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Netflix Debuts Dialogue-Only Subtitles
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BRAVO. This additional level of subtitles is perfect for people who want less distraction from their subtitling and/or somewhat hard of hearing (but can still hear enough of the rest of the audio on the movie or TV show). We don't need subtitles describing everything on screen, which can get very distracting after a while.
Netflix today announced that it is introducing a new subtitle option that only shows subtitles for spoken dialogue, aimed at those who don't need captions, but prefer to watch movies and TV shows with the subtitles turned on.
According to Netflix, nearly half of all viewing hours on the streaming service in the U.S. happen with the subtitles or captions on, which is why it is debuting the new setting.
The new option will show subtitles for dialogue, but no audio cues such as [phone buzzing], [door slams], or [fireplace crackling], which are normally shown when closed captioning is turned on. Netflix says the option will be available on new titles that are coming to Netflix, starting with the final season of YOU that launched today.
The dialogue-only subtitle setting can be selected by opening up the language picker when watching a Netflix show and choosing the "English" option. "English CC" will have both dialogue and audio cues as normal.
Going forward, dialogue-only subtitles will be available for all new Netflix originals in every language that Netflix offers in addition to the SDH and CC options.
Article Link: Netflix Debuts Dialogue-Only Subtitles
My favorite subtitle?
[INDISCERNIBLE CHATTER]
And so the cycle continues — the masses catch on to an accessibility feature designed for those who need it, for minor convenience, leading to the people behind that feature to adapt it to the masses instead, making it less convenient for those whom the feature was originally meant for. Happened to subtitles, Back Tap, Siri, high contrast themes, AssistiveTouch, Live Listen…
If you happen to be using an Apple TV, let me tell you AirPods are an incredible solution for this exact issue. If I'm alone, I watch this way even when I don't have to be quiet, just because it sounds so good.
No. This is an additional option alongside existing subtitle formats:
And as far as the rest of the Accessibility features you cite, I'm of the opinion that many things that benefit those with disabilities benefit other people as well.
For instance, ADA code requires lever-style door latches instead of old fashioned doorknobs in public buildings. Turns out those are a big benefit to anyone who has ever needed to open a door while carrying groceries, or to children or older people who might not have as much dexterity or hand strength. Sidewalk ramps benefit not just wheelchair users but also anyone who's ever wheeled a stroller or a cart. Ability is a spectrum, and pretty much everyone will find themselves impaired by something at one point or another. Same principle applies to the features you list.
Apple has always been very conscientious and forward-thinking in this regard and I think that's a good thing all around. No need for gatekeeping here.
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“Enhance Dialogue” on Apple TV has largely fixed this problem.
Effectively overrides the inexplicably-poor mixing of modern content, with no noticeable distortions. This single feature justifies purchase of an Apple TV.
We stream using an Ethernet connection, so no buffering. Have a wired 5.1 sound system with an excellent center channel, and that channel is boosted a bit through the receiver. Nothing wireless. Yet many times it still is impossible to understand what the hell these actors are saying.
Headphones improve this situation, likely because quality over-the-ears compensate for garbage audio mixes by having pronounced mid frequencies next to your head.
Even so, producers, directors, mixers, grips, and the editing room need to do a much better job of dialogue in their production. Boost it more. Ensure backtracks don’t obscure dialogue. And maybe actors need training on how to properly enunciate in their native language. Enunciate. Slow down. Don’t speak when turned away from the mic.
It’s a huge problem.
Headphones improve this situation, likely because quality over-the-ears compensate for garbage audio mixes by having pronounced mid frequencies next to your head.
Even so, producers, directors, mixers, grips, and the editing room need to do a much better job of dialogue in their production. Boost it more. Ensure backtracks don’t obscure dialogue. And maybe actors need training on how to properly enunciate in their native language. Enunciate. Slow down. Don’t speak when turned away from the mic.
It’s a huge problem.
The same thing happens with English productions that were native to begin with. Netflix is the absolute worst out of all the streaming services for truncating or altering subtitles.
English Audio: "You never showed for our date that I had planned."
English Subtitle: "You missed our date."
Drives me crazy. Nothing takes you out of the moment like altered subtitles that barely match the intent of the spoken dialogue. And it's rude to people who are actually deaf. Why shouldn't they get the entire script as intended?
I can't decide if subtitlers are trying to be nice by limiting the characters read or if they're just being lazy. I'm guessing the latter. Pretty much anyone who's moderately literate can read faster than people can speak.
That is weird! I watch everything in English with English subtitles and it's always word for word the same
I always wondered how much benefit this adds for people who are deaf.
The primary effect of music in shows and movies is usually to create an atmosphere or convey certain emotions, but if you have no idea what the song sounds like, how does it help?
I'm not trying to say that it isn't worth the effort or be controversial, I'm generally curious.
Me. I personally hate having them on. It's distracting and pulls me out of the content. If I miss something I can always go back and flip them on for a sec if I want to.
Quick examples, off the top of my head, while watching Netflix last night:
"You" Season 5, Episode 1
≈7:33
Spoken: "They never agreed to divert that much money from their own pockets."
Subtitle: "They never agreed to divert so much from their own pockets."
≈17:13
Spoken: "You're gonna need to be a little more specific."
Subtitle: "You'll have to be a little more specific."
It's a small thing, but it completely takes you out of the moment. Why alter the script? There's plenty of room for all the words. It's either indifference or incompetence. As the audience, it's highly annoying. Were I the producer or writer, I'd be pissed - how dare you alter what I've written?
In my experience, out of all the streaming services, Netflix does this the most often.
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Have to agree with that. The background effects drown out the dialogue and your continually using the volume control. I now use subtitles whenever available.
Right. It should be verbatim, but it's not.
Doesn't matter if it's "Closed Captioning," "Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing," or "Dialogue Only," Netflix is really bad at transcribing spoken words into text.
I agree. It is the sound system that you have[or don't have] connected to your TV. I have a very much more expensive system than you and have none of the audio problems that others have complained about here.
What's worse is that some movie theaters have started showing movies with captions turned on for some screenings. It's unwatchable.
so encode the black bars for 16x9 tvs...
it would add so little to the file size. it doesnt change between frames.
Years ago I read an interview with some musicians and the interviewer asked them how they got their mixes to sound so good.
Answer was mix for the worst possible audio like a tinny radio.
Everything better quality would then sound even better.
Netflix seems to mix for top end soundbars or high end speaker systems.
Sound fine on them.
But on a regular tv it's often horrible and muffled.
So half the viewers turn on subtitles to cope...
Answer was mix for the worst possible audio like a tinny radio.
Everything better quality would then sound even better.
Netflix seems to mix for top end soundbars or high end speaker systems.
Sound fine on them.
But on a regular tv it's often horrible and muffled.
So half the viewers turn on subtitles to cope...
We watch a lot of BBC, and sure for hearing impaired the descriptive subtitles are probably great, but I do it because they can’t put voice loud and clear and despite being a native speaker they’ll have someone speaking softly as a fiat with a busted muffler drives past them, but I don’t need to know that the tune right now is melancholy (often the adjective doesn’t match). When I built my home theater voice was much crisper but I took the time to damp the room per an acoustic analysis, but you can’t fix bad mixes with acoustic treatments, so text is required.