Ciao guys, I'm using headphones at the moment because I have a hard time determining whether my neighbours are actually in. My question concerns what volume levels are best for monitoring. This probably concerns computer users only, because the problem is that I have AT LEAST THREE master volume levels to play with!

I'm using CoolEdit for now, which means I can have individual volume controls for each track via the software, and THEN I have the Windows Master Volume control, and Wave Volume control. How are they all monitored...in decibels? Or just audible nuances in the sound? (erm, I dunno, I made that one up!)

I'm guessing I have the Wave Volume maxed up, but the Master Volume and Track Volumes? AAARTRGHHGHHGHGHGHHG! Also is it best to listen/monitor at high volume, or is there a lower volume best? I ask this because last night I found only higher volumes brought out this handclapping noise, but today I STILL have a damn headache from it all.


I was up late last night playing around with equaliser levels and realising that if there are overlaps in frequencies between tracks, then you get horrible distortions etc (is there a particular techy name for this so I can look it up with Google?). This 'monitoring question' is just the start of my problems...but one step at a time!

Hopefully someone can give me advice! Think of it as ultimately benefiting the ears of this community!

Hey Taureau,
First thing's first: you cannot expect to get a decent mix when using headphones. I know it's not practical to have music blaring out all day and all night but you MUST hear a mix in a decent room off decent monitors. When using headphones, you cannot honestly determine levels or even EQ properly... so, what I'm trying to say is: get rid of your neighours and buy some nice monitors!
As for all your different volume controls, set them all to 0db and work from there. Don't tamper with your soundcard / windows levels after you have set it to Odb - do all your subsequent adjustments within CoolEdit. Oh, and buy a copy of logic / cubase while you're at it ;o)

Thanks,

I have Cubase/Wavelab...just haven't got round to installing 'em!

I wouldn't have any of your volume controls at 100%. They are all prone to slight distortion and line noise.

I keep all the volume controls around 75/80% and all seems to be fine.

There are some monitoring tips at funkmusician.com...

http://www.funkmusician.c...&Itemid=27

VinaBlue said:

Ah ofcourse, cheers Vina, Otan




"Lastly, when mixing down, AVOID mixing at high volumes. As much as your song is the greatest jam of all time, you will wear your ears out - literally - they'll become fatigued and won't be able to give you accurate feedback. Be sure to take a rest after a few hours of mixing. Your eardrum is like any muscle, it gets tired and needs a break."

I definitely had this for the first time last night!

Hey Taureau!

I guess everyone else beat me to it, so I'll just co-sign on what they said...

One thing though, I did record and mix my last CD strictly through headphones, so it is possible but I wouldn't reccomend it...






Jshua

Styles said:

Cheers Styles. I havent got the doolar for proper speakers so I'll have to use the headphones...at least I upgraded those...before I was using a broken walkman earpiece (only one earpiece worked)!

Taureau said:

Just be sure you get some "flat" headphones. I still gotta buy the ones that Beau recomends:

Good, cheap headphones do exist. Radio Shack sells a pair that are perfect. They're called the Titanium Pro35, actually made by Koss. They run for around $20-$30 and they're continually rated as the best headphones for under $50. I use these a lot, and go through a pair every 6 months at least. So, replacing them is not as heart breaking as replacing a pair of $90 studio monitor-quality phones.

I mix with headphones, but they pump the bass UP, so I switch them for my walkman headphones for now. Then I listen through my speaker system. You gotta test it out on different speakers to make sure it sounds good anyway.

Taureau said:

Is the handclaping noise wave or midi?

VinaBlue said:

It's wave. Part of the drum loop I did. Does it make a difference then?

Taureau said:

So you mean you can't hear it unless the whole track is turned up?

If so, you either have to re-record it and adjust the volume on that sound OR painstakingly edit the wave manually.

VinaBlue said:

Yeah I think I'll have to re-record it...actually my headphones are stupid 'x-bass' style ones so that probably doesn't help!

Wow guys. I'm so flattered... you actually remember my long-winded lectures? Please call my son and tell him SOMEBODY listens to me!

On top of all that other nonsense you posted from me, that other guy was right - (New Funk? - no - some other guy) headphones can only get you so far - like the Volkswagen Rabbit. It will work, but it's not going to win you any races. REAL speaker monitors - NOT the subwoofer-speaker combo (which will yield false results because of the kickin boosted bass) but just a pair of good monitor speakers - even small 8-inch ones, will do you so much more than headphones.

You don't have to mix down at high volumes. If anything, try to avoid it... low/medium volume will expose the dirty underbelly of your mix. While you might equate sound examination to be the same as visual examination - the more enlarged, the better, it's not the case. Our eyes can really benefit from magnifying glasses, or zooming in on a photo on the computer... but increasing the amount of volume doesn't do the same thing.

Except, of course, once you're DONE mixing. THAT is when you wake up your neighbor's neighbor with the greatest song ever recorded.

You guys are the greatest! Taureau - when do we get to hear some of these amazing songs?

otan said:

when I'm finished!!!

I'm making more effort on this one compared to the last scandals 'cause I thought it'd be cool to perform it to the natives here in the summer festival n' give 'em a well needed funk-injection, but I'll definitely post the results - hey I already managed to set up my Soundclick account

Trouble is finding the time to do it all as most of my precious (free) time is lost just getting to grips with working the softwares, or finding the right effects levels n' stuff.

Anyway, the original title was 'Funky In Hell 2nite', but I think I might change to 'Wah-mogeddon, Rise of the Zombies'. FYO, snippets of the lyrics have been in my sig!

Thanks for the advice Otan.
[This message was edited Wed Feb 11 12:11:28 PST 2004 by Taureau]

Styles said:

I agree. it is possible to mix, and even get a good mix with headphones. but I would go check it out on a few speakers, to make sure it came out right.
AND...depends on the headphones. Yamaha has a pair of headphones that they claim has the same sound as the legendary NS-10M monitors.