Having trouble hearing dialogue clearly in films, TV shows and series? Cinema sound specialist DTS has just unveiled the solution with its new DTS Clear Dialogue technology. Fueled by the power of AI, this Dialogue Boost tool promises to improve the intelligibility of TV audio in unprecedented ways.
AI-driven dialogue enhancement
DTS Clear Dialogue is the answer to one of consumers’ biggest concerns when it comes to audio: the inability to hear dialogue clearly. The causes of this problem are numerous: device limitations, inconsistency of sound between content sources, sound that’s too weak, ambient noise or individual hearing capabilities. A recent survey of 1,200 U.S. adults by Xperi, a DTS subsidiary, revealed that 84% of consumers found it difficult to understand dialogue in TV programs and movies. To compensate for this, over three quarters (77%) of those surveyed said they used subtitles, and one in three (30%) said they were always or often activated.
However, “using subtitles is a workaround, not a solution,” says Geir Skaaden, Director of Products and Services at Xperi. “To date, attempts to mitigate the limitations of audio post-processing do not address the complex underlying issues of language, content and environment, and cannot take into account the individuality of each viewer. Our Artificial Intelligence-based, in-device audio processing solution will enable TV OEMs to offer viewers the ability to tailor and personalize their audio experience. “
Read: Dialogue boost, the new Prime Video feature
How does DTS Clear Dialogue work?
DTS Clear Dialogue takes advantage of the latest innovations in AI audio processing and machine learning techniques to identify, isolate and enhance dialogue so that listeners can understand it better, even at low volume. It works with all languages and covers all types of content (films, TV shows, sports, live events, etc.).
With DTS Clear Dialogue, viewers will also be able to create personalized profiles with dialogue and non-dialogue settings, to take account of hearing impairments, listening environments and audio preferences under varying conditions. The technology is able to identify any elements such as dialogue, music and special effects within content, so that each listener can adjust the sound to suit their hearing ability or preferences.
“This new level of AI-driven personalization meets listeners’ expectations and can, for the first time, compensate for individual hearing impairments, device limitations and listening environments,” continues Skaaden. “This new level of understanding and appreciation of TV content benefits everyone, from the viewers themselves to advertisers, streaming services, film and TV studios and TV equipment manufacturers.”
How to use DTS Clear Dialogue
At this time, DTS has not yet rolled out DTS Clear Dialogue to the general public. Given that this technology will be integrated directly into TVs, it’s a safe bet that it will appear in the next generations of DTS-compatible TVs, including future Sony, Hisense, Philips and LG ranges. In the meantime, DTS Clear Dialogue will be demonstrated exclusively from September 6 to 10 at IFA 2024.
