Am I hearing too *L*O*U*D*?

[vls]

Hi!

I'm using the Adam P22a + Adam Sub12. Some days ago, I used my Radio Shack Clone SPL Meter for measuring the sound level (electronic music):
db(A): 83dB
db(C): 102 dB

Is this now too loud? Do I have to pay attention to the db(A) or the db(C) value? Is the Sub perhaps set too loud? (or is this high db(C) value caused by peaks in the room acoustics / bass range?) How damaging is bass for the ears?

Thanks,

Volker

[MDK]

Not sure about the sub but proper mixing level is 85 dB.....where we hear all frequencies the best.
Sub sounds about right to me...

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by rufus13

If customers want to crank it up, you can leave the room.

Or alternately, just tell them to get lost.

[scrubs]

Not sure if this is exactly correct, but I play a pink noise track in my DAW and adjust to 83-85dB (C-weighted) at the listening position using a Radio Shack SPL meter. Seems plenty loud to me. Once I've got the basic mix how I want it, I'll check at other volumes.

[Jay Kahrs]

If you're averaging 102dBspl C-weighted at mix postion...that's pretty loud IMO!

To put it into perspective...I can usually mix FOH (live) with HUGE rigs and keep it around 102-105 in the room...could be for a couple hundred people or a couple thousand.

Anyway, in the studio I'm usually around 90dBspl (C-weight) most of the time. I've keep trying to average 85 but it's just a little too low for me & I found that not only is it hard to stay there without creeping up, but my mixes don't translate as well...especially on the bottom end.

Mixing at 102 is gonna fry 'yer ears pretty quickly, to say nothing of translation!

Anyway, yes...low frequency's are just as damaging as high's for the ears.

It ALL matters.

A-weighting is bandwith limited...I think it only measures what's going on above 400 or 500 cycles. It's not a very "real world" number...C-weighting is how humans hear things and what most clubs, townships & other authority figures use to measure 'noise pollution.'