[BC] Loud movies (was: Digital Intgerference)

[Goran Tomas]

--- At 20.12.2005 00:10, Kevin Tekel wrote: ---
>Goran Thomas wrote:
> > Sound level in cinemas is also very high these days (though large
> > dynamic range of movie soundtrack helps here).
>
>IIRC, the "loud" parts of a recent Harry Potter movie were measured at an
>SPL of around 90 dB.  Considering that constant exposure to sounds above
>85 dB can cause hearing damage, that's pretty damn loud for a _children's_
>movie!

Actually, loud parts at 90dB are OK. It is prolonged levels of high 
SPL that are dangerous.

According to occupational safety and health rules in most countries, 
you are allowed to work 8 hours in environment with less than 90dB 
noise (A-weighted), though most experts would want that to be 85dB 
and suggest that you wear hearing protection in that case... Anyway, 
for every 5dB increase, "safe time" to be exposed cuts in half. For 
95dB it's 4 hours, for 100dB 2 hours, etc.

But somehow I doubt that's only 90dB on loud parts in cinema. In 
certain movies, like during the storm scene in "Captain and 
Commander", I had to yell ("This is loud!") so that a friend sitting 
right next to me could hear me. That's much more than 90dB!


> > High audio levels in headphones (and you need to mask that ambient
> > noise) is a sure way to easily loose your hearing. Permanently.
>
>It's even worse when you _lose_ your hearing.
>
>(Sorry, loose/lose and it's/its are my two worst linguistic pet peeves.)

Actually, your correction is appreciated! Probably wouldn't notice it 
otherwise and possibly make the same mistake again. I try to at least 
write In English correctly (speaking is whole different matter ;-))


Regards,
Goran Tomas