PHE Press Release: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (Blu-ray)

Think I must've hit my head or something this morning and picked this up for $20 (for my kid even though he hadn't asked for it yet)   from the nearby street vendor in downtown Manhattan.  Came to my senses, went back and swapped it for the unboxed version of Casablanca instead.  

Figured I'd rather just preorder Harry Potter from Amazon instead (and also throw in a "like new" copy of Pink Panther 2 cheaply to go w/ that).  That should probably make him happy enough me thinks.

And I'm guessing Transformers 2 will likely make it into whatever upcoming crazy BF deals next month anyway (much like last year).  If my kid *really* wants it, I'll see about getting it then instead...

_Man_

Any comments on the quality of the DTS-HD track on the Wal-Mart edition?  The Bits mentioned it had heard of some complaints about the volume and promised to follow up on it, but I haven't heard anything since.  I haven't opened mine in case I want to take it back, but I'd kind of like to watch it this weekend, so any comments would be appreciated.

- Mark

I have read that the track on the Wal-Mart BSE has dial norm applied and therefore you should bump up the volume on your AVR/processor by 4-5 dbs. 
When I first started watching my copy, I noticed that dialogue was lower than normal and even effects and such lacked the pop that I expected. Sure enough, as soon as I increased my volume from -19db to -14db, everything came alive like I expected and I rate it as a reference track.

Casablanca over Transformers 2?!?  Are you daft, Man?!?  Dooley Wilson over Optimus Prime? 

I will not even think to begin a debate over Ingrid Bergman and Megan Fox!    Although everyone wins in that one!  

I choose Ingrid! 

Hahaha...  Well, I can tell you the street vendor was more than happy to swap it for me since their lone(?) copy Casablanca wasn't budging from its spot (for the last several weeks, IIRC), and I'm sure Transformers was selling out like hotcakes for them (as that sort usually does).   I was sorta hoping they would soon give up and knock it down to $15 -- like they tend to w/ catalog titles that don't sell after some time -- but oh well...

_Man_

That first Fox photo looks like Olivia Wilde.

So the only thing "wrong" with this is that the volume is slightly lower than some other titles?  And all one has to do to "correct" it is "turn it up"?  And some people consider this a "flaw"?  Yikes....

Anyway, thanks for your response, Jason.  I went ahead and started watching it --  I think it looks and sounds great.  I do have one quick question, though, and please excuse my ignorance -- could you tell me what "dial norm" is?

- Mark

Depending on the system, some people may not be able to turn it up. I don't know about this disc in particular, but some require me to put my TV at about 90% of max level to get a reasonable volume; if this is mastered even quieter than those, it may be basically unwatchable.

Point taken, Andrew.  I know the Star Trek - Original Series Blu-rays received similar criticism for a low volume level, but I didn't think the Wal-Mart Transformers disc was nearly as "bad" as those.

- Mark

Ok.  It seems all forums on TF2 are obsessed with the sound levels between Imax and non-Imax versions.  I can't comment on it since I only have the Imax version - and it sounds awesome!

But has anyone unlocked the secret easter egg in the AllSpark Experiment on Disc 2? You have to first unlock the fifth vehicle and then choose the right configuration for it to unlock a video or something about TF3. This doesn't require HD audio.   Anyone tried?

I wouldn't even consider the dialnorm problem a problem. I think the regular disc is too loud, because I have to turn my receiver knob further down than most titles. Don't live near a W-M but if I'm ever near one I'll probably pick this one up...

I bought my copy at Target, no issues with it at all. Plays perfectly and the volume level is perfect. This has seriously bad-ass audio.

Would somebody be kind enough to explain to me what "dialnorm" is?  Thanks in advance.

- Mark

From what I understand "Dialnorm" stands for dialog normalization. I believe it is a system implemented by Dolby Labs to help even out audio levels so that dialogue levels will maintain consistency with peak audio levels in the rest of a particular soundtrack. I believe it was intended to prevent the problem of dialogue sounding too soft, followed by other audio being too loud. Instead of a person cranking up the audio for dialogue and then rushing to crank it down for audio at higher peak levels, Dialnorm essentially automates the process by creating an average audio level between the quietest section (dialogue) and the loudest peak level (everything else). That is how I understand it; however, if I have gotten it wrong someone can correct me.

The problem with dialnorm is that it apparently results in overcompression of the dynamic range, so some of the higher frequencies get lost in the attempt to normalize dialogue levels with higher peak levels. The thing is is that dialnorm is a Dolby Labs spec. If T2 uses DTS HD MA, I can't see how dialnorm would be the problem with low audio levels since DTS doesn't use dialnorm.

Also, it sounds like dialnorm was actually developed as a standard for broadcast audio. It sounds like it was intended to solve problems with audio level changes from broadcaster to broadcaster.

OK, I'll correct you.

Dialnorm does stand for "dialog normalization", but what you're describing there isn't it. That description better fits "dynamic range compression", which, unlike dialnorm, can always be switched off. A lot of people confuse the two, and a lot of people who rail against the supposed evils of dialnorm are complaining about issues that have nothing to do with it.

Dialnorm is simply a setting within the DD bitstream that instructs the decoder to raise or lower the total volume -- let me repeat that: the TOTAL volume -- by a designated number of decibels. It does not, in any way, alter the relative levels of various elements within the mix. Peaks are not lowered, nor is the volume of dialog elevated with respect to other elements. The entire volume is either raised or lowered, and that's it.

Why would anyone want this setting? You already gave the answer:


That's what dialnorm was designed for, and it's for this reason that some sound designers (notably Larry Blake, who oversees all of Steven Soderbergh's films) have argued that dialnorm should be set to neutral on media like DVD, where the purpose for which the setting was created simply doesn't apply. In practice, though, most DD tracks have a dialnorm setting that is typically the default on various Dolby encoders, which is technically known as -27DBFS (= decibels below full scale). This results in telling the decoder to lower the playback volume by 4db. With very few exceptions, most DD tracks I check have this setting.

Is dialnorm defeatable? Yes and no. Denon used to offer a few receivers where you could switch off dialnorm, but that put them out of compliance with the DD spec and raised a question of whether they could carry the Dolby logo. So that feature disappeared. But dialnorm has always been defeatable by a feature available on all receivers and pre-pros. It's generally known as the volume knob.

(Note: Some people have tried, from time to time, to construct elaborate pseudo-scientific-sounding arguments about how a volume reduction instituted by dialnorm actually introduces distortion in the digital decoding because of . . . well, it never does make much sense. I sometimes listen politely, then move on with the business of life.)

  No problem. I was totally off the mark as far as what it does. I did look up dialnorm on google before posting, but I found the explanations to be like Greek to me and obviously I misinterpreted the explanation. Well, at least the fellow who asked about it now has the correct answer.....along with myself of course.