If you work in the film industry you will see comments like this online often, and with lots of people agreeing. While youtube influencers have made endless videos with claims that cannot be substantiated, the absolute worst is that somehow director “don’t care” or “don’t want the audience to hear the dialogue”. I can assure you, the writers, director, editor, actors, dialogue editor, and rerecording mixers would all disagree. And pointing to an edgy example such as Christopher Nolan is not the ‘hot take’ people might think it is – the guys only made 17 films in total. Its not COVID, it doesn’t spread by proximity.

Why the issue exists is not easily solved, because there are no standards in home listening…. But I do have a theory which could help narrow down the source of the problem for many and point them towards how to improve their own specific issues. A streaming company such as Netflix or Disney etc could easily choose to help their audience have a better sonic experience with one simple process:

Release a free app for iOS and Android. It could have a dumb populist name like:
MAKE MOVIES SOUND GREAT AGAIN

How it would work:

1. You put your phone down in the same spot you sit when watching a movie.
You launch the app and choose your setup: stereo, 5.1 etc
The app then starts listening

2. You view a short video (which has the same name) on the streaming platform.
The video has a short burst of noise at the start, which cues the app to start monitoring.
The video then plays pink noise and the app listens and indicates to the user if their TV is at a correct overall level.

3. The video then plays a sweep from 20Hz to 20kHz, while the app listens.

Some analysis then occurs and a result is shared, as to how close to accurate playback your system has.

A quick version of this process could be done in a few minutes.
If you have a 5.1 system and each speaker is tested individually it might take 5 minutes.

I’ve calibrated my own studio plenty of times following the same process, except using a hardware SPL meter.
Similarly I’ve calibrated my own Mac screens plenty of times following the same process, except using a Spyder X meter.

So for all of my learned pro audio people, where is this idea flawed?

– First would be that phone microphones are not calibration mics with perfectly flat response.
But how much of an issue is that, compared with the current option of most people doing nothing & complaining?
Lets say the mic is only 80% accurate. OK well lets get people 80% calibrated. Because 80% would be better than none at all.

– Second is that we might find out that some/many ‘sound bars’ are inaccurate sub par pieces of shit.

Currently, listening to TV or a movie via streaming is not a closed loop.
Currently there is only an unreliable human in the open loop and their data can’t be trusted.
Thats not their fault. The fault lies with the companies who take the $$$ and dont help with delivery.
Its a bit like FedEx saying ‘well, we delivered the package somewhere near your house… so good luck with that’

Actually it doesn’t need to be Netflix or Disney who make the app, but having their branding on it would add to legitimacy and also would show they care about the issue… Do they care? Or is it all care & no responsibility. Maybe an indie dev could make it. Put AI in the title and access some VC?

I did a quick search & a Reddit thread turned up a few paid phone app options from musicians wanting to calibrate their studio speakers.

But I think such an app needs to be free, so there is no friction to using it.