[LAU] [LAD] First release of jkmeter

Hector Centeno hcengar at gmail.com
Wed Oct 29 12:42:25 EDT 2008


Hello,

I got some time to do some more testing on this and I found that for
the kind of music I make/listen (electroacoustic) a level of 77dB(C)
feels right to me. I tested with some known good recordings that where
hitting around 0 to +3 in the loudest parts, using Jkmeter as a K-14
level, and then adjusted the monitors gain to a comfortable level and
used jnoise (pink) to measure the level.


Cheers,

Hector


On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 5:58 PM, Fons Adriaensen <fons at kokkinizita.net> wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 08:06:56AM -0400, Hector Centeno wrote:
>
>> I've been using the excellent Jkmeter for a few weeks. Recently I gt
>> hold of a SPL meter so using Jnoise I was able to calibrate the
>> speakers volume to the suggested 83db(C). Similar  to what Steven
>> mentioned in his email, to me that sound level felt very uncomfortable
>> (way too high) so following my perception (and without using Jkmeter)
>> I started mixing everything way too low (I confirmed this after
>> playing one of my pieces at a electroacoustic music concert setup). So
>> I'm also wondering, did I misunderstood something or I'm just too
>> sensitive? Is my SPL meter not working (it's a new and made by a
>> Galaxy Audio)?
>
> You're at least to third user to report that 83 dB(C) is
> quite loud... Don't blame me - I didn't invent this figure !
>
> I guess that if Bob Katz specifies this level, this may
> reflect the quite high monitoring levels that are common
> in commercial 'pop' studios. If you feel it is too high
> there is IMHO no reason why you shouldn't adopt a lower
> level as standard. The importing thing IMHO is to use a
> *fixed* level. Play some music that you are familiar with,
> adjusting the output level to indicate just above 0 dB on
> the K-meter on the loudest parts. Adjust the volume control
> to a level that feels right for you. Then, without touching
> the volume control, output pink noise indicating 0 dB on the
> K-meter, and measure the SPL. Write down this value so you
> can revert to it later, even if the volume control has been
> moved.
>
> I'd be interested to know what sort of SPL levels you
> adopt, along with the type of music you are listening
> to.
>
>> Does the existent room noise (computer fans, street
>> noise leaking through the window, measuring around 50dBC)
>> significantly affects the measurement?
>
> That's 30 dB down, it won't have any impact on the
> measured level at 83 dB(C).
>
> Note that if you are monitoring at say 75 dB for high
> level signals, and the background level is 50 dB, the
> way you handle the softer parts of any any recording
> may be biased by the presence of this background noise,
> i.e. you could - unconsciously - be reducing the dynamic
> range of your recording. Assuming of course the type
> of music you record has any dynamic range at all...
>
> Ciao,
>
> --
> FA
>
> Laboratorio di Acustica ed Elettroacustica
> Parma, Italia
>
> Lascia la spina, cogli la rosa.
>
>



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