aznwonderboy
New member
I did more than 10 hours worth of reading on this topic of "tuning" monitors to get flat response. The more I read, the more headaches I get. My monitors (M-Audio SP-5B) sound dull and muddy to me. My mixes do not translate well at all to other systems. So, I feel the need to calibrate my monitors in order to produce a more accurate response and hopefully will help me improve my mix.
Okay, I just ordered a Radioshack SPL meter (the current digital model RS is selling now), and I have The Bink's Audio Test CD. So, here is the process that I PLAN to follow in order to calibrate my monitors:
1. I should mount the meter onto a tripod at the position of where my ears would be during mixing.
2. Play test tone (any tone??) through one monitor and adjust its volume until I get 85dB readout. Then, play that same tone through the other monitor and adjust its volume until I get 85dB.
After this, I will have both monitors outputting same volume. Okay, I understand everything up to this part.
3. Now, start playing other test tones from low to high frequencies and make a chart of the meter readout (by the way, do I play these test tones with one monitor or both at the same time? If I play both monitors at the same, would that be twice as loud as the volume would be at 85dB?) After I'm done making that chart, what can I do with it?
Suppose the chart is like this:
1Khz : 85dB
2Khz : 85dB
3Khz : 90dB
4Khz : 85dB
5Khz : 80dB
So, in order to hear what my mix would sound like on monitors with a flat response, I would need to initially EQ ALL my mixes with -5dB @ 3Khz and +5dB @ 5Khz? Would this be called "EQ'ing the monitors"? (which I know I'm not supposed to.)
Also, I read that the SPL meter has its own response curve that needs to be adjusted. However, this problem occurs in the old version. I will use the newer version. Do I still need to be aware of this problem? If so, where can I obtain the correction for it? I already have the correction for the old version.
Here's a summary of all my questions, please try to answer all if you can.
-Which test tone do I play to calibrate monitors' volume level?
-After the volume is adjusted, do I play the other test tones with both monitors or just one?
-What can I do with the Frequency vs. Volume chart?
-Do I need to apply any correction to the new SPL meter's readout?
THANKS.
----
Some extra stuffs you might want to know:
-I put my monitors within 6 inches from the wall because I read that this will somewhat make up for their weak bass response.
-The monitors and I form an equilateral triangle with each side 3 feet long. I mix with my ears within that triangle.
-Since I use these as nearfield monitors, I don't plan to do anything to my room. I AM willing to make adjustments as long as they don't cost alot of money.
-If this adjustment does not work, then I'll upgrade to Yorkville YSM1P monitors.
Okay, I just ordered a Radioshack SPL meter (the current digital model RS is selling now), and I have The Bink's Audio Test CD. So, here is the process that I PLAN to follow in order to calibrate my monitors:
1. I should mount the meter onto a tripod at the position of where my ears would be during mixing.
2. Play test tone (any tone??) through one monitor and adjust its volume until I get 85dB readout. Then, play that same tone through the other monitor and adjust its volume until I get 85dB.
After this, I will have both monitors outputting same volume. Okay, I understand everything up to this part.
3. Now, start playing other test tones from low to high frequencies and make a chart of the meter readout (by the way, do I play these test tones with one monitor or both at the same time? If I play both monitors at the same, would that be twice as loud as the volume would be at 85dB?) After I'm done making that chart, what can I do with it?
Suppose the chart is like this:
1Khz : 85dB
2Khz : 85dB
3Khz : 90dB
4Khz : 85dB
5Khz : 80dB
So, in order to hear what my mix would sound like on monitors with a flat response, I would need to initially EQ ALL my mixes with -5dB @ 3Khz and +5dB @ 5Khz? Would this be called "EQ'ing the monitors"? (which I know I'm not supposed to.)
Also, I read that the SPL meter has its own response curve that needs to be adjusted. However, this problem occurs in the old version. I will use the newer version. Do I still need to be aware of this problem? If so, where can I obtain the correction for it? I already have the correction for the old version.
Here's a summary of all my questions, please try to answer all if you can.
-Which test tone do I play to calibrate monitors' volume level?
-After the volume is adjusted, do I play the other test tones with both monitors or just one?
-What can I do with the Frequency vs. Volume chart?
-Do I need to apply any correction to the new SPL meter's readout?
THANKS.
----
Some extra stuffs you might want to know:
-I put my monitors within 6 inches from the wall because I read that this will somewhat make up for their weak bass response.
-The monitors and I form an equilateral triangle with each side 3 feet long. I mix with my ears within that triangle.
-Since I use these as nearfield monitors, I don't plan to do anything to my room. I AM willing to make adjustments as long as they don't cost alot of money.
-If this adjustment does not work, then I'll upgrade to Yorkville YSM1P monitors.
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