Wow, i'm shocked!

pwmatt

pwmatt

Cathlete
I meant to grab my High Step CHALLENGE to preview this AM, but I accidently grabbed High Step TRAINING. I didn't realize it until it began to play and I thought. Wow, the music on this DVD is so much better than the other Hardcores! Then, I realized what I did. I truly didn't think that the Hardcore music was muffled until I heard the other. I can't seem to find a setting on my DVD player to change to PCM as SNM suggested. It's not the top of the line player, but it does everything I need it to do. So I guess I'm another one who thinks that the music could be louder on this series. It seems to much like background music and I think I need a little more kick to get me motivated. Has anyone else compared the Hardcores to older DVD's?
 
Yes. There is a discernible difference between the Hardcores and previous Cathe DVD's. Some (stretch max, for example) are worse than others.
 
I have to agree. Without changing any setings on my TV or DVD player, because basically I can't, yet there remains a real difference in loudness of the music and sound quality. To have any volume in the music at all, I have to have Cathe shouting at me, which I can't bear and her voice begins to distort.

I wish SNM would take these comments seriously rather than blaming it on our players.

Clare
 
I have to say I've been lucky. My Sony 5 disc player has been great.I got it for Christmas this year and it plays all the hardcore DVD's beautifully. My DVD's came from CK sales so they travelled from Cathe's place to Alberta then cross country to Northern Ontario without a scratch. Sorry to steal the thread. I was in a panic when I saw everybody having problems. It seems to be a high number of people having problems. I wonder if they can find out if it is a bad batch?
Good luck in SNM rectifying the problems.
Sharon
 
I have read all the posts about the low music and I finally noticied it today. Much the same way as you did. I did the Cardio Kicks dvd and was surprised at how much louder the music was, despite the volume on the tv/stero being the same. I do like the music being louder.

In all honesty, if all these posts had not been written about the low music, I would have probably not noticied it on my own. Maybe my sound is not as low as other's because it is not really a problem for me.
 
I guess I am in the minority. I actually am happy that the music is a bit softer in the HC workouts. I need Cathe to be loudly telling me what the next step is. I miss it sometimes when the music is really loud. I'm sorry all of you are having trouble!
 
I think that there are people looking for more negatives than positives. I admit after reading so much negativity, I listened too closely to the music. My dvds are fine, but I think people are getting carried away with the complaints. IMO, Cathe is still the best in the business and worth the $15 I paid per dvd. The chaptering is exceptional. I wonder if people would complain this much over a Kathy Smith or a Firm dvd. I realize that severe distortion is grounds for return, but I think some complain about the littlest things just to complain. Let's face it, she really is the best advanced trainer on the market!
 
fab40, I absolutely agree with you.All of Cathe's work is top notch. In spite of my post,I am not complaining. I was just stating the fact that there is a difference. I also think that it's human nature to look for something to complain about. So, take it all with a grain of salt and enjoy your workouts! I know I will! Phyllis
 
You are quite wrong to assume that people with a complaint are deliberately looking for something to complain about.

I am complaining about the sound quality, or rather lack of it, on this series simply because Cathe does have the well-deserved reputation of creating and delivering a top notch product. In comparison to all her other series, which I bought, love and have never complained about, there is a distinct difference in the sound quality and volume ratio of Cathe's voice to the music.

If you are very content with your DVD's, them great! We are all so happy for you. But that does not give you the right to denigrate those who find this current product to not live up to Cathe's own high standards of production.

I paid the same good money you did and can probably less afford it since I am a graduate student with kids to support. Regardless of your opinion, I have the right to expect quality for the money I pay, since I am not Cathe's friend, I am her customer. Cathe does not do what she does as a favour to us. She is a business woman and if her product is faulty, she needs to address this for the sake of customer satisfaction and gaining customer loyalty. These are simply basic tenets of business ethics.

Clare
 
I also am having a hard time with people on this board getting so defensive of people complaining about the music. I spent almost $300 on my videos b/c I preordered late, I did not pay $15 per dvd. Although I love Cathe to death I will hesitate to preorder next time unless there is commitment that the sound is higher quality. There are some of us who really like loud music and some who don't. I think we need to all respect one another opinions. I personally like loud music and am very frustrated w/the music in lowmax and imax3. It is cardio where I need loud music to get me motivated (or at minimum music I can hear) the gym workous I can deal without the loud music. However, when I did lowmax the other morning I could hardly hear the music without cathe's voice blaring. I workout at 5:00 am and if I had of turned it loud enough to hear the music I would have woke the whole family up (which is what ended up happening by the last 2 intervals b/c I needed the music for motivation).

Today I did Gym Style and I do believe the music is better in this set. However, I just wish it was the same in the cardio dvds :(

I think we also need to remember as Clare said, although we love Cathe personally she is in business and we did pay good money for these dvds. I am truly bummed w/the sound quality of some of them. That doesn't mean I don't like Cathe, her crew or the workouts - just that I would expect more for $300.

