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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

At What volume level do set your monitors to listen to playback?

For example I listen at around 22 db, but of course when it's louder
(say around 15db) I usually like the sound better.

What volume level would you set it at to get the best idea of how a client (or agent) will hear it, and how it will sound to them.

Just wondering, and kind of doing a reality check on this.

bobsouer · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject:

Rob,

I don't have a sound pressure meter or anything, so can't tell you a dB level; but I usally have the monitors turned so that I can hear myself clearly for editing.
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject:

mine goes to 11.
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Deirdre · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject:

I edit thru my headphones most of the time, but for demos, I check them out on my laptop's speakers, since that's how most people will be listening.

How do people sample audio with an iPhone?
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

My normal monitors are pretty hi-fi, kind of like what you would expect a home stereo audiophile to have.

But I just tried listening to an audition through my laptop speakers and I think it actually sounds better to my ear through the laptop...go figure?

Bruce · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject:

Over the years I've seen many recording studios that had a set of crappy little speakers in addition their hifi speakers. They'd often listen to finished audio through those too before sending it on, figuring that many eventual listeners don't have the best equipment in their cars and homes. If it sounded good on beat up KMart specials it should sound good everywhere else was the theory.

B
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

What Bruce said. At least that was our mindset when I was engineering for a living. We had a set of the ubiquitous Auratones ("Awfultones") for that very purpose. But I took it one step further and would put the old Studer 2 track's built-in monitor speaker on input and check final spot mixes through it.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:27 pm Post subject: Re: Playback volume level

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:30 am Post subject:

Rob, those dB figures you mentioned, on what device are those numbers being derived from? They are extremely low values. Usually the db figures are measured with an SPL meter, which you can get for around $50. Anything over 90db for any extended period, and you are welcoming hearing damage.

For reasons stated by Mike, this is why I don't recommend a voice actor mixing and producing anything with music in their home studios, unless all of those issues are addressed. You know what your own voice should sound like, so the need for critical room tuning if you are just cutting your voice and sending it off isn't so important. Falling back on headphones never hurts so you can hear subtle things you might otherwise miss.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Actually it is -22, (left out the minus earlier), as indicated
on the output on my Apogee Duet and MOTU Ultralite.

On the MOTU it says it is in dbs

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:38 am Post subject:

Rob:
Those figures are only relevant to your particular setup, as those dB values are relative to many factors in your system. Until you actually measure the SPL dB of the volume in your room, you won't have a way to compare figures with others. That's where an SPL meter comes in, like this one or this one.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

George, I picked up the Sound Level Meter from Radio Shack. Thanks for the suggestion.

When setting the Weighting function, should I have it on A or C weighting?
A measures 500-10,000 HZ, and C measures 32-10,000 Hz range.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject:

That would be the full spectrum Rob - "C"
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georgethetech · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject:

Yeah, what Mike said! Thanks Mike, glad you are there...
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject:

You know I got you back George
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