#974233 - 05/26/00 10:56 AM
monitor levels?
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thanks for the responses from my last post!
I'm now in search of a "correct" monitoring level? I've read the proposal from Bob Katz concerning his "K-System". I'm very interested in the way the mind/ears percieve loudness. Should I monitor at a very low level to discern balance? Also, does anyone have any pointers for bass guitar mixing (the player has great technique, just needs a place to sit...leveling compression?
Thanks!
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#974234 - 05/26/00 01:40 PM
Re: monitor levels?
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c.cash
Senior Member
Registered: 03/17/00
Posts: 321
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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If I may glom on to El Grillo's post...
I was going to post the same-type question, but specifically, what SPL do you typically monitor at? Can you be HONEST about it! I avg. 84-92dB, C-weighted. Thanks!
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#974235 - 05/26/00 05:12 PM
Re: monitor levels?
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THE MIX FIX
Platinum Member
Registered: 03/01/00
Posts: 1552
Loc: NYC Area
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El:
I, personally, start out quite loud on the mains, so I keep my faders down to a respectable level, then hop to a "comfortable" level, when I know they are all giving me ton's of headroom.
And I change speakers and levels all the time to see how it will sound on a variety of systems at different levels.
So I guess my answer is ALL.
By the way.
I read, a while ago, that Stevie Wonder used to use a small Radio Shack FM transmitter to send the mix from the studio to his car in the parking lot, to hear what it would sound like on that system.
Now, you can do the same to a Honda Civic, or Ford Explorer with a 12" subwoofer in the trunk if you want, but you get the idea. 
Bob.
[This message has been edited by THE MIX FIX (edited 05-26-2000).]
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#974236 - 05/27/00 01:30 PM
Re: monitor levels?
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Quantum
Senior Member
Registered: 02/22/00
Posts: 52
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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el grillo,
About the monitoring levels. I personally
watch levels not only to get a good mix balance but, to keep my hearing. When
cats want to "vibe" off of a track at high volume levels I'll leave the room, especially if they're going to leave the volume up for an extended period of time. I've found
that if I mix too loud the low end winds up
not being all that it should be. Some times
I'll turn the volume up for short periods of time to hear very specific details on a
track, or the mix as a whole. 80-90db is
a good level to mix at but, not for longer
that 4 to 5 hours straight. I'll listen to
tracks that are popular, and similar in genre
to what I'm mixing, side by side with what
I'm mixing at high, and low volume levels
to compare balances, and overall levels (both average,and peak). I would say start out
at a moderate level. Put the volume up
when you need to, to get certain specifics
for individual tracks, and the overall mix.
Blast the mix, and compare it to what is
also hot in the genre of music you're mixing
for short durations. Keep doing this
until you have a mix that your client, and
yourself are satisfied with. About the bass
situation. Try and leave frequency windows
for certain instruments that should complement the bass available in the frequencies around the bass. Example:
Don't boost the bass, and the kick drum
in the same frequency. Let one instrument take precedence in a certain segment of the bass frequencies over the other instrument.
And visa, versa. Be like an artist. Use different textures in different areas of the sound canvas=(frequency ranges).
Watch the amount of compression you put on
the bass so to not take the life out of it.
These are only a couple of pointers as far
as how to deal with the bass. Experiment
until it's happening! One last thing. Check
at say Radio Shack to see if you can purchase
a db meter there. It may not be extremely
accurate but, at least you'll have a starting
point to gauge you're monitoring levels.
Quantum!
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