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Apple Researching Sound Sensors for Automatically Adjusting Audio Output

This is a great idea. I've had my phone on silent/vibrate alert for years because there's nothing more embarrassing than a loud loud ring tone in a quite lecture hall. Makes me wonder why this hasn't been in phones from the start.
 
Not here it ain't

Kilamite said:
Think that is illegal in the UK now - all adverts must be at the same volume as the actual broadcast.
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Wish it was illegal here in Singapore. My wife and I are always telling our eldest son to turn down the volume, but eventually realised it was always on the advertisements. He would turn it down then the program comes back on and he couldn't hear it!!!

So for me I think it is a good idea - so long as it works. I just wonder how often you would use it though? I mean, I can sort of think of times in the past it may have been useful. But it's not like on a daily basis. :confused:
 
Ya I've seen this in car stereos etc. but I don't know if I would like this. On start up and rings maybe but what if I just want my volume quiet or loud? Then what happens? Is it always doing what it THINKS I want??? That would be VERY ANNOYING :rolleyes:
 
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Oh, I love this new design! Looks like they are switching to a larger track pad and just a spacebar. Ultra minimal. Looks like it might have a two button touch screen as well. Way to go Apple!
 
I wonder how well that would work on a cell phone, assuming you have it in a pocket of your winter jacket. Phone assumes you are in a quiet enviromet and you miss a call.
 
shaunymac said:
I too think the patenting frenzy is a little much. Acutally it blows my mind sometimes. Like others have mentioned, how can apple patent this when it has really been around since the 90's in gmc cars, trucks and vans?
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It's important to keep in mind that Apple has to play this game whether they like it or not. Imagine if some SJ start-up filed this same patent before Apple did, and got it. Then when Apple goes to put this technology in the iPhone/iPod, they get sued. This is what is happening right now with many many tech companies. So even if the tech companies know it's ridiculous, until the system gets fixed, they'll still have to do this in order to try and protect themselves from lawsuits. Because if Apple can get a patent for something ridiculous like this, then anyone can. It's just a matter of who files the paperwork first (AFAIUI).
 
bretm said:
How would you enforce that? Make all broadcasters pay for even more equipment?

The commercials aren't too loud. They're as loud as the technology allows. Call it more full bodied if you wish. The simply use the full possible volume. Music CDs are the same way. A TV show is more dramatic and while the loudest thing in the entire show might be an explosion or a gunshot or something, the rest of the show has to be different levels for realism. In other words you might have someone whispering in one scene, and only using 20% of the possible voume. Then the next scene is someone yelling, and they need to be louder. Say 70% of the volume. Then you've got a huge explosion. That utilizes the full 100%.

Well, commercials are 30 seconds and stay at the 100% mark the entire time. There's not much point in them having whispering.

So, sorry but the may be louder than the TV show you just saw with the whispering going on. But that's natural. But the loudest part of a commercial is governed by the same tech and physics of the TV show and can't be louder than the TV show. 100% is 100% (0Db in digital terms). To go over is distortion and not any louder.

There's no 11.
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No, but it's possible for the stations to reduce the volume of the show so that you have to up your set while leaving the commercials just low enough not to clip. That's why it's illegal for the stations and not the commercials' producers.

Also, after reading this thread—and having produced both commercials and longer form broadcast work—I will agree that commercial audio is way more compressed. Also, good VO talent tends to be able to keep their voices at a constant tone and level and with a smidgen of compression, their voices really pop, especially male voices with a lot of range. Male voices also tend to be easier to recall (as I once read in a study on the subject). But as I said, the ultimate responsibility of sound levels is dependent upon the broadcaster.

All work that is sent to a broadcaster is tagged with "bars and tone" that allow the broadcaster to sync the media that they receive from producers to their system. The tone is a reference for all audio on the media. All other audio on that media is thus relative to the tone.

Let's have an example. Say I send a digibeta out to a station. Let's say the loudest tone on my tape is 10db above the tone. The station compares my tone with their system. Their system thinks my tape's tone is 2db lower than their system. In that case all of the audio will be adjusted 2db and the tone would then be the equivalent of 12db above my standard tone on my system.

In case anyone is wondering, reference tone is usually set at -20db on digital and 0db on analog (NTSC of course). -12db is equivalent to 0db analog on DVCAM (and thus DV). Final Cut defaults to -12db but it would be better to default -20db (which is the 0db analog equivalent for most everything else). I don't know why I'm putting this here, but maybe it will help people looking for this info in the future.
 
Jayomat said:
I don't see a real improvement for the user.....no need to adjust volume automatically...

however, they better make the internal speakers output louder... talking in a group of more than four ppl AND listening to musik provided by the macbook is impossible...
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Shouldn't you be paying attention to the people you're talking to? Otherwise you're trying to talk over the music, so why bother having music? If you want to hear the music over the people, why are you talking to them?
 
zync said:
Shouldn't you be paying attention to the people you're talking to? Otherwise you're trying to talk over the music, so why bother having music? If you want to hear the music over the people, why are you talking to them?
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hahahaha.
 
I hope apple will have nothing to say to my app..

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It's called AutoVolume (Automatic Music Volume Control for iPhone) and it will be SOON on AppStore.

http://AutoVolumeApp.com

video: http://youtu.be/GggQ-I-U2b0

AutoVolume is a cool iPhone app that will constantly measure the outside noise level with the iPhone's built in microphone and then gracefully adjust the music volume depending on the noise outside and your personal settings.

Use it while traveling on noisy transport that is making stops, walking on loud streets. It is also able to instantly lower the music volume when noise is heard (limiter). Making it useful in office or during any kind of activity that requires your sudden attention. More over it responds when you start talking.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More details: http://AutoVolumeApp.com

You can SIGN UP now and you will be NOTIFIED when AutoVolume is available on the AppStore! Click to sign up now: http://eepurl.com/fmQdM

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/AutoVolume
 
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