pilutiful
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[SOLVED] How do you measure sound level?
Hi, It's recommended (often) you should mix at around 80-85 db. But how do you actually measure how many db's is coming out from your monitors? Is it possible to look at the specs of my Scarlett 6i6 and my Yamaha HS7 - and determine what my settings should be? I found various SPL meters but I can't afford one at this moments. Ideas?
post edited by pilutiful - 2017/01/24 09:38:53
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tlw
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 09:13:33
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☼ Best Answerby pilutiful 2017/01/24 09:38:05
The only way to measure is using a decibel meter set to take a weighted reading. Even a cheap one will get you in the right area.
There are dB measuring apps for tablets and smartphones, how well they work I don't know, but they may be a cheaper option than a hardware meter.
The best audio to measure in my opinion is white noise because its full-frequency. It's also worth moving around a bit and take readings at different spots. Sometimes the room can cause standing waves and frequencies almost silent at one spot can be much louder even a foot away.
Without a meter then try turning up the volume to the point that commercially recorded tracks sound properly frequency balanced. The main thing is to get the volume high enough that our hearing's tendency to focus on the mid range and pay less attention to bass and treble as volume drops (the Fletcher-Munson effect) isn't going to cause a mix imbalance as you boost bass and treble to compensate.
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fret_man
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 09:18:54
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I've found that smart phone apps are usually within +/-3dB of the "right" answer.
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pilutiful
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 09:38:35
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Thanks for both helpful answers :-) didn't think of apps, will start by looking into those.
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abacab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 10:30:02
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☄ Helpfulby pilutiful 2017/01/24 11:33:20
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batsbrew
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 12:31:49
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i downloaded a free Db meter onto my smartphone,
and use that to get in the neighborhood
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drewfx1
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 12:32:18
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For iPhones, apps can be reasonably accurate since the HW is known - there are only so many models so the SW can do a reasonable job of adjusting to whatever model you have.
For other phones, unfortunately it's a question mark so you need to check that the app will give accurate reading given your specific phone.
I have one called NoiSee for my iPhone that works well and is within a few dB when I compared it to my HW meter.
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abacab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 12:56:43
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DB reference comparison chart http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_trivia.shtml Environmental Noiseweakest sound heard 0 dB normal conversation at 3-5 ft 60-70 dB dial tone of telephone 80 dB city traffic inside car 85 dB Musical Noisenormal piano practice 60-70 dB fortissimo singer 3 ft. away 70 dB chamber music in small auditorium 75-85 dB symphonic music peak 120-137 dB amplified rock music at 4-6 ft. 120 dB rock music peak 150 dB
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Jeff Evans
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 16:20:27
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☄ Helpfulby glennstanton 2017/02/13 09:52:55
White noise is no good. It does not contain the low end that music does. Pink noise is the correct noise source for testing SPL when music is involved. The meter must also be in C Weighting otherwise it ignores the low end which is not what you want.
I have a Tandy (Radio Shack) meter sitting up permanently in a very good spot very close to where I am. It is probably not super accurate either but like many of the options here it gets you right in the ball park.
It keeps you honest. If you dont have one or don't look at it for a while after a few hours you are monitoring at higher SPL levels like creeping up to 90 dB and over. It is very good for keeping an eye on things. Some rooms may be loud at 85 dB SPL but I actually think it is perfect level but that is just me.
I also still prefer a normal VU type display not digital readouts and I set mine for slow response too so it is has a nice slowish liquid type of movement. You don't want it jumping around all over the place either.
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Jeff_Sharon
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/24 23:55:31
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Saw this while searching for something else, made an account just to respond.
Yes, smartphone apps have come a long way!
These guys (govt NIH lab) made an app, just downloaded it few days ago, amazing!
Works as good as Pro SLM check out tweet on @NIOSHNOISE (won't allow me to add link)
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pilutiful
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 06:53:53
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Thanks to all :-) very helpful
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pilutiful
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 07:06:23
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Trying out "Sound Meter" by Smart Tools co., they mention Galaxy Tab, which I use, so that should be good. The db meter seems stable, where another app I tried was swinging from 20db to 60db constantly.
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abacab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 10:48:05
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fret_man
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 10:51:47
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NIH Links discussed above: link1link2 Interesting they claim the iPhone 3 is the most accurate. It's microphones have the looser tolerance than the iPhone 5. SoundMeter seems to be the best and NoiSee and Noise Hunter are the next best. Those are within 2dB of their standard.
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abacab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 11:10:48
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fret_man
NIH Links discussed above:
link1
link2
Interesting they claim the iPhone 3 is the most accurate. It's microphones have the looser tolerance than the iPhone 5.
SoundMeter seems to be the best and NoiSee and Noise Hunter are the next best. Those are within 2dB of their standard.
Interesting ... More than 130 iOS apps were evaluated but only 10 apps met our selection criteria. Only 4 out of 62 Android apps were tested. A total of 62 Android apps were examined and downloaded from the Google Play store but only 4 apps (SPL Meter by AudioControl, deciBel Pro by BSB Mobile Solutions, dB Sound Meter by Darren Gates, and Noise Meter by JINASYS) partially met our selection criteria*. * Smartphone apps were selected based on occupational relevancy criteria: (1) Ability to report unweighted (C/Z/flat) or A-weighted sound levels, (2) 3-dB or 5-dB exchange rate, (3) slow or fast response, and (4) equivalent continuous average sound level (Leq) or time-weighted average (TWA). Also, considerations were given to apps that allow calibration adjustment of the built-in microphone through manual input or digital upload files as well as those with reporting and sharing features. For the purpose of this experiment, the apps were not calibrated to the reference sound level and were tested with their original calibration settings to simulate a typical user experience that may not have access to a calibrated sound source or equipment.
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gswitz
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 13:36:08
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Some phones have built in auto gain reduction on the Mike that throws of the measure.
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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Rob[at]Sound-Rehab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 19:04:30
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☄ Helpfulby Mistergreen 2017/02/06 15:55:46
Spl meters are so cheap that I'm sure you could afford one with the proper weighting ... not everything needs to be smartphone apps ;-)
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abacab
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/25 19:36:41
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pilutiful
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/01/27 09:17:48
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mudgel
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/02/08 20:20:07
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While getting the spl level in the ballpark is great, (+-3db) having consistent levels day in and out is also important.
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fret_man
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Re: How do you measure sound level?
2017/02/08 22:06:31
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Smart phones apps will give consistent results. My +/-3dB comment was about the accuracy, not variability. The only thing analog is the mic itself, and those are MEMs microphones, which are notoriously consistent, unlike ECMs which degrade over time and temperature.
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