Revisiting Music Louder Option :-)

M

Mary White

Active Member
I'm thrilled that you'll be able to film in August! I'm sure the end result will be well worth the wait :).

It appears from your announcement that many of the 'details' have been worked out prior to filming. Has a desision been made concerning the Music Lounder option?

Thanks, Cathe!, I am looking VERY forward to the new workouts! Woohoo!
 
That would be nice.

Though I've personally found that the music in the Intensity Series, for example, was loud enough as is, while the "normal' music selection in the Body Blast series seemed "not loud enough."

I'd be happy with the volume of music as in the Intensities (maybe easier to do if the music is instrumental and not vocal? so there isn't a conflict between two voices.)
 
Improving the quality of our DVDs is something we are constantly trying to do. Our biggest investment in both time and money during the last year has been spent on finding ways to improve the sound quality of our DVDs.

I’m personally not a fan of the music louder option we used in the Body Blast series as it means we have to push the music into the “red zone” and this causes distortion. I feel a better solution is to make sure to get the music and vocal ratio just right and perfectly consistent throughout the workout. To accomplish this there are several areas we’re going to improve for this round of DVDs.

First, we have worked with acoustic engineers to improve and perfect the acoustics in our studio. We have added over 10,000 sq ft of acoustical wall and ceiling treatments to make sure our studio is as acoustically perfect as it can be.

Second, we’re probably going to change the type of microphone Cathe uses. Normally, Cathe wears a lapel mike that is clipped to her chest. Visually this is the best type of microphone to use, but since its distance to Cathe’s mouth constantly changes you don’t have consistency in Cathe’s voice level throughout a workout. As an extreme example, listen to Cathe’s voice while she does an ab crunch or stretch with her head toward the ground and you will see what I mean. Instead we plan on using a “Broadway” microphone for this round of DVDs which is a thin clear wire that will run along the side of Cathe’s face. Since the distance is fixed between Cathe’s mouth and the microphone we should get a perfectly consistent vocal level throughout the workout. This is important because the music loudness is tied to the vocal loudness. We still have to test all of this, but as of now this is what we're planning.

Finally, we’re going to run every video through its own separate edit session with an audio engineer specialist to analyze and correct every frame of the video. This is something we’ve never done before and should make a big difference in the sound quality of our DVDs.

I’m still curious to know if you would still like the music louder feature, or if you really are just looking for that sound to be as perfect as possible.
 
I use the music louder option a lot on the intensity DVDs, but I must say it was not something that I could use when I was first learning them because it does make it hard to hear cues(especially when kids, dogs, husbands yack at you:( ). After I knew the videos, I liked it quite a bit, except some of them don't work realy well.

The Hardcore definately had a different sound, but my batch was not a bad sound, just the music was softer. Other videos I have by other instructors have comparable sound. One comment my husband made when he was working out with me to the Hardcores, was he was glad the music was softer. He was getting back into fitness and really needed to hear the form pointers on the weight lifting.

What your are investigating sounds very good. If there is a music louder option, I would probably use it, but if not, I just want good sound, and to be able to hear the cues clearly.
 
I actually use the music louder option when available- especially after I have ran through the routine a few times. It is a nice feature, and I hope you will use it in the future; however, if this feature messes up the quality (which I didn't notice on the BodyBlast series) then it is not necessary to incorporate. I do, however, hope that the music will be loud enough to hear. I think Cathe's production has come a long way and by far is the best on the market (especially since the CTX series). Thanks for continuing to improve this, as well as listen to our suggestions. :)
 
>I use the music louder option a lot on the intensity DVDs,


The Body Blast DVD's were the only ones that had the "music louder" option.
 
I "thought" I was a fan of the music louder option, but what you guys are looking into sounds good. I just want the music to be nice and loud. What I DO like about the music louder option was that once I learned the workouts Cathe's voice and cue's were softer and I could just focus on the louder music. But all in all, I have no MAJOR complaints about any of your series(would LOVE to blast the music in Imax 3)...everyone of them is head and shoulders above anyone else I own or I've seen. Others are improving in this area though.
Angela:7
 
I really like the music louder option. That said, SNM I think your input was informative and it would probably be the better way to go. Let's move forward instead of back. I just enjoy the workout more when the music is loud. Now this wouldn't happen if you used lousy music :7 .

Thanks for the input & opportunity to give feedback,
jordan
 
It is very interesting to read about all the details around production you posted. I never use the music louder feature. I have found the hardcore series music to be a little too quiet. Just my 2 cents.
Heather
 
It is very interesting to read about all the details around production you posted. I never use the music louder feature. I have found the hardcore series music to be a little too quiet. Just my 2 cents.
Heather
 
>>I use the music louder option a lot on the intensity DVDs,
>
>
>The Body Blast DVD's were the only ones that had the "music
>louder" option.


My bad, you are right. I am getting old and getting my series mixed up.....<wandering of muttering like an old senile woman> :p
 
>>I use the music louder option a lot on the intensity DVDs,
>
>
>The Body Blast DVD's were the only ones that had the "music
>louder" option.


My bad, you are right. I am getting old and getting my series mixed up.....<wandering of muttering like an old senile woman> :p
 
I don't want the music louder option. I want the sound in perfect pitch and it makes a difference coming through speakers. I know what you mean about the distortion on the BB Series, if you crank the sound up you can hear it. Crystal clear, is what I am looking for. Because if it is that, the music will rock anyway.
 
I don't want the music louder option. I want the sound in perfect pitch and it makes a difference coming through speakers. I know what you mean about the distortion on the BB Series, if you crank the sound up you can hear it. Crystal clear, is what I am looking for. Because if it is that, the music will rock anyway.
 
I have found Hardcore Series to be a little quiet as well. I like the sound of the Intensity Series. Personally, The Intensity Series got everything perfect :)
 
I have found Hardcore Series to be a little quiet as well. I like the sound of the Intensity Series. Personally, The Intensity Series got everything perfect :)
 
I don't use the "music louder" option, even for workouts that I'm somewhat familiar with. I guess I've come to rely on more audible instruction/coaching. That said, I do think that the music in the Hardcore Series could have been louder. It sounds to me that the improvements you're making will be enough to really improve my sound experience. Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm thinking that an improved "standard" sound experience is better than a mediocre sound experience that comes with a sound improvement option (e.g., the music louder option). Just my 2 cents.:)
-Kate
 
Thank you for all that info, and your efforts to have the best quality possible. We really value it. I personally always use the music louder option, when available, as I love to have loud thumping music! I also have my TV connected to the stereo, so I can just press a button and the music is amplified much more than the voice. Just one comment about the new microphone. I have a video of another instructor who has a mike like that, and her heavy breathing really comes through and is a bit annoying, sometimes it sounds like the mike is being tapped with a finger. Just something to consider. Although, Cathe is more in shape so probably wouldn't be breathing so heavy:)
 
Cathe and SNM,

I think what you're planning sounds fantastic. I don't care much about blasting the music, but then, I am old--lol!
 
I second that the GS series music was too low. The option of being able to increase the music's volume would be great especially for those of us who already have to have it on surround sound to get that pumped up effect:7
 
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