listening level calibration?

[anders]

When calibrating my speakers for a an 85db listening level, what should the pink noise should be reading on my consoles meter?

Also can anyone suggest an online source that onlines the process very clearly.

thanks

[iamstudios]

Hi,

I remember writing something about this a year ago. Here's the link:

article[/URL ]

Do visit Bob Katz' [URL=http://www.digido.com]Digital Domain for more info on the subject.

cheers

Barnier

[anders]

Thanks for the info.

I should start at the beginning with this beacuse I'm really trying to get all the levels protocol accurate.

I start with 1k tone @ -18db on my meters. this is also printed an my masters. Should the program material then peak at -18 or 0? Particularly where should the dialog be averaging at?

Secondly if I'm to generate pink noise on the digi sig gen, should this be set to -18 as the 1k tone is.

Thnaks for any help and guidance.

[iamstudios]

Hi,

Well that depends completely on what system of measuring you use. If you use the K-system you need -20 dBFS for K20 (feature films and orchestral - big dynamics), -14 dBFS for K14 (your average TV-mix) and -12dBFS for K12 (broadcast mixes etc.). BUT if you don't want to use the K-system (and I really advise you to take a look at it) then -18 dBFS pink would be ok.

cheers

Barnier

[anders]

thanks for the advice. unfortunately i don't have spectrafoo tdm.

When you talk of K-20, would your reference level for a 1 k tone also be -20. in onter words is this what you would put at the head of a master.

I suppose I'm looking for a standard to runing the pink noise at which would correspond to the levels that I usually print at-1k ref tone at -18 and my dialog usually averaging about -6.

thanks

[privateIQ]

Originally posted by anders:
thanks for the advice. unfortunately i don't have spectrafoo tdm.

When you talk of K-20, would your reference level for a 1 k tone also be -20. in onter words is this what you would put at the head of a master.

I suppose I'm looking for a standard to runing the pink noise at which would correspond to the levels that I usually print at-1k ref tone at -18 and my dialog usually averaging about -6.

thanks

For calibrating a surround room, you need bandwidth-limited noise. A very good CD and tape are available from Thomlinson Holman and I think, from Amazon.com. An excellent text from him will also get you started. It's something like "5.1 Surround, Up and Running." Again, it should be on Amazon.

FWIW, we prefer the tapes to the CD because his accompanying manual is terrific.

PIQ