agree on the bob katz book
which is why I am surprised you say use music to do the setup rather than using pink noise
- pink noise playing in your daw at nominal level of either
- -20dBfs (soundtrack/ambient) or
- -14dBfs (television/radio broadcast) or
- -12dBfs (pop/hip-hop/country/etc)
- these are known as k-20, k-14 and k-12 respectively
- interface outputs should be adjusted to nominal 0dB-RMS
- at your listening position have a sound pressure level meter or an app that will do the same thing.
settings should be: C-weighted and slow
- adjust the levels of each monitor independently until you get a reading of 77dBSPL. Note this position on the volume control for each monitor using liquid paper/nail polish, fluoro marker etc
- now bring both monitors up to the previously marked levels - your spl reading should now be 83dBSPL (when you add spl of the same values from different source points, it is the equivalent of adding 6dB at the point of reception) - it could read 83.02dBSPL but this is the correct number
your monitoring position is now calibrated for whichever k-system value you choose to use at the 40phon level within the Fletcher-Munson curves
once calibrated using pink noise
then play different known albums and singles to better understand your levels
any subsequent adjustments you make should be with your output level controls on your interface
make a note of the received spl levels at your listening position so that you understand how you are changing your perception of the music you hear
also be aware of the following international and local standards regarding exposure to spl over time (these are known levels that constitute safe working practices in Canada, The UK, USA, Australia and other countries):
83dB-SPL is the level of exposure that you can sustain over an 8 hour period before you begin to notice detrimental effects to your hearing
increasing the SPL by 6dB (i.e. 89dB-SPL) will reduce your listening period by half (e.g 89dB-SPL means 4 hours maximum exposure)
decreasing the SPL by 6dB (i.e. 77dB-SPL) will increase your listening period by double (e.g. 77dB-SPL means 15 hours maximum exposure)
SPL Level | Time before hearing impacts begin |
---|
71dB-SPL | 32 hours |
77dB-SPL | 16 hours |
83dB-SPL | 8 hours |
89dB-SPL | 4 hours |
95dB-SPL | 2 hours |
101dB-SPL | 1 hour |
107dB-SPL | 30 minutes |
113dB-SPL | 15 minutes |
note that depending on which text/standard you read, hearing impacts are almost instantaneous and irreversible once we get to 120dB-SPL-130dB-SPL (the threshold of pain in hearing) - this is because the instantaneous impacts (C-weighting or 100phon curve) are more important than the average/RMS exposures