Question Netflix Audio

[Electron003]

Greetings,

I've only ever had Prime, so have NO experience with other providers. I recently picked up Netflix to see what it's all about.

I have found a lot of the audio (TVShows mostly) is only 128K stereo -> is this typical?? or is it a part of the on-going DRM issue that happened recently?

 

[RedFox 1]

Yes. A lot of the time NF has no other audio available. But (see below)

 

[psig33]

128k is typical for stereo. Also depends on when the show was released, older shows (90s/2000s) are more likely to be stereo only. With newer shows, 5.1 is more common.

 

[RedFox 1]

To show you the difference, open the movie " The Impossible " on Netflix

Highlight the descriptive track. you will see 128K Stereo
Then highlight the " English Original Track" it will change dramatically

 

[Electron003]

Thanks for the input.

Redfox 1 -> I knew about the highlight thingee - first thing I do is always make sure the right track is highlighted.

psig33 -> Most of the shows are recent (To the Lake (2020) is one I can remember) (Peaky Blinders is another one - the first couple of seasons are only 128K stereo, while the rest are 5.1??)

I even saw a movie that only had a 128K stereo audio as the main audio track and the descriptive audio track was 640 5.1. (I d/l'd them both to verify). I was at a loss for this one.

Are any of the 128K tracks only showing that because of the current drm issues still being resolved??

 

[psig33]

Are any of the 128K tracks only showing that because of the current drm issues still being resolved??

I doubt it. Believe it or not, Netflix does not encrypt their audio tracks. It all boils down to what the studio/distributor gave Netflix. Sometimes it may even be licensing restrictions.

I checked "To the Lake (2020)" on IMDB and under the technical specs it says the sound mix is stereo, so that may be all that is available.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9151230/technical/?ref_=tt_spec_sm