You’re not wrong in your points, @ShadowsPapa. I think what we are probably seeing here is an issue with how modern audio/video devices work. There’s a lot of stuff going on (a lot of which I don’t pretend to understand), including handshaking and DRM garbage that can create so many variables, it would be impossible to blame Tablo for this.
Oh the other hand, the issue seems to be real (far too many notice it to pretend otherwise), and just because it isn’t Tablo’s fault, per se, doesn’t mean they couldn’t or shouldn’t address it. Good service isn’t about who or what’s at fault, it’s about making the absolute best product you can for your customer base. A solution off the top of my head would be to add a setting in the Roku Tablo app that allows for small adjustments to the volume output level. I don’t know how possible this is in Roku development, but it’s a possible solution.
I received my NEW Insigina TV and am happy to report the low volume I had with my Visio 720 is fixed. I got a 1080 TV preparing for the Roku 4. The picture is a lot sharper. The Visio is going where the old tv is, so the chirping sound will be gone too. I’m thinking of canceling my order for Roku 4 and use Fire TV stick in the bedroom.
Since I still have my Mohu Leaf 50, I found a place to put it that gets everything except channel 62, so I’m missing a couple of channels in Spanish and GetTV and Escape. I do haveO my CoziTV, RETRO, REVN, along with the channels I listed previously. One thing I noticed is the TV detects what kind of HDMI device is connected.
I agree totally and can’t understand why this critical defect lasts forever.
Tablo team should take these complaints from numerous customers very seriously.
I’ll just throw my 2 cents in as I see ALL sources I normally am sitting around 15-20 on my volume. Amazon seems to be the lowest at 15, Netflix around 20… But for Tablo I have to pump it up to about 35-40 to be at the same volume level.
Many people have asked Tablo to up the volume, but I am going to say make it a user configurable setting ie: Increase Voulme by x+ db. So as an example I want to increase +10db on recordings.
I add +10db on my exporter as a default which seems to give the recordings about the same volume as others.
I’m experiencing a similar problem… However, I wouldn’t only say generically that the volume is too low… I’d say that playing back thru my Denon in surround sound that the center channel audio is almost non-existent… I get side and surround channels way too loud, but I can’t hear what’s going on with the center channel…
I grab the same show and playback thru Hulu and everything is fine… I’m using a Roku 4k as my playback BTW…
Yep, something is goofy with the Tablo software and needs fixed ASAP…
Dude, I’m an Electrical Engineer and have been at this home theater thing for 30+ years… I’ve done the troubleshooting and there’s something goofy with the audio bit-stream being outputted from the Tablo recording… I’ve been noticing it for a while now (can’t say longer than a few months since I only installed the Tablo before Christmas to replace my networked HD Homerun tuners)… I finally got time to Google the issue and find many users reporting similar problems for months now without a resolution… Hence the ASAP comment - Tablo should be all over this already…
I picked several .ts segments at random to play via smplayer (mulit-platform media player) The audio stream for each one showed the same stats:
My record quality is set at 720HD no 5.1. Is 256kbs 48000Hz truly considered “goofy”?? From an Engineer’s perspective?
I’m not discounting the volume variations, isn’t it more a property of the player and possibly what codec is in use or less likely which demuxer?
If several different folks using several different playback devices are all reporting similar issues, then wouldn’t you think the issue would have more to do with the Tablo encoding being employed rather than the decoding from the playback device?.. At least that’s my theory at this point…
There’s no question based on djk44883 posting that the there’s consistency in the audio bit-stream being outputed… but how the Tablo is taking the incoming bit-stream and encoding it to be stored is my question…
I know bits are bits… seems in the digital age it should just be a matter of storing what’s coming in and spitting it back out again… however, I’m not sure if there’s not some translation to reduce storage space that could have an impact on the audio signal being stored… This is where the Tablo engineers would need to step in…
No, cuz several other folks don’t have those issues.
I’m one of them.
Check, and modify auto volume settings on the TV, and media player device.
My TV has auto volume enabled, which drove me nuts when I had a satellite TV receiver, cuz it made commercials way too loud.
However, I exclusively use a Roku to watch anything on the TV now, and auto volume enabled on the TV, with audio leveling enabled on the Roku.
The audio levels in every Roku app I use are all very close to each other, so I don’t need to change the TV volume at all.
Roku apps…
Tablo
Sling TV
Netflix
YouTube
Prime Video
Twitch
Google Play Movies & TV
Crunchyroll
I’m not conclusive, nor am I trying to discount whatever volume issue you and others are claiming. Added clarification, I have my recorded setting HD 720 Mbs 5.1 not enabled. I picked a few .ts segments from different shows, they appeared consistent.
Not knowing much, other than it didn’t seem “goofy”… maybe just silly I was hoping to give you some insight to use your experience to understand HLS audio encoding and various settings and find out how ridiculous it may or may not be.
I otherwise offload most my recordings via 3rd part apps, ffmpeg or stream directly with a media player and watch through my “media” PCs essentially with a TV for a monitor. So I have no real experience with data mining proprietary OTT devices.
If you dig back through the forums (maybe this thread) there was some info from Tablo about this. As I recall, the problem is that the tuner chip has limited options for it’s decoding of the original broadcast signal’s audio channel. And that when it transcodes Surround to Stereo, there’s a volume transform that takes place. And that their only option is to step up the volume to double what it is now. Which they determined is worse than what you currently get.
I’m parroting that from memory. Go look back a year or two.
Yes, I recall limitations with 5.1 - all or none. I noticed some in these posting mention using it, some mention a AV sound systems… so there may have much to do with your individual configuration, and hearing sensitivity.
Seriously, I’m often adjusting volume, to say something is and another is not would be too much to keep track of - for me.
The simple solution (which LOTS OF USERS WANT) but TABLO WILL NOT DO) is simply amplify it a little in the transcoding process).
If I enable 5.1 on Tablo then sound on channels that support it is ok, but some channels don’t support it so Tablo chose NO SOUND instead of switching back.
I was hoping to give you some insight to use your experience to understand HLS audio encoding and various settings and find out how ridiculous it may or may not be.