Same issue here in Qualicum Beach, BC. Looking for online solutions brought me here, and sharing my frustration ALSO I noticed the issue IS NOT DURING COMMERCIALS. I believe SHAW recently signed us to a new contract, and upgraded(?) us to the 'cloud based' recording source.
@YA472 wrote I noticed the issue IS NOT DURING COMMERCIALS
I have noticed the audio drop-out while watching "live" TV via the Xi6/XiOne TV boxes (the newest TV hardware). Then, I "rewind" a few seconds, and then "play", and the sound is present. Then, I can speak into the TV remote ("60 seconds" or "2 minutes") to somewhat "catch-up" when the channel plays one of more commercials.
I don't pay much attention to the audio during commercials. 🙂
I have noticed that when watching a program that I have recorded, there are audio drop-outs, but the "rewind/play" trick does not work.
When watching via "Shaw On Demand", there are no "commercial-commercials" (paid-for advertisements by for-profit companies), but there are "promotional" messages ("all-new episode of NCIS this week"). Again, I don't pay much attention to the audio.