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.
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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
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.I have it on so I don’t wake kids up so I’d still want traditional subtitles.
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…
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.
“Enhance Dialogue” on Apple TV has largely fixed this problem.Most people use them because modern films/shows are mixed terribly - if they do any mixing it's for 7 channel+ and as a result they sound like crap on anything else - dialogue mixed too low and effects too high.
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.In Germany it’s even worse. The subtitles don’t match what is being said and it’s like from a different script or something with the sentences being shortened.
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.
Good idea! I’ll give them a tryIf 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.
I like when they write the name of the song and the artist beforehand too.
[“Here Comes Yet Another Day” by The Kinks plays]
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.Wow, there are really people watching the TV without subtitles? How is that possible to catch every word? The majority of the sound tracks are not crisp clear enough.
Quick examples, off the top of my head, while watching Netflix last night:That is weird! I watch everything in English with English subtitles and it's always word for word the same
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?
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.Most people use them because modern films/shows are mixed terribly - if they do any mixing it's for 7 channel+ and as a result they sound like crap on anything else - dialogue mixed too low and effects too high.
Right. It should be verbatim, but it's not.Prior to this you could select English CC, it’s should be 1:1.
Kids wake me.I have it on so I don’t wake kids up so I’d still want traditional subtitles.
I would of thought most people would have same use case
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.I’m sure I’m a minority, but if you have at least 3 speakers where one is center, you can up the volume out of that single speaker.
I use an $80 used stereo/receiver and 3 speakers that cost $250 total. Not a small investment, but voices aside, it’s a big improvement in sound.
What's worse is that some movie theaters have started showing movies with captions turned on for some screenings. It's unwatchable.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.
so encode the black bars for 16x9 tvs...those black bars top and bottom are not part of the video stream. subtitles can only be place within the actual video stream.
I don't have Netflix and I hope other streaming services (including Netflix) don't get lazy drop CC and use English subtitles instead. I am Deaf and need them 100%.
In UK subtitles is only thing we have and it is same as Closed Captions. So in UK based streaming like BBC iPlayer it will call it subtitles and it will be same as Closed Captions. Most streaming services are USA or international so will have Closed Captions AND subtitles, I will always pick CC option.