A good SPL meter? (k-system question )

[Djjandejong]

i really want to sort out my monitoring levels using bob katzes k-system. So i was wondering what a decent spl meter was. Also i read i need to generate pink noise so are there any good free plugins for this? And the pink noise part is the only thing thats confusing me does it need to be a specific note or in a specific octave and how loud does it need to be in my DAW? Im using ableton live do i need to set the volume fader of the pink noise channel to a specific point or just set it so its just hitting the 0db level? All help appreciated!

[MASSIVE Master]

I have the RadShack digital meter and love it.

Tried the (~$100) meter from GC/MF once - Well, a few times - because it sucked. Went back to the Radio Shack.

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Djjandejong

i really want to sort out my monitoring levels using bob katzes k-system. So i was wondering what a decent spl meter was. Also i read i need to generate pink noise so are there any good free plugins for this? And the pink noise part is the only thing thats confusing me does it need to be a specific note or in a specific octave and how loud does it need to be in my DAW? Im using ableton live do i need to set the volume fader of the pink noise channel to a specific point or just set it so its just hitting the 0db level? All help appreciated!

radioshack type is fine.

if you don't know how to generate them yourself, download pink noise files for calibration form digido.com.

[Djjandejong]

i dunno if i can get the radio shack one im based in europe .

[kjg]

I'm not in the US either.
You can easily find a meter very similar to the analog radio shack one for about 40 euro's. I got the exact same type, just branded differently.

Forgot where, but search around, they're not hard to find.

EDIT:
something along these lines is fine. I'm sure you can find one where you are in Europe.
Velleman Analoge geluidsniveaumeter - VEL-EVM2050 - dutch store

[bkuijt]

Originally Posted by Djjandejong

i dunno if i can get the radio shack one im based in europe .

This one from Conrad will do as well.

[Adam Dempsey]

Isn't the iPhone app becoming a bit of a standard lately?
A colleague and I tested it concurrently up against the one in the Nokia 5140i, which differed consistently by approx +3dB, both with C weighting...

[Djjandejong]

Thnx im from holland so tht one from the dutch store is great! Thnx alot.

[amathie]

Originally Posted by MASSIVE Master

I have the RadShack digital meter and love it.

Tried the (~$100) meter from GC/MF once - Well, a few times - because it sucked. Went back to the Radio Shack.

I'm also looking for a Sound Level meter for calibrating my monitoring system. Having just reread Bob Katz's chapter about this, he suggests that a meter which uses RMS averaging is significantly more accurate that a meter which uses simple averaging. Does the RadioShack digital meter do this?

[Bubbagump]

The Ratshack meter has Fast and Slow metering which I believe is the RMS you are looking for. Really, unless we are talking measuring honey bees talking dirty to each other or listening to grass grow... a RatShack meter is fine.

[dcollins]

Originally Posted by Bubbagump

The Ratshack meter has Fast and Slow metering which I believe is the RMS you are looking for. Really, unless we are talking measuring honey bees talking dirty to each other or listening to grass grow... a RatShack meter is fine.

Strictly speaking neither setting is RMS, but it will be fine set to 'slow.' A better question is what does the calibration really get you?


DC

[asknone9]

I use the American Recorder Technologies SPL-8810. Guitar Center carries them for about $70. They meet ANSI S1.4 Type 2 requirements, which means you are getting the level of accuracy associated with that standard (around ±2dB maximum error for Type 2; ±1dB maximum error for lab grade, Type 1 devices). The Radioshack meters are cheap but do not meet any standards, meaning they are less accurate, despite the given specs, though not terribly so (maybe ±3dB), and certainly not enough to stop me from using them for measurements in the studio. The only reason I mention the above information is because it's a deal breaker for some people who are really concerned with accuracy and verifiable standards.

[Jesse Graffam]

Originally Posted by Adam Dempsey

Isn't the iPhone app becoming a bit of a standard lately?
A colleague and I tested it concurrently up against the one in the Nokia 5140i, which differed consistently by approx +3dB, both with C weighting...

I wouldn't trust either of those within 3dB even. What do you think the level of quality control is on those mics anyways?

[SoundReplay]

What about the Phonic PAA3?

PHONIC PAA3 - Belgium International Cyberstore

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by dcollins

Strictly speaking neither setting is RMS, but it will be fine set to 'slow.' A better question is what does the calibration really get you?


DC

my question is... what does the "K System" really get you?

[dcollins]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

my question is... what does the "K System" really get you?

I don't know. It's always seemed like needless complexity to me Just find out where 80-90 SPL is on the monitor, how loud that sounds, and call it a day.

Leaving some headroom; sure. But you don't need a 'genre specific' crest-factor of 20dB for classical, 13.325 for power pop, set the monitor at K-9 for this record and E^(i*pi) for this one...

The stuff about "compress 1dB, then add 1dB of monitor volume" is ridiculous.

The concept of a variable VU reference is roughly 50 years old, and literally the first mastering studio I ever saw had both this ability and a china marker line on the monitor pot. I don't know what they called, though..........


DC

[PBM]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

my question is... what does the "K System" really get you?

Personally I don't use it - but it's clearly intended to provide a standard reference point along with a visual aid.

The questions really only begin at that point: does everyone need the standard, does the the visual monitor point really help etc etc

I start the day with some reference tracks (for checking the kit, my ears and for the sheer joy of the music - I'm sure I've mentioned Keb Mo before) at a volume that is comfortable, and go from there with very regular breaks. I do sometimes look at an SPL meter (it generally says something around 80) , but normally when I'm listening critically, anything that moves with the music is behind me.

I'm not really anti-visual on principal - I'm just very easily distracted ...

Cheers,

Eric

[SoundReplay]

So to go back to the original poster message: WHAT IS A GOOD SPL meter?

Should we aim for an analogue VU or a digital one? You can both set to C and slow response...

[kjg]

Originally Posted by SoundReplay

So to go back to the original poster message: WHAT IS A GOOD SPL meter?

Should we aim for an analogue VU or a digital one? You can both set to C and slow response...

from earlier in this thread...

Velleman Analoge geluidsniveaumeter - VEL-EVM2050 - dutch store

[dcollins]

Originally Posted by SoundReplay

So to go back to the original poster message: WHAT IS A GOOD SPL meter?

Should we aim for an analogue VU or a digital one? You can both set to C and slow response...

It all depends on the accuracy/repeatability you need. A lot of folks use the Radio Shack one, and it seems to work.

I have one made by the wonderfully-named Sinometer company, it was about USD$100 and has an analog and digital scale.


DC

[Teddy Ray]

the Rat Shack one is a bit off. There are correction documents all over the web.



Radio Shack Sound Meter Corrections