Re: Dolby 7. Is everybody mixing at this level?
The common answer by the theater managers, when asked why they keep the processor at 5.5 is that the American movies are too loud, and people complain. But since American movies play with subtitles, it is not a big deal if the dialog is too low. The problem arises when domestic movies are played, and the dialog gets lost at this volume (and this is the problem in all 'foreign' language countries.) So, we have this simple solution, and that is, to turn the volume down when mixing. We lose some headroom, but I don't consider it a big deal.
The bitter end, I guess, is in the hands of the English-language mixers, who do work at 7, blowing their heads off on action scenes even with ear-pads, and in the end, their dialog gets played at 4.5, and there is nothing they can do about it.
Can someone chime in - at what level are films played at the Chinese Theatre, or other big venues in LA?
EDIT: I forgot to mention that, off course, I have to printmaster at 7
|