Netflix Improves Subtitle Feature with New Option
If you’re one of the 50% of Americans who watch content with subtitles most of the time, Netflix has a new feature that you may love. When watching traditional subtitles, you’ll often see captions like [music playing] or [door slams]. But now, Netflix is rolling out subtitles that has dialogue only.
The new option first appears on “YOU” Season 5, which arrives today. Choose “English” if you only want the spoken dialogue. Choose “English (CC)” if you need to see subtitles about the music and sound effects.
Why Are So Many People Using Subtitles Now?
According to an excellent article at SlashFilm, there are several reasons subtitles have become so necessary.
First, some directors are pushing for a sound mix that may sound great in the properly calibrated studio at Skywalker Sound, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to your TV speakers or soundbar setup.
Second, some actors are aiming for a more “natural” performance style that includes poorly articulated dialogue. If you watch older films, it sometimes feels like words are being overenunciated because the microphones weren’t great. With today’s superior microphones, actors feel like they can whisper or mumble to better embody their characters.
Another factor is that movie crews aren’t always considering the needs of their sound team. With a high-octane action sequence, there’s not always a great place to put a microphone, so the sound may suffer.
In any case, this tweak from Netflix makes a lot of sense, and I hope more streamers follow suit.
