Automatic Volume Control

NovaScotian · 12-06-2012, 03:56 PM

Most radios and some TVs have an AVC circuit in their audio path that squelches sudden changes in volume. Not something an audiophile wants, obviously, but I wish my iMac had one I could turn on when I'm not listening to music so I'd be spared the sudden blasts of the advertising video that leads some news videos. Usually, I just click on Command-W and don't go back to any ad (or typically the site) that blasts me.

Just a thought.

macosnoob · 12-06-2012, 06:42 PM

Here's a fellow--Stephen Adams (end of thread)--with a solution of sorts: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3822710 . Seems a lot of work for limited return, but it does appear to be possible to patch something together.

NovaScotian · 12-06-2012, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the link. I thought it was a shot in the dark and that article makes it clear that it is because you'd really have to post process all video to do it. I'm just interested in taming the occasional ad that roars out.

trevor · 12-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Any decent compressor/limiter (whether hardware, connected between your Mac and your external powered speakers if that's what you have, or software, patched in to the internal audio 'chain') can be set up as an automatic gain control. It may require some knowledge of what the compressor settings mean, but it can certainly be done.

Trevor

NovaScotian · 12-07-2012, 10:24 AM

An external compressor/limiter in series with my external speakers would be ideal. I'll look for one. Thanks, trevor.

12-06-2012, 03:56 PM	#1
NovaScotian Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 4,945	Automatic Volume Control Most radios and some TVs have an AVC circuit in their audio path that squelches sudden changes in volume. Not something an audiophile wants, obviously, but I wish my iMac had one I could turn on when I'm not listening to music so I'd be spared the sudden blasts of the advertising video that leads some news videos. Usually, I just click on Command-W and don't go back to any ad (or typically the site) that blasts me. Just a thought. __________________ 17" MBP, OS X 10.8.3; 27" iMac, OS X 10.8.3

12-06-2012, 07:40 PM	#3
NovaScotian Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 4,945	Thanks for the link. I thought it was a shot in the dark and that article makes it clear that it is because you'd really have to post process all video to do it. I'm just interested in taming the occasional ad that roars out. __________________ 17" MBP, OS X 10.8.3; 27" iMac, OS X 10.8.3

12-07-2012, 10:19 AM	#4
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,549	Any decent compressor/limiter (whether hardware, connected between your Mac and your external powered speakers if that's what you have, or software, patched in to the internal audio 'chain') can be set up as an automatic gain control. It may require some knowledge of what the compressor settings mean, but it can certainly be done. Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way

12-07-2012, 10:24 AM	#5
NovaScotian Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 4,945	An external compressor/limiter in series with my external speakers would be ideal. I'll look for one. Thanks, trevor. __________________ 17" MBP, OS X 10.8.3; 27" iMac, OS X 10.8.3

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12-06-2012, 06:42 PM	#2
macosnoob MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,751	Here's a fellow--Stephen Adams (end of thread)--with a solution of sorts: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3822710 . Seems a lot of work for limited return, but it does appear to be possible to patch something together.