Why Subtitles Are a Must: Fans Reveal Frustrating Audio Issues in Movies and TV

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Discussions about lesser-impact topics in contemporary entertainment often focus on the inclusion of subtitles. Here, we’re not delving into the “subtitles vs. dubbed dialogue” debate when watching foreign films and anime, nor are we discussing whether non-English characters require on-screen translations for their dialogues. Instead, this conversation centers around the question of whether subtitles are beneficial in addressing audio issues that can arise in current TV shows and movies.

For example, while enjoying an action movie at night, you might find yourself stuck between leaning back to immerse in the experience and clutching the remote due to overpowering engine noises and explosions that are too loud compared to the dialogue, creating a constant fluctuation. This issue seems to be more prevalent in the streaming age. It’s not just streaming content that’s causing this problem, though. Fans of movies and TV shows expressed their frustration about audio balance in a lively Reddit discussion, and I found myself nodding in agreement with many of their complaints.

One significant issue that often deserves criticism is poor audio balancing, particularly when the extreme sounds aren’t properly balanced. For instance, consider these comments:

1. Poorly balanced sound levels are a common flaw in this piece, with some sounds being too loud and others too soft.
2. The mixing here seems to favor certain frequencies over others, making the overall sound unbalanced and less engaging.
3. This production lacks a good balance between the highs, mids, and lows, resulting in an uneven listening experience.

  • The sound mixing on alot of stuff is just so out of whack that you need it to hear characters without blasting sound effects and music in your living room – @cantstoptheCOLEtrain
  • Me and my partner do it as well. The audio in films and TV can be so varying it gets annoying, the voices are really quiet, and then you get loud explosions and gunfire, at least with subtitles you can pick up whatever you might have missed without wondering what the fuck was just said. – @Jirachi720
  • I use them because movies and television have decided that extreme volume changes are good – so this way I can keep volume settings lower, not get my ears blasted out by ignorant Hollywood producers and still follow the show. – @zgrizz
  • I feel like the background noise is so loud on films and programmes these days that I can’t hear what they’re saying. Also, I’m usually eating crisps and can’t hear anything over that – @legomonsteruk

In simpler terms, it’s not surprising if some people say they use subtitles because they appreciate language, but for most individuals, the main reason is often due to volume issues – either the loud parts are excessively loud or the quiet parts are too quiet. Some have also mentioned that using subtitles can aid in understanding American slang and casual speech, especially if English isn’t their first language.

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It’s unfortunate when crucial expository dialogue occurs in space scenes, as any sound effects will inevitably be heard due to the absence of other sounds. This is a common issue in movies and TV shows, where the score can become excessively loud, even when there are no competing soundscapes. The audio balance in Christopher Nolan’s film ‘Interstellar’ was particularly criticized by many viewers, including those who aren’t audiophiles, and ‘Tenet’ has received similar complaints.

Not only action-packed or suspenseful films benefit from subtitles, comedies too have reached a level where original audio and re-recorded dialogues may unintentionally overshadow humor and the rhythm of jokes. This is something that a few viewers have pointed out in their comments.

  • Subtitles don’t just help with horrible sound mixing, they help me remember all the character’s names better and catch jokes or details you can barely hear or understand. – @macdennism
  •  Subtitles actually give more direct clues as to who is speaking let alone understanding what the heck they actually blurted out – @bluebirdisreal

Occasionally, viewers may notice instances in television shows and films where a character’s actions or words are implied without explicitly showing who is involved. In such scenarios, captions can prove beneficial, resolving ambiguity even if they might inadvertently reveal plot points. However, there are situations when the subtitles may be incorrect, like when Netflix subtitles erroneously referred to Jerome Valeska as “Joker” several times in a Season 4 episode of Gotham.

At times, character-specific subtitles can be useful in rectifying a misconception that someone has clung to for far too long, as shown humorously in this dialogue:

But sometimes, specific captions for characters can aid in setting right a belief that’s been held on to for an extended period, as humorously demonstrated here:

In both instances, the meaning remains consistent while the language has been slightly adjusted for variety and clarity.

  • I remember the first time I watched Land Before Time with subtitles and realized the triceratops was named CERA not Sarah. – @KittenVicious
  • Ok you just blew my mind! I always thought it was Sarah!🤯🤯 – @mimi082388

In a way reminiscent of viewer grievances about the dim lighting in shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon (and many others), some viewers find themselves needing to adjust their TV brightness because the scenes can be too dark for them to clearly see what’s happening on screen. Add complaints about audio issues, and it’s surprising that these episodes manage to air without producers taking viewer backlash into account.

To wrap up: It’s not only you experiencing the issue. Everyone is struggling with it, and we all find it frustrating. Hollywood, the responsibility lies heavily on your side regarding this loud noise issue.

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2025-01-29 23:38