Mixing at High or Low volumes???

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tommy mas

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do you all think that it is better to switch between mixing at very high volumes, and lower volumes, or do you think mixing one way or the other is better ?

i have heard some places that mixing low is good, and if your mix sounds good low, then it will sound good loud also. but then at the same time you also want your mix to sound good when bumped really loud, so im just curious what you all think...
 
I prefer to mix loud. I just dont feel you hear everything when you get it loud. I find that when you get it right loud its good soft too if not a little bassier.

The problem with mixing loud is it wears your ears out. So if your not going to have alot of breaks then mix quiet and then check loud for fine tuning.

Danny
 
i think the current wisdom is mix mid, while remembering to check both whisper and blast levels.
 
I think there's some kind of standard used in mixing for movies, around 85dBA average. This is probably a good level where your ear isn't putting on too much of its own compensation.
 
isnt the highest the human ear can hear is 120 db? so would mixing at 85 db be extrmely loud and harmful for your hears?
 
85 dB isn't all that loud sounding to me actually. You can get a cheapo sound level meter at Radio Shack to check with. What I've heard/read is that at 85 dB or so most frequencies sound pretty accurate (flat) to the human ear.
 
I also tend to mix at around 85dB, but I will check the mix at lower levels. Having more than one set of speakers/monitors is also handy. While I do my main mixing through my Wharfedales, I also check the mix through my NS-10s and my Rat Shack Minimus 7s.
 
I find that it is easier to set levels at a low volume, especially vocals and bass, but as I try to make out the small details, the fader moves up until my girlfriend comes in and says i'm blowing her hearing out across the house....can't seem to control that thing. (the fader).
 
I'm not sure of the level in dB's that I will mix at but generally I will mix at a level that will give me a couple of hours or so of mixing without fatigue setting in (especially mixing guitars that I like to have cutting through the mix somewhat).

In the end I have always been led to believe that checking your mixes at varying levels is a good practice to adopt.

However I love it loud!!!!! :D
 
Tis The Floyd /Munchin(munchkin??!!) theory that estimates aprrox. 80 db is the most accurate audio level for frequencies to show their true colors.
 
I keep it somewhat quiet but boost it up in the end to make sure.
 
I have a Rat Shack SPL meter that I use to set the mix level to 80 to 85 dB.
 
Mixing at mid levels doesn't do too much wear and tear on the ears, and is good for long sessions. Checking soft is essential, as is checking at blast levels for short periods. I also find using a big and a little pair of monitors very helpful, and checking in mono is amazingly useful as well.
 
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I probably monitor louder then the averege AE, but not ear blasting. Everyonce and i while i'll turn it up quite a bit and sit back and close my eyes. And then sometimes I'll do the same thing, but turn it way down. It helps me get my mind off the last thing i was mixing, and onto something else i need to spend hours tweaking.
 
Protoolfool said:
Tis The Floyd /Munchin(munchkin??!!) theory that estimates aprrox. 80 db is the most accurate audio level for frequencies to show their true colors.
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:D While I like your name better, it's actually called the "Fletcher-Munson" curve, and yeah the textbooks state the somewhere in the 80-85dBSPL range is supposed to be ideal. I find that I can't keep it at those levels for super long, though, at least not in near fields. It gets loud and fatiguing to keep it up there constantly. Keep it varied, like other posts have said, and bring it up to the higher levels for testing/checking purposes.

G.
 
Sir

well it is not so bad when you keep it mid, but boost in the end to check your levels .
 
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