I'm setting up my recording desk, and I'm wondering if using some sound measurement tools would be useful in helping me. I have access to an SPL meter (which does dB and dBA, IIRC) and a test microphone with oscilloscope (effectively). Is it worth grabbing these and making some measurements, and if so, what should I look for in the results?

Not really. If you don't know what you're testing for there's not much point testing!

You could set a reference listening level, and you could analyse the system/room's frequency repsonse... but then what?

Hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Fair enough . I wish I'd paid more attention to my acoustics lectures at Uni, but I was just wondering if there was any benefit to measurung stuff - it's the engineer in me

Yes, of course there's a benefit to it if you can interpret and do something constructive with the results. From your original post I got the impression that this might not apply to you -- apologies if I guessed wrong.

But if you want to set a calibrated reference listening SPL you certainly can, with some pracical advantages. Likewise, an accurate measurement of the in-room frequency responses would provide pointers to optimising hte room's acoustic treatment.

The question is, what do you want to achieve and what tools and knowledge do you have?

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

If testing for acoustics we recommend the REW software and have a video on how to use it here -
http://www.gikacoustics.com/video_rew_room_eq_wizard_tutorial.html


Pop any results on here; waterfall graphs etc and I'm sure you will get plenty of help

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David Shevyn General Manager GIK Acoustics Europe
www.gikacoustics.co.uk

Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Yes, of course there's a benefit to it if you can interpret and do something constructive with the results. From your original post I got the impression that this might not apply to you -- apologies if I guessed wrong.

But if you want to set a calibrated reference listening SPL you certainly can, with some pracical advantages. Likewise, an accurate measurement of the in-room frequency responses would provide pointers to optimising hte room's acoustic treatment.

The question is, what do you want to achieve and what tools and knowledge do you have?

hugh

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For the most part, unless you are a pro at this stuff, testing is great for making sure you have the monitors and listening spot in the correct area of the room. Granted even doing that is not a small task to a beginner.

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www.GIKAcoustics.com
Now with offices in the USA and Europe

Quote Glenn Kuras:

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Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Yes, of course there's a benefit to it if you can interpret and do something constructive with the results. From your original post I got the impression that this might not apply to you -- apologies if I guessed wrong.

But if you want to set a calibrated reference listening SPL you certainly can, with some pracical advantages. Likewise, an accurate measurement of the in-room frequency responses would provide pointers to optimising hte room's acoustic treatment.

The question is, what do you want to achieve and what tools and knowledge do you have?

hugh

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For the most part, unless you are a pro at this stuff, testing is great for making sure you have the monitors and listening spot in the correct area of the room. Granted even doing that is not a small task to a beginner.

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Yes, that's pretty much what I want to achieve. I'm thinking along the lines of "put dB meter where head goes, move speakers to get best response on the meter, repeat with different pitch tone and find the best average positioning" sort of thing. And sorry for my vagueness in my first post, I was posting from a phone I'm new to the world of sound recording, but I am a "real" Engineer and have taught Physics for the last 15 years, so I'm fairly familiar with the science behind the art.

Hi Thomas, and welcome to the SOS Forums!

As you know all the theory, it will get you off to a flying start if you can place your loudspeakers firing down the longer dimension of your room, placed about 38% from the front wall, with tweeters at head height, since this should place them in arguably the best position with respect to the various room modes to give a reasonably flat response even before you add any acoustic treatment.

Why make your life more difficult than you need to?


Martin

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YewTreeMagic