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Question for you all regarding audio description in TV and film (self.Blind)
submitted by Celamuis
I work doing audio description for television and movies. Assuming that you use this option when consuming this media, what sort of things, if any, drive you crazy or do you wish were done maybe a little differently in the audio description to make your experience better.
I'm genuinely curious. Thanks for any responses.
I'm genuinely curious. Thanks for any responses.
avnv2201 7 points 2y ago
Thanks dude, audio desc really makes my life awesome.
When an the audio starts, real volume of movie is decreased, which I dont like. Other than that its an awesome experience getting that much detail.
Thanks a lot
When an the audio starts, real volume of movie is decreased, which I dont like. Other than that its an awesome experience getting that much detail.
Thanks a lot
meeowth 5 points 2y ago
I think they are pretty good, I enjoy the ones on Netflix. Like listening to an audiobook.
snow671 3 points 2y ago
Stranger Things was so good!
[deleted] 4 points 2y ago
I just had a Redditor message me a list of Netflix shows that have Audio description!! Let me get back to you on this lol. I’m about to binge.
LyingSlider7 2 points 2y ago
Hey you mind messaging that list to me
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
Oh I’ll definitely message it to you! On it!
Marconius 3 points 2y ago
The thing I hate the most is when AD is provided in a vastly inferior audio mix than the original show audio. If a movie or show has 5.1 surround-sound audio, a lot of show houses will crush the audio description into 2.0 stereo which absolutely sucks when you have a 5.1 setup for a home theater. Case in point, all Marvel blu-ray discs have AD done in shitty stereo because the movie house added AD in the last minute and didn't give the master sound mixers the AD track to incorporate into the center channel. The house gives the AD vendor a stereo crushed mix for them to work with for ducking and timing, then that's all the AD vendor can send back for final release.
Netflix and Amazon have solved this issue, but HBO Max and Disney still have 2.0 stereo AD which sucks. Most TV broadcast shows with description have it play through the SAP channel, and that gets crushed to 2.0 stereo when the main channel has surround sound. It doesn't make any sense as to why AD should be downgraded so much when those of us who need it benefit the most from high-quality and immersive audio experiences. It's exactly like forcing sighted people to watch standard definition video on an UltraHD 4K display without upscaling and thinking that's just good enough.
As for audio ducking when the description track is being narrated, that's really important to be able to hear and understand AD in loud moments. However, more care should be taken and standards developed to make sure the ducking doesn't vary wildly between content. A basic -5db duck should be adopted for all AD.
Netflix and Amazon have solved this issue, but HBO Max and Disney still have 2.0 stereo AD which sucks. Most TV broadcast shows with description have it play through the SAP channel, and that gets crushed to 2.0 stereo when the main channel has surround sound. It doesn't make any sense as to why AD should be downgraded so much when those of us who need it benefit the most from high-quality and immersive audio experiences. It's exactly like forcing sighted people to watch standard definition video on an UltraHD 4K display without upscaling and thinking that's just good enough.
As for audio ducking when the description track is being narrated, that's really important to be able to hear and understand AD in loud moments. However, more care should be taken and standards developed to make sure the ducking doesn't vary wildly between content. A basic -5db duck should be adopted for all AD.
retrolental_morose 4 points 2y ago
AD opens TV and film tremendously, but I wish it was possible to separate it from the host device. I'd use it so much more in group settings, with sighted friends and family etc if there was a reliable, universal app that could play me AD in an earpiece.
RollForParadise 2 points 2y ago
Yes! Both of these comments are exactly what I want.
Also, include as much detail as possible! An example of this is gravity falls. when I could see, I absolutely loved all of the hidden details in the background. Describe different logos, and what happens to them, for example I didn’t know that the Transformers logo moved together like a bunch of different mechanical parts! or if text is stylized, Like if the words come out of flames for example. All of this is really fun and helps me get as much of the movie experience as I can.
Getting back to gravity falls, even the end credits had a cipher that the fandom had to figure out…
So making sure all of these things are accessible for us is very important in order to be included in the community! I want to be hyped and feel smart for solving secret background mysteries as well :-)
Also, include as much detail as possible! An example of this is gravity falls. when I could see, I absolutely loved all of the hidden details in the background. Describe different logos, and what happens to them, for example I didn’t know that the Transformers logo moved together like a bunch of different mechanical parts! or if text is stylized, Like if the words come out of flames for example. All of this is really fun and helps me get as much of the movie experience as I can.
Getting back to gravity falls, even the end credits had a cipher that the fandom had to figure out…
So making sure all of these things are accessible for us is very important in order to be included in the community! I want to be hyped and feel smart for solving secret background mysteries as well :-)
SightlessBastard 1 points 2y ago
Absolutely agree to the issue regarding the downmixing of the AD-Track. I think, it should become standard, that the format of the AD-Track equals the format of the original track.
Also, please, no TTS-Voices as narrators. It just doesn’t sound right. I listened to an AD.Track, that was narrated by a TTS-voice once, and it just sounded horrible. So, please, no TTS-voices.
Also, please, no TTS-Voices as narrators. It just doesn’t sound right. I listened to an AD.Track, that was narrated by a TTS-voice once, and it just sounded horrible. So, please, no TTS-voices.
Dark_Lord_Mark 1 points 2y ago
I think the extra loud audio docking drop out is profound on some films I’ve seen. I also think that sometimes not enough as described, for example the blues Brothers audio description is so light that I don’t even know why they bother. Other times especially more recent Pixar cartoons has so much description that I literally fall asleep watching the movies because it’s nothing but description going on. I don’t know if you can do anything about that after all movies like there are so many jokes and physical activities and actions going on that are significant that you wouldn’t understand the movie at all without an extensive audio description track. It just gets overwhelming. The movie inside out in particular was bombastic and hard to watch with audio description. I also think it’s hilarious when they describe the movie company‘s logo at the beginning. Honestly who cares about that. Well I mean besides the people who work for the movie company. Another thing is when you watch British shows which use British parlance it gets a bit distracting. I told that the rubbish Laurie is driving down the street takes me out of the movie. American and British English are sufficiently different enough that it would be good to have separate audio tracks for each group. I just wish there was some sort of finding model that could get movies from my youth created with audio description. I know Netflix had an Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the lost Ark with audio description on their channel and it was fantastically fun.
VicDumb 1 points 2y ago
Not a big deal, but when subtitles are being read for dialogue spoken in a different language, I could do without the different voices reading them. Just give me the voice I’m used to and I’m happy. It’s not even really that serious, it just takes me out of whatever I’m watching. It’s also confusing. The voiceover is already talking over the actor, having it being done in a different voice just kinda adds to the confusion. Not all audio description companies do it, but I’ve seen it done a couple times on Netflix..
retrolental_morose 2 points 2y ago
I like the voices for subtitles, they are an immediate indicator that the sighted audience sees that text as well. It's always bugged me that you only get it for subtitles, though, rather than all onscreen text. So the regular describer will read captions, but a different voice may come in for subtitles. I suppose the inconsistency of a different approach bugs me a little.
I also use this technique when having my screen reader do fiction; I'll have quoted text in a book in a different voice to the flow of a book's narrative.
I also use this technique when having my screen reader do fiction; I'll have quoted text in a book in a different voice to the flow of a book's narrative.
oncenightvaler 1 points 2y ago
Actually I disagree with you, it gives me more clarity of who is speaking if I get multiple subtitle voices I thought that that was a neat innovation.
blindbat84 1 points 2y ago
Slightly less audio ducking of the actual content. It is always just a hair too much. I wish I had a good example to give where it was all right.
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