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HarvFarq
Newbie

Roku Commentary very annoying

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Last week I started getting "commentary" from Roku.  Not only does a voice tell me how many items are in each category(?), but when watching anything I get commentary about what I am watching such as "Jack jumped over the candle stick.....Jill smiles"   I don't know if this is a new feature or if I did something to turn it on.  Regardless, I can't find how to turn it off and it is extremely annoying.  HELP

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makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Roku Commentary very annoying

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@HarvFarq  - Sounds like two separate issues

Voice announcement of Roku menus, button presses, etc.

A feature called Audio Guide announces where you are in the Roku menus for the benefit of the visually impaired. At some point you probably hit the * key four times in a short period of time. This is a shortcut that toggles the Audio Guide feature on and off, so four quick presses of the * key should toggle the Audio Guide feature back off.

To deactivate the four-* trigger shortcut altogether use menu path Settings > Accessibility > Shortcut (in the Audio Guide section) > Disabled

Verbal description of action on screen when watching program

This happens when playing an audio track in the program file that includes the voice-over description of the action for the visual impaired.  Normally programs with such an audio track also have an additional audio track without the voice-over commentary and maybe additional optional audio tracks in different language from which you can choose as well.

The Roku default method of accessing your choice of audio track is to press the * key on your Roku remote while viewing the program and examining the options presented. 

But more and more channels are not using the Roku default but substituting their own method of access -- I'm guessing this is so they will have consistent controls across versions of their app running on other platforms than Roku.  Often these options are accessed by pressing the up and/or down cursor control keys while viewing the program to pop the channel's own control options on the screen.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you.  Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer by clicking "Accept as Solution.".

Streaming Stick 4K+ 3821 | Streaming Stick+ 3810 | TCL Roku TV 43S245/C107X

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makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Roku Commentary very annoying

Jump to solution

@HarvFarq  - Sounds like two separate issues

Voice announcement of Roku menus, button presses, etc.

A feature called Audio Guide announces where you are in the Roku menus for the benefit of the visually impaired. At some point you probably hit the * key four times in a short period of time. This is a shortcut that toggles the Audio Guide feature on and off, so four quick presses of the * key should toggle the Audio Guide feature back off.

To deactivate the four-* trigger shortcut altogether use menu path Settings > Accessibility > Shortcut (in the Audio Guide section) > Disabled

Verbal description of action on screen when watching program

This happens when playing an audio track in the program file that includes the voice-over description of the action for the visual impaired.  Normally programs with such an audio track also have an additional audio track without the voice-over commentary and maybe additional optional audio tracks in different language from which you can choose as well.

The Roku default method of accessing your choice of audio track is to press the * key on your Roku remote while viewing the program and examining the options presented. 

But more and more channels are not using the Roku default but substituting their own method of access -- I'm guessing this is so they will have consistent controls across versions of their app running on other platforms than Roku.  Often these options are accessed by pressing the up and/or down cursor control keys while viewing the program to pop the channel's own control options on the screen.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you.  Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer by clicking "Accept as Solution.".

Streaming Stick 4K+ 3821 | Streaming Stick+ 3810 | TCL Roku TV 43S245/C107X