[BC] Loud movies (was: Digital Intgerference)

[Michael Yoshida]

Hi,

As someone who used to setup post production mix stages daily for the 
past 8 years in a previous job, 90 db is nothing. Each of the left, 
center and right speakers are individually set for 85 db at the mix 
position and the surrounds are combined to sum to 85db. Combined subs 
lap 92db. It's not unusual for an effects driven film to hit 112db 
during loud parts.

On the other hand, most theaters (despite the Dolby presentation 
standard) will turn down their audio if enough customers complain so 
the efforts of directors and producers are all for naught. Loud films 
have existed way before digital, ie Judge Dredd. But the average 
levels seem to be going up probably due to the use of an obscene 
number of tracks during rerecording all made possible by ProTools and 
digital consoles with 350 inputs.

Michael Yoshida
former tech at the Saul Zaentz Film Center

At 03:53 PM 12/20/2005, you wrote:
>--- 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
>
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