Monitoring Levels for Mixing

johnnylakes

Just a quick one...
Wondering how yall like to monitor when mixing? Volume wise.
I understand as the mix progresses that it should be listened to at different volumes/different systems etc. But just as a starting point.
I guess the room acoustics would come into play also, but generally speaking.
Nice and vague.......

iquinn

johnnylakes wrote: »

Just a quick one...
Wondering how yall like to monitor when mixing? Volume wise.
I understand as the mix progresses that it should be listened to at different volumes/different systems etc. But just as a starting point.
I guess the room acoustics would come into play also, but generally speaking.
Nice and vague.......

6

old gregg

11

johnnylakes

aw shucks...thanks guys....

dav nagle

I would usually mix at a level that is not too loud but not too quite either. After a while I would check he mix at a higher level, checking compression is very important because at louder levels compression can start to sound gloopy (for want for a better term) Checking vocals and clarity is also very important so I would lower the mix down to see if I can still hear the vocals clearly or not. I wouldn't mix too loud for too long as this process can often exhaust the ear organ.

johnnylakes

Thanks Dav..
Maybe 'conversational' volume or a little more I shall try.
Thanks again

dav nagle

johnnylakes wrote: »

Thanks Dav..
Maybe 'conversational' volume or a little more I shall try.
Thanks again

yeah I would go a bit higher than conversational but as you said a little higher. Just enough that everything sounds clear. Watch out for low end too. I had Paul brewer in my new studio yesterday and he caught me on some low end guitar rumble which I hadn't noticed. Again observation and reference is very important and a good sense of honesty and decisive decision making with a wee bit of risk thrown in should yield you some good results. Before you send your work to be mastered do listen loud though, often when things get loud the spots under the make up raise their ugly heads.

PaulBrewer

johnnylakes wrote: »

Thanks Dav..
Maybe 'conversational' volume or a little more I shall try.
Thanks again

I find the work one does at conversational level is actually mixing.
When we visited Cenzo Townshend last year that's what he was working at, however Greg Haver works at redlight volume all day .... which I think is bonkers.

Think of turning up loud as 'zooming in' on something, important but one doesn't stay 'zoomed in' all day.

PaulBrewer

dav nagle wrote: »

I had Paul brewer in my new studio yesterday and he caught me on some low end guitar rumble

... amongst other things - care to relate?;)

TelePaul

dav nagle wrote: »

I had Paul brewer in my new studio yesterday and he caught me on some low end guitar rumble which I hadn't noticed.

Did he tell ya they were out of tune too? He's always pulling that one.

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

Did he tell ya they were out of tune too? He's always pulling that one.

madtheory

Get an SPL meter. Even a cheap one can be very illuminating. That way, you will know without doubt what "conversation level" is, regardless of your mood

PaulBrewer

madtheory wrote: »

Get an SPL meter. Even a cheap one can be very illuminating. That way, you will know without doubt what "conversation level" is, regardless of your mood

And there's one for the iPhone ...

PaulBrewer

madtheory wrote: »

Get an SPL meter.

.... and a tuner :rolleyes:

PMI

Everyone is different, I would tend to mix at low level with the old blast to see if any frequencies gets boosted/attenuated at a louder level.

most important is ear rest....get out of studio and fresh air etc... then come back