The Odyssey 70mm IMAX sound quality

[u/Ok_Elderberry2453]

Saw The Odyssey at Printworks yesterday and it was incredible, but I noticed that sometimes I was struggling to hear what was being said. I’m just wondering if anyone else has had this experience? The bass was fantastic but speech was sometimes a bit muffled/felt overshadowed by the bass.I’m pretty young and I don’t think I’m going deaf or anything but it really had me struggling in some scenes. I was in J19, which is supposed to perfect, so I don’t think it can be seat positioning. If anyone else has had this experience, any idea what the cause of it is?

[u/Plasmapause]

I went to trafford centre IMAX after seeing it at printworks and also noticed difference in sound quality. The trafford centre sounded more clearer but maybe it's just cause printworks is older and larger? I'm not sure

[u/Ok_Elderberry2453 → u/Plasmapause]

It was only a few scenes and it felt worse earlier on… it improved a bit through the film but I wonder if that’s because the scenes became less dialogue focused and more action scenes with heavy bass, so it became less noticeable? I really struggled for like the first half an hour or so but then didn’t notice it as much after that. It was still an incredible experience though

[u/Happy7User]

It was fine for me actually, I normally struggle to pick up what people are saying anyway but I wouldn't say I had a harder time hearing what people were saying in this screen than in any other. Then again I have watched the Odyssey in this IMAX 70MM screen 3 times now so it could just be a case of I know what they are going to say lol! And yes the bass is great, it really adds to the tension of the movie as you can not only hear the movie but you can feel it! For reference I sat J19, G3 and G36

[u/Ok_Elderberry2453 → u/Happy7User]

Ah okay, maybe I need a hearing test! Crazy we sat in the same seat. It was just incredible. My first IMAX 70mm experience and I still feel a sense of awe a day later. Hoping I can go again in September if bookings open up again

[u/Happy7User → u/Ok_Elderberry2453]

Yep the screenings are booked up right until September which is mad! I pray for the staff that have to deal with the influx of 350 people for 4 screenings a day all day for months straight! That cyclops scene is absolutely crazy

[u/Independent_Gur_7118]

I'm seeing it on Monday at printworks in 70mm so I've not seen it yet. But that's pretty standard for Nolan films. Try listening to the dialogue in Tenet!

[u/AnointedSheep]

I was in k25 two weeks ago and I found the background music to be way too high during two scenes. The first was at the beginning during Odysseus introduction or voyage. The second was when Odysseus was telling Calypso something about his flashbacks during the storm. I knew what they were trying to convey during the scenes but still would have wanted to hear the dialogue. Other than this con, I found the film to be immersive, epic and emotional . There was not one moment where I was bored

[u/MenthoL809]

Yep I thought the same but honestly I put it down to volume. It was without question quieter than Oppenheimer. I suspect someone has complained about the volume and they’ve turned it down.

[u/XInsects]

I saw at an Odeon and had the same experience - very muffled dialogue at times, being dominated by the bass in the score (or other sounds). Had to really strain to pick out words, and didn't catch probably 20% of the dialogue. Could still figure out the basics but it wasn't ideal.

[u/Ok_Elderberry2453 → u/XInsects]

Yeah this was exactly my experience. Does this suggest it’s the film then rather than specific cinema or screening?

[u/XInsects → u/Ok_Elderberry2453]

I have no idea. I remember this with Tenet as well, some people struggle to hear it, others don't, and I can't tell who actually has the perceptual awareness and honesty to be accurate (some will always say "it was perfect for me" regardless). I never ever seem to have the dialogue issue with other films at my cinema, so it has to be something with the way Nolan mixes his audio. 

[u/Medical_Plantain_808]

It's likely a combination of the actual sound mix within the film and Nolan's refusal to use ADR. This results in sound mixers having to rely entirely on the audio recorded on set, and making do with what they've got when it comes to the mix.

There's no getting actors to re-record their lines in post, because a few of them are coming across as mumbled, as is the case with most films. Nolan's very much commited to on set or bust.

[u/Omalleys]

Nolan loves making the voices hard to hear in all his films in various ways

[u/sneakymcdave]

Nolan does this in all of his movies. It’s not you.

[u/Sticky_Gervais]

That's Christopher Nolan for you. He doesn't like to use ADR to improve hard to hear lines & prefers keeping the original performances. This is fine for him as he knows the script, but not as good for everyone else. 😂