What's equivalent of 85 db on a Master Fader 002?

[Jay Terrien]

I've been reading about how mixers/engineers prefer to monitor and tweak tunes at @85 db. What's Pro Tools equivalent when you are monitoring mixes by looking at the Master Fader track? I have been doing most of my work at 0.0 db on the master fader. I know virtually nothing about this subject, so please advise....

Jay

[Rail Jon Rogut]

That's 85dB out of the monitors.. depending on the gain of your amp or powered monitors.. it'd be different for everyone. In all my years - I've really only seen one engineer calibrate the monitor pot for 85dB... except when setting up for a film mix with Dolby.

Rail

[Jay Terrien]

So there's no real way for me to tell right? It's not like I want to monitor at ear splitting levels but as I am going back through and carefully piling through some muddy mixes that have virtually no clarity, I figured I'd try and get at least the volume level basics down.

[Matt Zeiner]

This 85db stuff really applies to cinema and mixing for cinema - but, to let you know, it refers to a specification whereby each channel is calibrated such that pink noise at reference level
corresponds to -20dbvu = 85dbc. Its just part of a calibration spec.

[dbrunell]

So there's no real way for me to tell right?

Well.. a couple of things come to mind. Are you in the U.S.? You could go out and get one of the available compact sound pressure level meters, like the one sold by Radio Shack, and measure the SPL at your listening spot. I think they're about $50. Adjust your monitor level to be around 85 db SPL, A-weighted.

Else, you could just guesstimate it. I don't think there's anything magical about the 85-db SPL figure.. as long as you're monitoring at a moderate level, you should be okay.

Try this- if you can carry on a conversation with another person in the room while mixing without yelling, you're probably mixing at a reasonable level. I tend to vary my listening level while mixing, to see how it sounds at different levels.

Doug

[Jay Terrien]

Thanks for the quick suggestions boys.....

[where02190]

Yep, get youerself a Rad Shack meter, the analog one. The very same meter than Bob Ludwig uses....