OT: How loud should I monitor during a mix

gb-jazz · 10th March 2005, 01:24 AM

Since I have gotten my NS10's hooked up to the Bryston 4b st, my system is really cranking and it seems like my ears have been feeling it. I try not to turn the mix up too loud but my mixer(TLAudio M3) seems like it as a super hot output. So If the recordings are hot and I am sub mixing from PT to eight analog tracks, the master out on the Tubetracker is on fire. I cannot control the output of the 4b st so I try to turn the monitor knob down and usually I have to lower the L+R master fader as well because the monitor knob does not perform well at near zero. Any suggestions? Secondly what are good volume levels to be mixing at? I have a Radio shack Sound Level meter and I seem to be mixing at around 90-95 db. Is this to loud??? What levels are you guys usually mixing at? The last thing I want to do is damage my hearing from mixing to loudly all the time.

bobby yarrow · 10th March 2005, 01:38 AM

That's louder than I work at, but for a lot of stuff I switch around constantly, loud & soft, midfields and nearfields. Have no opinion about whether sustained 95db can damage hearing. Seems like you might want to reconsider your gain structure if you find yourself attenuating to near zero on the mixer tho.

toque-eh! · 10th March 2005, 01:40 AM

i generally mix between 75-85 dB A-weighted but i will also alternate with listening more quietly and checking my mix on my boom box that i have hooked up, as well as checking it at loud playback levels. i'll also check my mix listening through the open doorway standing in the next room.

does the 4B have -10 or +4 input? maybe it's been selected to -10... i can't stand riding volume pots down near the low end of the taper.

zemlin · 10th March 2005, 01:47 AM

The long answer.
I've set my system up at this level and feel it works very well - but my wife complains that it's too loud, so I can only mix at that level when she's not home.

http://www.digido.com/portal/pmodule...er_page_id=59/

Winey · 10th March 2005, 02:45 AM

I like to go back and forth.
I like to mix the vocal where it seems way too loud (but even) when I'm listening very quietly, I always lose it a bit monitoring at higher volume.
I'll crank it up to see how the bass and kick feels together, but that's about it.
I mixed too loud for too long, so I try to take it easy now.

Frost · 10th March 2005, 03:13 AM

I mix at a consistent volume which is calibrated to be 85 dB a weighted. I turn it up to check the bass and kick in the mix but generally mix at the same volume.

Frost

thethrillfactor · 10th March 2005, 03:39 AM

79db on the NS10's.

gb-jazz · 10th March 2005, 04:12 AM

Thanks for the great answers! Pardon my not knowing but what does A-weighted refer to? Also is my radio shack Sound Level Meter good enough to determin db accuracy or should I use something more sophisticated?

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10th March 2005, 01:24 AM	#1
gb-jazz Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 165	OT: How loud should I monitor during a mix Since I have gotten my NS10's hooked up to the Bryston 4b st, my system is really cranking and it seems like my ears have been feeling it. I try not to turn the mix up too loud but my mixer(TLAudio M3) seems like it as a super hot output. So If the recordings are hot and I am sub mixing from PT to eight analog tracks, the master out on the Tubetracker is on fire. I cannot control the output of the 4b st so I try to turn the monitor knob down and usually I have to lower the L+R master fader as well because the monitor knob does not perform well at near zero. Any suggestions? Secondly what are good volume levels to be mixing at? I have a Radio shack Sound Level meter and I seem to be mixing at around 90-95 db. Is this to loud??? What levels are you guys usually mixing at? The last thing I want to do is damage my hearing from mixing to loudly all the time.

10th March 2005, 01:40 AM	#3
toque-eh! Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: vancouver Posts: 141	i generally mix between 75-85 dB A-weighted but i will also alternate with listening more quietly and checking my mix on my boom box that i have hooked up, as well as checking it at loud playback levels. i'll also check my mix listening through the open doorway standing in the next room. does the 4B have -10 or +4 input? maybe it's been selected to -10... i can't stand riding volume pots down near the low end of the taper. __________________ ciao, marc headphones suck!

10th March 2005, 01:47 AM	#4
zemlin Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 609	The long answer. I've set my system up at this level and feel it works very well - but my wife complains that it's too loud, so I can only mix at that level when she's not home. http://www.digido.com/portal/pmodule...er_page_id=59/ __________________ Karl Zemlin - www.sonicartistry.net I couldn't pick a pocket in a pile of dirty clothes - Chris Smither

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10th March 2005, 01:38 AM	#2
bobby yarrow Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 360	That's louder than I work at, but for a lot of stuff I switch around constantly, loud & soft, midfields and nearfields. Have no opinion about whether sustained 95db can damage hearing. Seems like you might want to reconsider your gain structure if you find yourself attenuating to near zero on the mixer tho.

10th March 2005, 02:45 AM	#5
Winey Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 473	I like to go back and forth. I like to mix the vocal where it seems way too loud (but even) when I'm listening very quietly, I always lose it a bit monitoring at higher volume. I'll crank it up to see how the bass and kick feels together, but that's about it. I mixed too loud for too long, so I try to take it easy now.

10th March 2005, 03:13 AM	#6
Frost Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 480	I mix at a consistent volume which is calibrated to be 85 dB a weighted. I turn it up to check the bass and kick in the mix but generally mix at the same volume. Frost

10th March 2005, 03:39 AM	#7
thethrillfactor Gear Guru Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 11,245	79db on the NS10's.

10th March 2005, 04:12 AM	#8
gb-jazz Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 165	Thanks for the great answers! Pardon my not knowing but what does A-weighted refer to? Also is my radio shack Sound Level Meter good enough to determin db accuracy or should I use something more sophisticated?