ROD the TV audio issue

[jriems]

I didn't see anything posted about this yet so figured I'd take a stab at it.

I just got done watching ROD the TV volume 1, region 1 release (loved it, by the way), and something bugged me about the DD 5.1 audio tracks right from the start (both Japanese and English). The L/R balance seems very off pretty much throughout, with the front right channel seeming considerably quieter than the left, especially with the music.

Did anyone else with a good 5.1 setup notice this? It's especially apparent on the ED song, where the vocals are definitely situated left of center.

Also, I noticed in a few scenes some surround effects were backwards -- a car moving from right to left across the screen, but the sound moving from left to right; Anita running to jump on the bed from the left, but her footsteps audible on the right, etc.

While this isn't something that will make me burn the DVD, it is very distracting and frustrating -- at least to me. I also know it's not a problem with my home theatre setup, as it has the same problems when played on my computer system.

Anyone else care to check and report back? I hate to think it's just me. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Piccol0z]

When I watched ROD TV a few days ago, I didn't really notice anything, but the audio did sound a little lower than most DD5.1 DVDs I thought. I would go check right now but my DVD is over a friends house /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif . I'll try and get it later and check to see if it to has the problems you have with your disc. This would suck if mine too is bad /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif.

I just spot-checked my copy and it seemed fine to me. Didn't notice anything by ear and there weren't any abnormalities when examining the L/R input levels in AC3Filter either.

[animeman]

I played my copy and I experinced the same situation until I switched the audio to standard surround instead of dynamic on my Sony player. Very minor.

[NefCanuck]

No issues that I could detect on my setup (Kenwood VR-507 DD 5.1 receiver) However on a friends setup which is an Altec Lansing ProLogic rig the background audio nearly washed away the dialogue /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

This is one disc where I think the audio track is very finicky about the type of system that it is played on (If that makes any sense at all /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif)

NefCanuck

[I5y2mGC0]

"It's especially apparent on the ED song, where the vocals are definitely situated left of center."

So far, I've only noticed this once in the four episodes.

Other than that, no problems.

I hope Geneon releases more titles in DD 5.1.

[demonanya]

I watched this disc today and didn't notice any problems with the audio. I listen via my Videologic DTS speaker setup which is connected to my DVD player via coxial lead. All the speech was coming out of the centre speaker as it should.

[jriems]

[ QUOTE ]
Demonanya said:
I watched this disc today and didn't notice any problems with the audio. I listen via my Videologic DTS speaker setup which is connected to my DVD player via coxial lead. All the speech was coming out of the centre speaker as it should.

[/ QUOTE ]

The center channel isn't the problem -- all the dialog is anchored correctly to the center channel. What's off is the L/R balance for the background music, mainly. Try temporarily disconnecting the center channel, close your eyes, and tell me if the sound seems skewed left-channel-heavy.

Also, no one has commented on the sound FX flops I mentioned. In episode 3, I think, when Anita is chasing after Nenene there's a scene where she's stopped at a crosswalk, and two cars go by. The directional tracking is definitely backwards, as the car going left to right has sound going right to left, and vice versa.

I've watched the disc a couple more times, and the L/R channel balance seems to even out over the last couple episodes a bit, getting less out of whack.

Anyway, I know it's not my home theatre setup, as I said, because I get the same problems on my computer setup. Other DD 5.1 discs test perfectly.

Weird.

[jriems]

[ QUOTE ]
NefCanuck said:
No issues that I could detect on my setup (Kenwood VR-507 DD 5.1 receiver) However on a friends setup which is an Altec Lansing ProLogic rig the background audio nearly washed away the dialogue /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

This is one disc where I think the audio track is very finicky about the type of system that it is played on (If that makes any sense at all /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif)

NefCanuck

[/ QUOTE ]

A fellow Kenwood-ian. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif. My setup uses a VR-407 model with a Toshiba SD-4900 DVD player, and an NHT speaker setup (NHT 1.1's for L/R, NHT Super-Zeroes for center and surround L/R, NHT SW2-P powered Sub for LFE). I don't have any problems whatsoever with other DD 5.1 or DTS discs, but there's definitely something off with this one. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[NefCanuck]

[ QUOTE ]
Horatio Hellpop said:
A fellow Kenwood-ian. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif. My setup uses a VR-407 model with a Toshiba SD-4900 DVD player, and an NHT speaker setup (NHT 1.1's for L/R, NHT Super-Zeroes for center and surround L/R, NHT SW2-P powered Sub for LFE). I don't have any problems whatsoever with other DD 5.1 or DTS discs, but there's definitely something off with this one. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh, so you noticed problems on your setup then? Question, does your receiver offer the option of setting what mode each input defaults to? (I've set my CD/DVD input to Digital-Manual to resolve an earlier issue with my DVD players digital coax output) I'm wondering if ROD TV does something off the DD 5.1 spec that some receivers can't cope with automatically?

I see you bought some nice speakers... I bought the Kenwood HTB system at the time that included the VR-507, so far I haven't seen any reason to upgrade the speakers or the sub yet, making that $800 investment three years ago worth every penny /images/graemlins/wink.gif

NefCanuck

[jriems]

[ QUOTE ]
NefCanuck said:
Heh, so you noticed problems on your setup then? Question, does your receiver offer the option of setting what mode each input defaults to? (I've set my CD/DVD input to Digital-Manual to resolve an earlier issue with my DVD players digital coax output) I'm wondering if ROD TV does something off the DD 5.1 spec that some receivers can't cope with automatically?

I see you bought some nice speakers... I bought the Kenwood HTB system at the time that included the VR-507, so far I haven't seen any reason to upgrade the speakers or the sub yet, making that $800 investment three years ago worth every penny /images/graemlins/wink.gif
NefCanuck

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, definitely notice the problem on my setup -- the problem is not WITH my setup, but I definitely notice the problems (seeing as I am the thread-starter). /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

The 5.1 analog inputs into my 407 from the 4900 DVD Player are active, as well as the digital inputs. I've tried setting the Input Mode on the receiver to digital-auto, digital-manual, and analog, and the problem shows up all three ways (I have the analog inputs set up because the 4900 is a DVD-Audio player, and requires the analog 5.1 setup).

Anyway, I'm convinced the audio is messed up on the disc based on all the tests I've run.

My buddy bought the 407 HTB system, and is also very happy with the speakers. /images/graemlins/happy.gif