Mixing at low levels - what is "low"?

MIXING LOW...
 
will only tell you how the mix works at low volume.
 
to properly mix, you must at least check at about 85 db.
 
your mixes will never translate properly if mixed at only low volume.
word.
 

On my main speakers I might mix at 83-85 dB SPL but when it comes to checking a mono mix on a signle mono small speaker I like to do it at quite a lower volume. Yes you can monitor your mix at 85 dB SPL coming from a single small speaker but I like to drop that down well below that.
 
I love to sit right in front of it and be close to looking at it.  Then turn up only to quite soft levels.  65 dB SPL is a super nice low level.  Yes 20 dB down from 85 dB SPL.
 
70 dB SPL max though as I like to keep this sort of listening in the softer area.  These are all C weighted measurements of course. I hear lots of things down at this volume.  If snares are too loud they jump out here.  Vocals too loud as well really stands out.  Most things out of balance will reveal themselves.
 
I practice listening to reference CD's down at that level in front of the mono speaker from time to time.  It reminds you about when things are very good down there.  To translate well I think you have to get back to your main speakers and I do that at 85 dB SPL.  I also check at 95 dB SPL and 105 dB SPL for a short burst. That tells you a few other things too.  (Bass and reverbs)

I like to edit at fairly high volumes. That for me means setting basic levels and a good portion of automation. I always check at low levels after leaving a project alone for a few days for actual mix checks because I know my memory has cleared a bit and my ears aren't in compression mode. Low level checks are very valuable for overall balance and includes walking into a room adjacent just to see what track or instrument or is predominant. Mixing is mostly removing the ugly stuff, if something catching your attention on playback - then it probably needs some attention. It can be an arrangement quirk, or tempo shift, or ugly resonance or transient that sticks out and draws my attention.

Thanks David very good article and interesting while I had not read it previously I do exactly everything that the article recommends.
 
A few things to note that I have found.  85 dB of pink noise sounds louder to me than music at the same level. Band limited pink noise is also great and Bob Katz has that file on his website as well as full range pink noise too.  It is important that these noise levels are at the right level exactly.  So be careful making them yourself.
 
The only thing I find slightly confusing is 85 dB should be the same in a small room or a big room don't you think. OK in a smaller room the speakers may be working less hard of course to achieve it but isn't 85 dB arriving at your SPL meter no matter the size of the room?  I do understand the differences though.  For me I find I can work very nicely at 83-85 dB in a smaller room and it does not sound too loud to me at all.  But then my threshold may be slightly different after playing a lot of music over the years.  My ears are still very well balanced frequency wise but I may have to push the level 2-3 dB in order for it to sound right to me.  This is where they don't factor that in.  Everyone's threshold may be slightly different.  I think the key is to experiment here.  Start at 85 dB SPL for sure but then modify from there.
 
As to monitoring down low I still love doing that and I find 65-70dB being perfect for these types of operations. And yes low level monitoring really reveals many things too.  The low level monitoring not only reveals ugly stuff but it mainly reveals when something is just too loud/soft eg the snare drum.  At very low levels if your snare is say too loud it will jump out on a small speaker way down soft.  What is cool about this is when you nudge it back down so it sounds right and then power up again at 85 dB SPL on your main monitors the snare will still sound great and present.  It is just that you have now satisfied two speaker systems instead of just one.
 
 

85 dB SPL of pink noise is quite loud compared to music at the same level.  eg I use a Steely Dan CD track as a reference (only from the last two CD's, all digital affairs) and when I get it to push the meter just to 85 dB it sounds softer than pink noise.
 
85 dB SPL sounds nice to me but in mono on that small speaker I go well down to 70 dB SPL and under.  Check out 65 dB SPL which is a whopping 20 dB below 85 dB SPL!
 
I go up in 5-6 dB or so, 91 dB is a nice level as is 95 dB then I do a crank up to 100 -105 dB SPL for some serious bass and reverb listening tests but not for long!  It does sound bloody excellent but really we should not be up there for that long.  8 Hrs (eg one full day) at 85 dB SPL translates to a max of around 7 mins at 103 dB SPL.
(3 mins at 106 dB SPL!)
 
 
 
 
 

I think being consistent is very important, but so is monitoring at different levels. There are some things I mix expecting them to be played at lower levels and others at higher levels. I often have at least one target level in mind as I mix.

That said I mostly monitor at a consistent level and I don't use a meter to find it these days.

Wow...I just checked...I'm typically around 70 dB C weighted...guess I'll be doing this when no one is home.