Trying to solve a problem.

[BillR mastering]

I use cable vision for programming. I notice that several channels are imbalanced on everything, some lean pretty far right, others left. I called one of the actual stations, spoke to the engineer and it would seem that my cable provider has ultimate control over the channel balance, for everyone on their system.

We are talking 4 to 6 dB down on some "channels" for one side.

Since confirming that it is not the actual source broadcast stations fault (both with the phone call and the antenna) I chose to contact my cable provider and to no avail. They simply cannot understand what I am talking about. Out of 68 channels, 19 are running "low" on one channel of audio.

I have written 2 emails, made 4 calls and even wrote 2 snail mails.

Nothing.

How do you suppose it best to get hold of these people to tell them of their problem they have?

It would seem no one in my viewing area has complained or cares. Such is life in the good ole' USA.

We are talking the need to crank the balance to 9 o'clock to center the channels or as far as 3'oclock. We are talking all programming, advertisements, network, etc..for 19 different channels.

One would suppose they have racks and racks of compressors (yes everything is heavy compressed, for the second time around) and no one takes the time to check the output of them to see if they are balanced, Left/Right. Even mono programs are leaning.

Any ideas on how to get through to them, the cable provider?
(One snail mail went to the main office in a major city)

I tried to be humble with them as well.

[outlawmws]

If you were not talking to a manager, you won't get anywhere talking to the "talking heads" in the help desk. They are programmed to make it YOUR problem.

If that doesn’t get you someone out to test the bloody signal, I'd contact the City that allows these yoyos to have their monopoly and have them call it in.

[no1maestro]

All I can do is to wish you good luck in trying to get cable providers to listen to anything more difficult or complex than a full failure at your home. My supplier is Charter and I have tried numerous times to get in contact with a technician by phone and in person. Haven't had any luck so far.

I have found some of their repairmen to be aware of the shortcomings in the audio portion of their signal but the usual response is that the company could do better but the general public hasn't complained to a great extent.

I have talked to folks on the phone from Pakistan, Australia, Canada (no offense friends on AK) and all over our country; no real help. I actually asked a person with a highly accented voice which city he was answering from. The answer sounded like "Techsoos" . I just gave up for now!!!

[BillR mastering]

It looks like monopoly situations feel satisfied with "we will do enough to please 80% of the people, the rest can pack sand"

If I could reach one of the engineers and find out where this link of the chain is controlled, perhaps some on the fly calibration could happen.

In the mean time, I need a remote controlled balance knob.. :)

[Face]

My local cable provider does the same thing.

[soundmotor]

I'd contact the City that allows these yoyos to have their monopoly and have them call it in.

Ding!

Most cities love this kind of call as they get to actually feel useful.

[no1maestro]

I wrote my first post on this subject in a hurry and I could have added that I am extremely frustrated with the difference in stereo, mono and , I think, some sort of processed pseudo-stereo effect. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to what comes into my house.

Then there is the all over the spectrum problem of volume levels, loudness levels by limiting I suppose and no obvious attempt to get some compatibility between channels.

I suppose that Joe Six-pack doesn't notice but I think that about 99 and 44/100 percent of the folks I know in here not only notice but share my frustration!!!