playback volume & monnitor placement

[bigRalph]

Just got setup with a pair of Alesis M1's.
Is there a 'correct' playback volume for mixing?
When you're doing critical listening of a playback do you set the volume gentle, robust or really F***** loud? Should it vary with the type of music or is it just a personal preference?

What's the optimum placement for monitors of this type?

Thanks
Ralph

 

[bsanfordnyc]

The monitors should form an equilateral/equidistant triangle with your head.

put them as far away from your head as they are from each other...probably about 4 feet or so.

As for volume, you'll want to mix at a modest volume. Not loud enough to damage hearing but not soft enough to miss details. I'm sure someone here will have a more exact answer for you...but i think within reason, just do whatever volume you're comfortable with.

 

[masteringhouse]

Just got setup with a pair of Alesis M1's.
Is there a 'correct' playback volume for mixing?
When you're doing critical listening of a playback do you set the volume gentle, robust or really F***** loud? Should it vary with the type of music or is it just a personal preference?

What's the optimum placement for monitors of this type?

Thanks
Ralph

Check out this link:

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_alesis_active_reference/

 

[c7sus]

The manual actually says stuff cloth in the ports if the LF response is too much?

That's unfuckingbelievable!

"Although the M1 is without active (or passive) electronic controls for altering its frequency response, the manual suggests that stuffing the two ports with wads of cloth will reduce the LF response."

WOW! I thought Roland wrote some weird shit in their manuals!

You wanna mix at about 80dB.

Radio Shack sells a SPL meter for about $20US.

Also, besides the equilateral triangle described above, you should notice a tightening of the soundfield if you can get the speakers about 3 feet away from the wall behind them. Of course, that also depends a lot on the size of the room and if it's treated.

Stay away from putting your monitors in a corner of the room. Just too many weird reflections in that setup.

 

[masteringhouse]

The manual actually says stuff cloth in the ports if the LF response is too much?

That's unfuckingbelievable!

Not the weirdest thing of heard of. Alot of engineers used to put toilet paper over the tweeters of NS-10s. I don't think that they mentioned this modification in the manual though.

 

[Garry Sharp]

If they're the active M1 and you're in time to take them back for a refund, then do so. They are horrible monitors - do a search on this bbs. I've been so much happier since I sold mine. The passives apparently aren't so bad. Otherwise stuff at least one port with heavy foam, or both ports if they are near a corner.

 

[goldfish]

Not the weirdest thing of heard of. Alot of engineers used to put toilet paper over the tweeters of NS-10s. I don't think that they mentioned this modification in the manual though.

No, but its pretty crap that the people who made the monitor (which is supposed to be a reference) actually put it in the manual.

 

[masteringhouse]

No, but its pretty crap that the people who made the monitor (which is supposed to be a reference) actually put it in the manual.

Since when has Alesis and the term "reference" ever not been an oxymoron?

 

[apl]

Here is a heady article on monitor volumes. I still don't understand, but I'm working on it.

 

[Massive Master]

I don't think I've ever hear "Alesis M1" and "Too much LF response" in the same paragraph, much less the same phrase.

 

[Be Loveless]

Hey APL, that article fucking ruled!!! I'm still on casstte but when I upgrade to a DAW and go to school in the fall I'm deffinitely going to check out the K system. I am sickened by the LOUD war that has been going on. Some of my favorite bands are putting out these LOUD CD's. And each album the sound quality goes down. For example the last Lungfish record is a steady unfaltering 0dB peak the whole fucking album!!!!! I love that band but I think it's thier worst production or mastering ever. It's gotta stop and I think that if some sort of new measuring standard were to be implemented everybody(engineers, producers, artists, and LISTENERS) would benefit. Lets bring dynamic range back from the dead. Thanks for the link.

 

[apl]

<<<sickened by the LOUD war that has been going on>>>

I've heard that now the commercial masterers are being forced to turn down the bass to compete in the loudness wars. What's the point of the availablity of 96dB dynamic range on CDs if you're only going to use 3? It's really sad. The technology has gotten to where I can make a more accurate recording at home than the Beatles could have when they were a band*, but the commercial pressures are driving the mainstream products to lower sound quality.

*The technology is better, but I don't hold a candle in terms of skill, talent and experience.