Hey all...how do I ensure that the level I am using on my interface output is at the same output level of my audiophile system.
 
I A/B my mix/masters using two systems.
 
The first system is the studio standard where all audio is output thru my interface and into studio monitors (powered).
 
The second system is where I send all audio thru the interface and into an audiophile system, which has an amp/preamp and NON powered speakers.
 
I do this to hear the difference between the two, but really need to understand how to balance them. If I am pushing the audiophile system, then it does not really benefit me...kinda/sorta.
 
Any thoughts?

 
Are you sitting in the same spot for both systems ?
 
I'd use a SPL meter while playing pink noise, as when calibrating monitors for the K-system.
 

Paul beat me to it. With Radio Shack going out of business, you might be able to pick up one of their famous SPL meters at a very good price! (I just bought some $30 audio cables for $5)

in my opinion, the closest thing to a proffesional studio (room and gear) are studio monitoring headphones.
I recently bought a pair of Reloop Wave 8 inch active monitor speakers from a sale (should be quality like Pioneer 8inch monitors)
For mixing/mastering in my unprepared room, they are useless though.
For that I use around 100 bucks Sennheiser Pro 280 headphones.
Your audiophile set is coloring/shaping your mix/masters beautifully, that's something you should enjoy I guess but not the best for a true image of your mix/master.
anyway, good luck

you should never mix on headphones,
and this has been beat to death.
 
the pros do not mix on headphones,
why should you?
 

Dr. Dre mixes on Beats apparently not those $30,000 Genelec Midfields....oh no..don't be silly.

I find working with three speaker systems is good. One are your normal active monitors. The second is a very small mono speaker a la Auratone. Listen to your mix down at low volume in mono through a small speaker. It is like a bottleneck to your mix. It shows up many many things. The third is a Hi Fi system.
 
I tend to only play the final mastered mix throguh the Hi Fi. Be careful running unmastered mixes in the Hi fi speakers at high volume. You will blow them up in time. They are NOT designed to handle it.
 
I find the small speaker getting right seems to translate very well to the others. Don't be too worried how things sound on the Hi Fi speakers. They are often not a true indicator. I have got a great car stereo too. That is not accurate either but it shows up all sorts of low end issues.

batsbrew, if it's been beaten to death, I wonder why highend manufacturers AKG, Sennheiser and Shure build STUDIO MONITORING HEADPHONES.
Indeed a room build/treated for the purpose with pro speakers is what the pros use, but in a lot of home studios that are not treated/build for music....imo studio monitoring headphones give you a more true feedback of your mix/master.
 
 
 

I have got a pair of Stax electrostatic headphones and they sound like $50K monitors. Probbaly the best headphones in the world. BUT Bats is sort of right too. It is not just about the sound. It is about other things.
 
Panning is a bit weird in headphones. When things are hard panned they sound very extreme hard panned in headphones compared to speakers.
 
Also reverbs are a bit weird too. On phones you will hear reverbs very well even with only small amounts of reverb. However on speakers the reverb will be non existent and very dry. You have to alter it.
 
There is no substitute for speakers in the end. I may do a lot of editing and even some premixing on cans but really at the end of the day it is the speakers that only really tell the true story.
 
But even after doing a great speaker mix I think if the end product is going to be primarily heard on ear buds for example it is wise to run your mix into some and have a listen.  I have done this and had to alter the bottom end slightly to make it work on the earbuds. But I did do the mix on speakers first.
 
Tell you where headphones are fantastic though and that is precision editing and editing out micro sounds like blips and blops and musicians knocking stands and very small things you may never hear on speakers. It is like a magnifying glass into your tracks.

Wouter Schijns
batsbrew, if it's been beaten to death, I wonder why highend manufacturers AKG, Sennheiser and Shure build STUDIO MONITORING HEADPHONES.
Indeed a room build/treated for the purpose with pro speakers is what the pros use, but in a lot of home studios that are not treated/build for music....imo studio monitoring headphones give you a more true feedback of your mix/master.

HEHE
 
cuz they are hoping that folks like you will buy them!!
 
 
LOL...
 
no seriously,
i have nice headphones too,
but i do not mix on them.
 
 
check mixes, yes.
do detailed editing, yes.
 
mixing, no.