audio versus video

[Wireworm5]

IMO, Audio is not essential in conveying the story line of a movie. You can get the jist of a movie watching a 10" black n white tv. And be just as caught up in the story. However I think back to when I was into gaming on the computer and I just used the soundcard that came with the computer. Then a friend talked me into getting a good soundcard, and I did. The enhanced sound made the gaming experience much more enjoyable.
This was a real eye opener for me on how sound although not our dominate sense is none the less a sense that we rely on to a great extent.
Getting the soundcard was also a big motivating factor for me in persuing a HT system. I was always interested in audio but wouldn't invest in a home stereo after having my first system stolen in '79. Now I have my own home and insurance and I can crank it as loud as I want with nobody to complain. Life is good.

[PeruvianSkies]

IMO, Audio is not essential in conveying the story line of a movie.

Oh please. Audio is equally important and just as vital. Most people think that silent movies never had any sound with them, which is totally false, most of the time they had live orchestras performing the music to aid as a soundtrack. You might be able to get the essentially elements of the storyline, but music and audio is quite important too, keep in mind we are talking about dialogue here as well.

[Wireworm5]

Oh please. Audio is equally important and just as vital. Most people think that silent movies never had any sound with them, which is totally false, most of the time they had live orchestras performing the music to aid as a soundtrack. You might be able to get the essentially elements of the storyline, but music and audio is quite important too, keep in mind we are talking about dialogue here as well.

Sorry to disagree with you, but most of the time when listening to music I watch tv in closed caption. So No, I don't need the soundtrack to follow the story, just the words.
Another example: I used to work at a casino where they had a bank of tvs on one wall for simalcast horse racing. There were varies sizes in tv's some big, some small, some good picture quality others bad and well you couldn't hear the sound well due to all the other noise. Regardless of the tv type, they all served the purpose of conveying the info of what's happining with any particular horse race.
Visuals is all that is needed in conveying a message or story.

[PeruvianSkies]

Sorry to disagree with you, but most of the time when listening to music I watch tv in closed caption. So No, I don't need the soundtrack to follow the story, just the words.
Another example: I used to work at a casino where they had a bank of tvs on one wall for simalcast horse racing. There were varies sizes in tv's some big, some small, some good picture quality others bad and well you couldn't hear the sound well due to all the other noise. Regardless of the tv type, they all served the purpose of conveying the info of what's happining with any particular horse race.
Visuals is all that is needed in conveying a message or story.

A horse race isn't exactly a narrative now is it?

[pixelthis]

A horse race isn't exactly a narrative now is it?

Sure is, a blazing story of what happened to my paycheck
I went to see the third terminator movie, opened the door to another theater where it was in full swing, and it was georgous, and the DTS sound was amazing.
But in my theater the sound was flat, and I found out the DTS was "broken".
So I sat in the lobby at ten at night and waited an hour for the last showing in the other theater.
Do you know how many would do this? Not many.
I used to drive fifty miles to see movies with stadium seating and perfect sound and video,
a lot thought I was crazy(dont say it)
Trust me, video has audio beat hands down for the great unwashed, however.
Its just different is all. You keep asking this question because liking to listen to music
you think most feel that way but they dont.
They will sit and watch a movie but music is for parties, listening to while you jog or drive, etc, most arent serious music listeners.
I pointed out to you on another thread that up to 90% of the sound from a movie comes from the center channel and you didnt beleive me, well, thats because thats where most of the DIALOG comes from, and movies are mixed to be heard in theaters, so most sound comes from the front speakers
Because thats where the picture is, and where most of the sound comes from, which
is talking.
You keep trying to compare audio and video, but they are really two different experiences,
to most one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
And when it comes to sound for HT, they just want their helicopters to blow up on cue

[PeruvianSkies]

Sure is, a blazing story of what happened to my paycheck
I went to see the third terminator movie, opened the door to another theater where it was in full swing, and it was georgous, and the DTS sound was amazing.
But in my theater the sound was flat, and I found out the DTS was "broken".
So I sat in the lobby at ten at night and waited an hour for the last showing in the other theater.
Do you know how many would do this? Not many.
I used to drive fifty miles to see movies with stadium seating and perfect sound and video,
a lot thought I was crazy(dont say it)
Trust me, video has audio beat hands down for the great unwashed, however.
Its just different is all. You keep asking this question because liking to listen to music
you think most feel that way but they dont.
They will sit and watch a movie but music is for parties, listening to while you jog or drive, etc, most arent serious music listeners.
I pointed out to you on another thread that up to 90% of the sound from a movie comes from the center channel and you didnt beleive me, well, thats because thats where most of the DIALOG comes from, and movies are mixed to be heard in theaters, so most sound comes from the front speakers
Because thats where the picture is, and where most of the sound comes from, which
is talking.
You keep trying to compare audio and video, but they are really two different experiences,
to most one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
And when it comes to sound for HT, they just want their helicopters to blow up on cue

There is no such thing as DIALOG, if you read that post where you talked about the center-speaker you will see that I pointed out that the word is DIALOGUE. Learn how to spell the things that you are talking about, especially if you are going to capitalize the word. I never said that audio and video are the same thing, they are no't, but the compliment each other. It's like asking the question, "which wing is more important on an airplane...the left or the right?" Maybe in your world the left wing is more important, but to most people they feel that both wings are important, you can't have the full experience without both, and in the case of the airplane, I guarantee you that you want to have both working at the same time. Although, feel free to fly with only one wing sometime if you'd like to disagree.

[kexodusc]

Sorry to disagree with you, but most of the time when listening to music I watch tv in closed caption. So No, I don't need the soundtrack to follow the story, just the words.
Another example: I used to work at a casino where they had a bank of tvs on one wall for simalcast horse racing. There were varies sizes in tv's some big, some small, some good picture quality others bad and well you couldn't hear the sound well due to all the other noise. Regardless of the tv type, they all served the purpose of conveying the info of what's happining with any particular horse race.
Visuals is all that is needed in conveying a message or story.

I'm going to have to side with PS on this one. I think video is #1, but audio is a damn close second - it's a huge part of every little bit of the story telling - I'm going to qualify my opinion:

I think it's Season 5 of the show "24" on DVD that has a special feature about the guy who does the music - they do a neat exercise where they run the exact same scene over and over again, only each time they dub in a different background music theme. It is absolutely incredible how much of a difference in terms of setting the mood the musical selection makes, and the impression you take from what you're just watching. Off the top of my head, in one particular shot there's a romantic theme for Jack Bauer and his lady - Jack sees her for the first time in months and you can feel the sense of emotion the scene is trying to portray - they switched it up from the love music to a dark, creep, almost serial killer ditty - the same scene was eerily menacing. Instead of a sense for longing you thought that Jack was going to murder her! Only thing that changed was the background music. They do a few other musical selections, each time the scene conveys a totally different message.

I dare say the choice of audio in a lot of movies can make or break each shot. I've greatly underestimated it's importance.

Anyway, it's a great bonus feature bit that's worth watching if any of you have the DVD. I'd love to see examples of this.