue in modern movies when watching on the TV. When I'm watching from the screen that feeds me media while on the treadmill I don't have a hearing issue, as I listen with earphones.

 

[Twostep]

May be helpful for non-native speakers. But I always recommend old movies due to vocabulary and grammar.

 

[Rich]

This has been an issue for me for quite some time. While I acknowledge that my deteriorating hearing plays a role, the problem often lies with the actors who seem to be mumbling their lines, as if emulating Marlon Brando. In an effort to address this, I purchased a soundbar not long ago, only to discover that it somehow made things worse; ultimately, I returned it to the store. I've adjusted the settings, minimizing the bass and selecting the optimal mode, but that's of little help. As a result, I rely heavily on subtitles and, fortunately, most of what we watch is streamed or recorded, allowing me to rewind if I miss something crucial.

Adding to this is the recent trend of dimly lit scenes in many shows, presumably to create an atmospheric mood. In practice, however, this artistic choice serves only to obscure the action and make it difficult to discern what is happening on screen.

 

[DebraMae]

Interesting. I always keep my subtitles on and just though my hearing was changing due to age. I'll be looking forward to trying this.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Whew! I'm glad it's not just me! So there's a good reason I can't understand some of what's being said. I find myself using the captions feature because between loud music over dialogs and lack of enunciation. I have pretty good hearing, so I knew it couldn't be a problem with my ears. I find the feature where someone is speaking the dialogues to be very annoying, so never use that. Thank you for this enlightening post Nathan.

 

[gilead]

I like streaming on my laptop with both sub-titles & audio, gives me a little more control since I'm 'Hearing Impaired'. I used to watch all shows with the exception of Japanese, Italian or Spanish. They talk too fast for the dubbing to keep up.

 

[Rich]

Whew! I'm glad it's not just me! So there's a good reason I can't understand some of what's being said. I find myself using the captions feature because between loud music over dialogs and lack of enunciation. I have pretty good hearing, so I knew it couldn't be a problem with my ears. I find the feature where someone is speaking the dialogues to be very annoying, so never use that. Thank you for this enlightening post Nathan.

The loud music is exasperating!

 

[Brookswood]

Between hard to hear dialogue and those needlessly dark artistic shots, watching some show requires more effort than they are worth.

Toss in the profanity and why bother?

 

[Brookswood]

Interesting. I always keep my subtitles on and just though my hearing was changing due to age. I'll be looking forward to trying this.

It might be partially your hearing, but most of it is background noise and music. Also most TVs come with lousy speakers that don’t do well with the midrange sound. That’s where the human voice lives.

 

[gilead]

Currently I'm streaming PBS Masterpiece, AcornTV, Britbox, BBC Select, Netflix, Prime, TUBI. Will probably add Kanopy for movies. TUBI & Kanopy will be the only free ones, total cost should be $65.53 + $45 for wifi & absolutely NO ADS or buffering!. Believe me I have enough to watch! I was paying $135 monthly for Xfinity back in 2011 for basic cable with ads & buffering, nothing else. I now stream with headphones & reading glasses, no blaring sound for anyone else to avoid. My mouse has replaced my remote.

 

[dilettante]

Many movies use a needlessly complicated audio mix, probably intended to make them seem more "special" in a perfect theater with an advanced sound system. After remixing down to stereo and then compressing, it should be no surprise that dialog can be drowned out.

A change should be welcome. One of many reasons the exodus of filmmaking from Hollywood is a good thing.

 

[Knight]

I thought that it was just me losing hearing due to age. Solved the issue by buying this.
B310pro Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver – 1Mii

and light weight blue tooth headset. The headset of course has volume control .

 

[gilead]

I thought that it was just me losing hearing due to age. Solved the issue by buying this.
B310pro Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver – 1Mii

and light weight blue tooth headset. The headset of course has volume control .

Nice, but currently unavailable. Can use any $20 set of noise cancelling headphones with my laptop streaming. Had to take my hearing aids out, squealing is bad with both headphones & aids on bluetooth. But if it solves the hearlng loss problem, so be it. Now if they can do something with the opening credits & loudly obnoxious music they may have something. Overall cost is fast approaching $500 (est.) for my equipment trials. ROKU was only a few hundred from BestBuy. But better than $2,000+ for new aids

 

[Knight]

Nice, but currently unavailable. Can use any $20 set of noise cancelling headphones with my laptop streaming. Had to take my hearing aids out, squealing is bad with both headphones & aids on bluetooth. But if it solves the hearlng loss problem, so be it. Now if they can do something with the opening credits & loudly obnoxious music they may have something. Overall cost if fast approaching $500 (est.) for my equipment trials. ROKU was only a few hundred from BestBuy. But better than $2,000+ for new aids

I bought that device a few years ago. If it should fail for some reason I'll buy a similar device. I too use hearing aids but don't need them when using the device I have.

 

[Nathan]

In an effort to address this, I purchased a soundbar not long ago, only to discover that it somehow made things worse; ultimately, I returned it to the store.

I bought a soundbar several years ago, after having researched, even contacted the TV manufacturer(LG) who gave me a model number of a BT soundbar that would work...it didn't, wasn't recognized by the TV. Returned it, gave up.

 

[bobcat]

I will admit my hearing could be better, but I find that some shows I have little problem (If any) with the dialogue, and others, it can be a real challenge, due to mumbling, placement and quality of mics, sound editing, or whatever. IDK, but it seems to me that if some shows need a dialogue enhancer on the user end, then why can't it be fixed on the production end.