|
Avid Pro Audio CommunityHow to Join & Post • Community Terms of Use • Help Us Help YouKnowledge Base Search • Community Search • Learn & Support |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
I was reading about how to calibrate monitors to a K-Meter.. here's the recommended procedure per the article:
"To calibrate your monitors, choose a K-Scale and then play a single-channel, full-spectrum pink noise signal at 0 dB on that scale. From your listening position, use an SPL meter (with a C-weighted, slow response) to measure the loudness. Tweak your monitor gain until the SPL meter reads 83 dBSPL. Then, repeat the process for the other channel. Make a note of your calibrated monitor gain for future reference. Then, if desired, repeat this process for the other K-Scales." This method requires an actual piece of hardware that measures SPL, right? I don't own a pair of monitors at the moment; I've been mixing with headphones while I save up for a decent set of monitors. Is it possible to calibrate headphones as well? If yes, I'm guessing that a SPL-Meter plugin would work best.. any suggestions on a free one (SPL-Meter plug)? I've been having trouble finding one. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
Mixing on headphones - not that good of an idea. It's difficult at best to get a mix that will translate well if at all to other systems doing so. There's plenty of good inexpensive monitor speakers out there. JBL LSR305's are pretty decent: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305 at $298 the pair. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
Quote:
The JBL LSR 305's definitely seem like the best bang for the buck. The Yamaha HS5's are a bit more expensive, but still in my price range (barely). From all the stuff I've read on monitors, the best size is 6-6.5", but for some reason manufacturers only make 5 and 8" sizes. Yamaha makes the HS7, which is 6.5", but it might be too expensive. What are your views on buying used monitors? It's definitely the cheaper route, and I could probably get a better quality monitor. Thanks, -Adam |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
There is no one 'best size' for monitors, only what's fit for your space. IOW you don't need monitors with a 10 inch woofer in a small home or bedroom studio. Just as a big time studio won't have monitor speakers with a 5 inch woofer for their main monitors - they might have them as a check monitor but they would also have something with a much larger woofer and a LOT more power (probably a 3 or 4 way system). For a small home system the LSR305's or even the LSR 308's (max size) would be good. Yamaha makes some good monitors as well and the HS series seems to be a relative of the old NS10 monitors which if you could get a good mix on those it was pretty much guaranteed it would sound good anywheres. Note that good monitoring will only get you good results in a well-treated acoustic space. Pay attention to that as well as monitor placing. Google is your friend. Lastly I would NOT buy used monitors - you don't know how hard they've been used/abused. Hit speakers loud enough and long enough and you could end up with a stuck woofer cone/voice coil assembly (had that happen). Speakers do change over time and usage - ask any electric guitar player worth his/her salt. In my experience they tend to mellow out. |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
Quote:
From the research I've done (just reading articles, forum posts, etc.. no actual auditioning), the LSR 305's seem like the best bang for the buck, and they also get great reviews. Then comes the HS5's, which are a bit more pricey. Of these two monitors, people always seem to love one and hate the other. Moving a step up, the Equator D5's and Focal Alpha 50's seem amazing; I haven't had an opportunity to try any of the four monitors I just listed. Come to think of it, I've only tried/owned one pair of monitors since I began mixing.. a pair of M-Audio Bx5's, 10-15 years ago. Should I hold onto my cash until I can afford monitors with a 6-6.5" woofer? I've read many an article/post praising 6.5" woofers for their better bass response, as well as overall tone. I was also reading about Focal changing the Alpha to a front loaded port design, which tightens up the bass response. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
I've gotten conflicting advice about 6.5" woofers. Some say they're the perfect size, especially for bass response, while others claim that there isn't much of a difference between 5" and 6.5". |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Ha. I'm just saying what I've read. "Perfect" was the wrong term. Maybe perfect for a bedroom size room.. but apparently not.
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Monitor Calibration for K-Meter
Quote:
From my experience room acoustics matter more. My Genelec 8250's still require a good amount of adjustment via the GLM software. And my room is treated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Question about calibration meter level. | MindDead | Pro Tools HDX & HD Native Systems (Mac) | 11 | 11-09-2015 01:05 PM |
Question - 003 and VU meter Calibration | upperoom | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) | 7 | 10-28-2010 07:17 PM |
Dolby Media Meter calibration? | houser | Post - Surround - Video | 9 | 09-16-2010 07:44 AM |
Monitor Calibration | daustin777 | General Discussion | 1 | 01-23-2005 08:53 AM |
Monitor Calibration | KamaSutra77 | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) | 2 | 07-09-2001 07:12 PM |