Hmmm... I have them at -20 dB, with sound card output set to -30 dB, coming through the volume control at 0 dB (at max.) But it should come down to 75 dB sound level while designing, mixing, etc. occasionally switching to 85 dB to get a crisp idea of what you're doing

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Get a dB meter at RadioShack, it's about $50.
http://www.digital-recordings.com/audiocd/radio.html

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if your soundcard is pushing out 0db and your monitors are set to 0db (with matching impedance) then the sound will be the loudest before the amp starts to be over driven.

you should have the power amp in the monitors set to 0db and then adjust the volume using your mixer. you then know that when you get to 0db on your mixer, the speakers will be near/at their limit.

running monitors too loud will adjust their characteristics and make the frequency response jagged. you will know when the speakers are at their limit so just be sure to stay below that limit by a bit. also prolonged listening at loud volumes will make it almost impossible to get a good mix. you should mix at a average level and then turn up now and then to see what its like at high volumes.

hope my comments help a bit

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Remember always run internal audio from your PC at maximum then turn the volume down on the monitors to maintain the integrity of the sound.

If you have an EXTERNAL mixer, you can adjust the volume from here, but better at the amp level.

quote:

Originally posted by flutlicht junky Remember always run internal audio from your PC at maximum then turn the volume down on the monitors to maintain the integrity of the sound.

Bit of a problem if you have Dynaudio BM/AIR monitors then - they have no gain controls on the speaker itself - gain control is all managed via your soundcard's software mixer.

Then it would appear that a small format mixer or other gain device will be an essential next purchase.

Edited comments until can find source. * Lets hope I read it properly but more than likely I just mis-quoted lol *

FJ

Last edited by flutlicht junky on Feb-26-2007 at 18:58

quote:

Originally posted by flutlicht junky Then it would appear that a small format mixer or other gain device will be an essential next purchase. FJ

well said.


I keep mine at 0db on the back and adjust the volume using my dj mixer I know it adds a bit of colour but i dont have the bank for a proper audio interface atm

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quote:

Originally posted by flutlicht junky Then it would appear that a small format mixer or other gain device will be an essential next purchase. Bear in mind when volumes are done digitally inside a pc bits are removed to make the sound quieter resulting in degradation. Its not the same as reducing the voltage in a hardware mixer. FJ

May I ask the basis for that claim? Because I have never heard about 'bits' being removed by lowering input gain digitally.

When you lower volume digitally it does not remove bits at all. The bit depth stays the same and it determines the maximum signal to noise ratio which will also remain the same unless you change bit depth. At 24 bits you have a theoretical signal to noise ratio of 120dB.

You would have to be insane to use more than that range as you would need to have a peak signal outputting at 120dB+ in relation to silence - with the speakers less than 2 metres away from your head. Either way, driving most nearfields to that kind of amplitude would require a serious amp or you would blow your drivers, and probably your ears.

Soundcards do not progressively bitcrush a sound as you lower the volume in their software mixer.

I'm trying to pull together more information. It maybe that it is incorrect.

quote:

The idea is that using the master volume control on the computer (in your soundcard mixer program) or winamp etc is not a great idea because you are attenuating the signal in the digital domain, and therefore reducing the bit depth of the signal before it is converted to analog. This means you are losing some available quality of the signal and in the worst cases you may hear graininess in low level signals, reverb tails etc. Even if it is not this obvious, the lost information may negatively effect the stereo image, soundstage etc in more subtle ways.

I might see if there is anymore information around on this as it caught my eye when I initially read it.

quote:

Originally posted by richg101 if your soundcard is pushing out 0db and your monitors are set to 0db (with matching impedance) then the sound will be the loudest before the amp starts to be over driven. you should have the power amp in the monitors set to 0db and then adjust the volume using your mixer. you then know that when you get to 0db on your mixer, the speakers will be near/at their limit. running monitors too loud will adjust their characteristics and make the frequency response jagged. you will know when the speakers are at their limit so just be sure to stay below that limit by a bit. also prolonged listening at loud volumes will make it almost impossible to get a good mix. you should mix at a average level and then turn up now and then to see what its like at high volumes. hope my comments help a bit

that's exactly how my set up is. good response, this thread should go in the stickies

i got one of these yokes, handier than adjusting my windows mixer volume all the time...
http://www.smproaudio.com/MPATCH2.htm

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