dadking
Joined: 10/08/10
Posts: 35
|
Sound Level Monitor
#989688 - 25/05/12 11:32 PM
|
|
|
|
I am looking for some sort of level meter that i can leave on while monitoring mixing so
that i dont start using the volume control to compensate for tired ears and bad mixes. I
know i can get sound level meters but something that would connect inline with my monitors
would be nice.
does such a thing exist or is there a suitable circuit diagram
available. Usual criteria its got to be cheap.
|
chris...
active member
Joined: 12/03/03
Posts: 4152
Loc: Glasgow
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: dadking]
#989700 - 26/05/12 02:58 AM
|
|
|
|
You want a sound level meter. What's not to like ?
Something inline with your
monitors might (if it exists at all) have a detrimental effect on sound quality.
Maybe there's some metering software (plugin) you can insert across your DAW's master
bus, which will show what's wanted, assuming you don't change the monitor level control.
|
ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5627
Loc: northampton uk
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: chris...]
#989703 - 26/05/12 04:24 AM
|
|
|
This, http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/st-85a/sound-level-meter-mini-a-type/dp/I
N05467Is surely cheap enough that you could permanently attach it to the wall
between your monitors? Fit a Lithium PP3 and it will last 12 months easy I would
think or, get a cheap SM 9V supply and bosh it into the battery connector? You
cannot just monitor the level on the monitor feed since this would assume that the level
pots on the speakers are never touched. In any case, it is the sound PRESSURE level you
need to measure, the input volts is not quite the same thing....Flip! You would need an
SPL meter to calibrate the system anyway! Dave.
|
dadking
Joined: 10/08/10
Posts: 35
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: dadking]
#989741 - 26/05/12 10:20 AM
|
|
|
|
I have seen these meters many moons ago but they where expensive and apart from sound
pressure levels also phase and a few other measurements, I think SoS did a review of one a
few years back.
Speaker levels are never touched but the main fader is always up and
down, tending to ride up late into a session. A sound pressuremeter seems to be the
answer, and whats 12 quid nowadays.
Thanks for the info
|
Tomás Mulcahy
active member
Joined: 25/04/01
Posts: 2818
Loc: Cork, Ireland.
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: dadking]
#989843 - 27/05/12 11:41 AM
|
|
|
Connecting in line won't work because you will need to measure sound pressure level at the
mix position. That is a function of your speakers, amp setting and room acoustics. Do you
have an iPhone? These guys make a free SPL meter that is good (has built in compensation
for the bass roll off in the iPhone): http://www.studiosixdigital.com/products_2.htmlAnd check
out Bob Katz's "K system"; http://www.digido.com/level-practices-part-2-includes-the-k-system.html
-------------------- madtheory creations
Synths and pianos for Kontakt
|
ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5627
Loc: northampton uk
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: Tomás Mulcahy]
#989848 - 27/05/12 12:32 PM
|
|
|
|
Thomas,
Since I think the OP just want to have a reference to keep to regardless of
his demure, even a VU meter across the monitor feed lines would be better than nothing
assuming the speaker pots are not touched.
I also think you would have to make
some serious changes to a rooms acoustics to have much effect upon the integrated SPL
reading?
The advantage of that cheap meter as I see it is that it can be "No
Nailed" in place and will forever give the sound level at that spot.
Dave.
|
Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18390
Loc: Worcestershire
|
Re: Sound Level Monitor
[Re: dadking]
#989858 - 27/05/12 02:19 PM
|
|
|
Quote dadking:
I am looking for
some sort of level meter that i can leave on while monitoring mixing so that i dont start
using the volume control to compensate for tired ears and bad mixes.
You've already got adequate meters in your
daw, and a meter wont stop you reaching for the volume knob. Only self discipline can do
that.
I would suggest adopting the Bob Katz k-meter approach to combine a
fixed calibrated monitoring SPL with a set headroom margin on the peak meters. You'll find
practical info on Bob's website and here:
http://www.aes.org/technical/documentDownloads.cfm?docID=65
Hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
|
Previous
Topics
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