I have new equipment and a surround sound and it is not right that it is blamed on our equipment. I have had NO other problems w/ANY of my DVDS including Cathe's old ones. I really hope that something happens to fix this situation.

Just my 2 cents.

Fab40 - I will NOT be sending mine back. I think you need to look at who is being so negative here. This board is getting really negative over these dvds. I took a break from this board for awhile after I had my baby and am wondering if maybe I should again. This is ridiculous!
 
Clare,
First, I sympathize with your situation. I have been one of the fortunate ones with no such issues and consider myself lucky.
You have been very concise about your feelings regarding this situation. I only want to ask, "what do you want SNM to do about it?"
At this point, you are very clearly displeased, maybe you would want to direct your energies accordingly, instead of making further disparaging remarks about others here who are only trying to be helpful.

JMTC..


:)
 
The music does seem kind of low to me as well. I noticed it more when I was previewing the DVDs, however, and less when I was actually doing the workouts. I haven't yet tried fiddling with sound settings, so perhaps that will help.

Shelbygirl
 
I have noticed that the music is not as loud, but I don't care. I don't workout for the music and rarely focus on it. To be quite honest, I hate some of the music choices and I'm glad that they aren't as loud. Until I started reading about the "music" on the forum it never occurred to me to even think about it. I choose Cathe's workouts because of the quality of the routines. If done consistently they produce excellent results. The music is really irrelevant to me it's the results.

Tracy
 
The sound

I'm one of many disappointed with the sound levels in the Hardcore. I like the workouts enough to keep them, but certainly wish that the music was at a consistent level. It seems that the volume of Cathe's voice is much higher relative to the music.

I've been a CUSTOMER for five years & never had a problem. I never used the music lounder feature in the prior DVD's. One of the reasons I work out at home is that I think the sound levels in most gym group classes is harmfully loud. But I still like to hear the beat of the music!

I'm not speaking for Clare, but I'd like SNM to explain what's different about the sound in the Hardcore series compared to prior releases. Is there a fix? Is there something that will be done to correct the problem in future releases?

I don't understand the hostility directed at those of us that are having sound problems. It seems that there are quite a few of us. Be very happy if you're not having problems since you can enjoy the workouts you expected.

Debra
 
RE: The sound

SNM won't give you a refund for DVD's, they will exchange them if the ones you have are defective. However, SNM is stating that the sound issue is not a defect of the DVDs. So there doesn't seem to be any option at this point for those who feel the sound level is unacceptable.

I'm satisfied with my Hardcores. I do notice sound variations from DVD to DVD. But it's not a deal breaker to me. I was at a friend's house and noticed more of a problem with her Kick Max. It may have been her AV equipment not recognizing the technology of the DVD. But she's stuck, unless she can trade it away or sell it on Ebay.

I wish SNM would acknowledge that they made a little boo-boo, and promise to go back to the sound mix they used for IS or BB, or at least the music louder option.

Diane
 
RE: The sound

I did Imax3 this morning. First off I LOVED the workout and it kicked my butt! Killer and absolutely equal to Cathe's quality.... other than the music. As I said earlier I ahve a surround sound, 1 yr old dvd set to pcm etc.

I could hardly hear the music in the last 5 intervals. It was louder than I ever listen to her other dvds and I still couldn't hear it w/out Cathe's voice blaring.

I like Debbie have been a customer for several years and own alll DVDs except the wedding video and one other. I truly hope she takes care of her loyal customers. I have sent 3 e-mails and have heard nothing. Guess that is the reason folks are posting here:(

I at minimum would like to see the cardio dvds fixed. I can deal w/the gym style workouts w/low music but seriously need my loud music for cardio :(

I am sure this will all work out in the end. I guess we just all have to hope for the best and be patient.
 
RE: The sound

Interesting... I just added a post w/the SNM response to my e-mail. Looks like they have since deleted. HEre is what it said:

"If you have surround sound you need to turn it off and play the
workouts in stereo. We don't record in surround sound and thus if you
play our disc this way it will cause Cathe's voice to seem loud in the
middle speaker and the music to sound low in the left and right
channels. We are nuts about quality. There were no short cuts taken in
the filming of the workouts and this was by far our most expensive set
we have ever used. I'm sorry you feel differently. We have run test on
numerous samples and doubled checked every DVD title and have found no
significant or unusual sound problems. We realize some people are having
problems, but this is always the case when we release presale DVDs. You
have to remember that our presale lasted for 6 months and then all the
orders from that period were released in just a few days. The number of
people reporting sound problems is very few compared to the overall
orders. We have no plans on a recall as we can find no problems."

I am really getting annoyed w/this lack of customer service. If they say they have no problem then why are they afraid of a response being posted? Did I do something wrong???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top