[mike1002]

I have noticed this on the local ABC affiliate that during their primetime run that the audio seems to be out of balance. This is not a one time thing. I noticed it last week and this week as well. The dialog seems to be real soft but the darn laugh track is way too loud. I assume it is the surround sound and they are sending the audio in such a way that it is reproduced on a two channel stereo wrong. Apparently KTRK (13.1) thinks this is right. None of the other channels that I tune to has this problem. When I switch to the analog stream the audio is fine. The darn laugh track is still there but it is in the background like it should be. Anyone else in houston notice this or has everybody moved on to surround and I'm the only dinosaur to still be listening to 2 channel stereo?


Thanks

 

[krboo]

the audio has been out of sync since i can remember. Don't know why they can't fix it.

 

[TrnsplantBuckeye]

has anyone spoken to the houston ABC affiliate to complain? I just got an HDTV and it is just plane annoying!

 

[TrnsplantBuckeye]

sorry i meant plain

 

[mike1002]

Yes, I sent an email to the engineering staff. I never did get a reply. I took that to mean that HD viewers are of little consequence at this point in time. When there are more viewers they might fix it. I have just stopped watching the ABC programming. It drives me nuts when that stupid laugh track is louder than the dialog. It doesn't seem to be too bad on dramas but sitcoms are terrible.

 

[TrnsplantBuckeye]

Do you have an e-mail address that i can use? Maybe if more of us send them complaints they'll do something. We can always hope.

I'm an "old" guy that remembers the problems when the local stations were going "stereo"!!! I was living in Michigan at the time and the mid-Michigan network stations were transmitting stereo - except for the local CBS affililiate WJIM in Lansing. They refused to answer my requests for information. They still have a captive audience. If we want to watch ABC in Houston, we watch it on KTRK's terms - not the customer's terms.

 

[mike1002]

Larry


I just went to their website and sent an email through this form.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/aboutus/


There is also a phone number on that page. Perhaps a phone call to the station would get some kind of response. I will give it a try tomorrow. IF you call too maybe they will conider a groundswell.

Our Phone Number is (713) 666-0713


Good luck.

Mike

 

[[email protected]]

I sent the email even though I haven't seen a sync problem on my set.

 

[mike1002]

Tom


I don't have a problem with sync. The problem is the audio channels are out of balance when played back on a system only using 2 channel stereo. It is especially eggregious when watching a sitcom. The laugh track is way too loud and when you crank the volume down the dialog is then too soft. KTRK is the only channel that seems to have that problem in Houston. As I've said before it may be my being back in the dinosaur age and not listening in 5.1 surround. But why is it ABC is the only channel having that problem?


Mike

 

[TrnsplantBuckeye]

Hi folks,

I just got home from work and found an e-mail from Chuck Primrose, VP and Director of Engineering. "I will check this out. I just received another e-mail from a viewer who reported the same problem."

Alright!!!

I think we all have the same problem. I just walked around the room and the only sound was coming from my right and left front speakers and my subwoofer.

I also sent an e-mail to the "tech guru" on ABC13. Just before I hit send, I noted the URL was for WABC in NY. I sent it anyway.

Larry

 

[[email protected]]

OK, I misunderstood. I haven't been using 5.1 lately (puppy chewed the right speaker wire). Guess they got an email from another viewer anyway.

 

[TrnsplantBuckeye]

I'm happy. This is last word from ABC13's Mr. Primrose, "Not all of our HD programming is produced in 5.1 audio. All local up-converted programming is only stereo. ABC is testing a device that will produce pseudo 5.1 from any source including mono. I am to test this device when it becomes available. " I think they fixed the problem. I hear great 5.1 aaudio on the network programs. The 2-channel audio on local up-converted programming is "unnatural" sounding but at least I understand what is going on. Thanks to all.

 

[mike1002]

Well that's interesting to hear. Earlier this week I cruised by KTRK and saw a bit of 8 Rules and it sounded like the audio was back in balance. I'm still bugged by laugh tracks but at least its good to have it back in proportion to the rest of the audio.


Thanks for the info.

Mike

 

[krboo]

'My Wife and Kids' seems to be the worst. When there is any laughing, you can't hear anything else. We will see on Wednesday if they fixed it.