How loud do you mix?

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Just curious, how loud to you guys listen to music when you're mixing?

I have downloaded Ultimate Ears free app for iPhone, it includes a sound pressure level (SPL) meter. Probably not the most accurate ever but good enough already I guess, I'm usually working around 70+ dB. What about you?

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

We compared different mixing levels once, and it at least seemed to me that I normally mix at around 75-85dB. I'm not a fan of blasting my ears off

 

[Cryo114]

I always turn it up and down a lot, I find at different levels I hear different things. I find it useful as a way to find a different way of hearing it, a different perspective if you like.

 

[Morgan C]

I always turn it up and down a lot, I find at different levels I hear different things. I find it useful as a way to find a different way of hearing it, a different perspective if you like.

This.

Probably generally too loud though, I wish I had a mic to check (iPod touch doesn't have a mic so the app doesn't work ><). I get excited when it starts sounding good and turn it up so it sounds better.. then leave it there >.>

 

[pipaguapique]

i probably go down to 50dB's or so...

very quiet, and it's awesome once i finish and turn it up just to enjoy the final result. (and sometimes maybe correct a couple of things during this stage)

 

[jval]

around 70, sometimes quieter and checking it louder.

 

[Cryo114]

If I'm mixing and I think it sounds awesome up loud, I turn it right down so if it loses impact and power. Then I listen to see if it's still ok and interesting.

 

[ze kink]

Never measured, but pretty quiet; I turn it louder occasionally for checking, but then turn it back down. I just find I get best results and my mixes translate better that way. Judging by the way our ear works on different levels of loudness I guess it's "bad" to do it like that (as in the "inner eq" of our ears is not ideal at those levels), but it's what works for me so who cares really.

 

[waltz mastering]

Just curious, how loud to you guys listen to music when you're mixing?

I don't mix much, but work at moderately loud levels (maybe around 90 dB - never for extended periods - never measured) for mastering. Everything is checked at ULTRA loud levels (pushing air) and ULTRA quiet levels and mostly everything in between, because if it doesn't stand up at all levels...

"They" say that around 83 - 85 dB according to the Fletcher-Munson curve is ideal for monitoring levels ... I put two marks on my monitor control that I go by and that work for me. I also check every mix that comes in at ultra high and really all levels to hear where and why it falls apart. A/B'ing through the process, basically changing levels quite a bit. Moderate sized room - One set of speakers I trust that are 12 feet from the listening position.

 

[wishtheend]

85db C-Weighted

 

[kaomao]

back from the dead
how's it going frenchy?

 

[metalfanat1c]

Somewhere in between 90 and 100db if it's my own music. If it's someone else's, in the 80s.

 

[The-Zeronaut]

I always turn it up and down a lot, I find at different levels I hear different things. I find it useful as a way to find a different way of hearing it, a different perspective if you like.

+1

 

[Proggm]

86 dB SPL, C weighted.

 

[crillemannen]

Is there any program to measure SPL in the computer with for say a microphone in realtime?? Im quite curious to see how loud i mix / Cheers7
ps. I dont have a Iphone ds.

 

[GarethSE]

Usually start at a fairly moderate level to get the groundwork in place, and then turn it up stupid loud, like pushing a fuck load of air loud and work like a maniac to get the rest of the mix down.

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Really quiet level for me most of time (as you can ear computer fan noise) but of course I also check my mix to different level. Work for me...

 

[chrisrivalry]

Is there any program to measure SPL in the computer with for say a microphone in realtime?? Im quite curious to see how loud i mix / Cheers7
ps. I dont have a Iphone ds.

Not that i know of, best just to get a spl meter on ebay.

 

[John_C]

Brett dude, where the fuuuuuck have you been? I can't remember seeing you post for almost a year!

 

[Plankis]

So how did you guys measure this? Did you use Death magnetic, pink noise or what?