Audio on TV News

[cvrg]

This is not criticism...Just curious if anyone knows what causes the audio to "dip" when that logo graphic shoots across the screen when transitioning from the news desk to a reporter on KUTV. (?)

[Timmy]

I'm not sure, but if what you're talking about includes a loud sound effect swoosh or boom, it's probably just causing their audio processor (or the cable/satellite provider's or your TV's) to duck in order to prevent over-shooting or spiking in audio. Radio uses this as well but it's generally more subtle and the recovery back to normal levels is near instant. Someone more technically inclined can clear this mess of a comment up.

[cvrg]

Yeah, there used to be a "whoosh" sound effect with the graphic when it ran across the screen, now there's no sfx, just the graphic with a dip in the audio of whomever is "passing off" no biggie...just been curious for a while.

[CAwasinNJ]

There are a few possibilities I can think of. One would be the auto leveling in the audio board anticipating a new source having audio when it's potted up and making sure the combined audio doesn't clip by lowering the one that was already up. Another could be if the output from the board can be fed from two or more independently controlled busses, switching between them could do that if they aren't set exactly the same way. Not sure if I'm being clear with that second one.

[cvrg]

Makes sense.