Audio Monitoring Upgrade Questions

[John Rofrano]

I would recommend that you get your audio at the correct level using your VU or an RMS meter for the delivery format you use. In other words, if you’re delivering for broadcast and require audio at -24dBFS, you should set you audio to that first. Then adjust your speakers to sound comfortable at that volume. This will train your ears to listen at the correct volume.

You also want near-field monitors to be as far appart as they are from your head. In other words, if you are sitting 4 feet in front of the speakers, then the speakers should be 4 feet from each other so that they make a 4’x4’x4′ triangle with your head at one point and the speakers at the other two.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[John Griffin]

Thanks John.

Guess I was over thinking this a little. I thought I had read where some were using test tones or something to adjust monitors, wasn’t real clear to me.

I did look up the M-Audio 610, is this still a good choice?

As far as the 610 directions on connections and routing, not clear to me, but in time.

Thanks for all you contribute here.

John

[John Rofrano]

[John Griffin] ” I thought I had read where some were using test tones or something to adjust monitors, wasn’t real clear to me.”

You most certainly could (and should) use test tones to adjust your monitors providing that you also purchased the equipment needed to measure those tones and make adjustments. You would nee a microphone and a VU meter to check when the VU from the mic matches the VU from Vegas. If all you have is your ears, test tones won’t help much.

[John Griffin] “I did look up the M-Audio 610, is this still a good choice? “

Yes, as long as your computer has a firewire port. Some newer computers are starting to not include them so just make sure you have a firewire port to plug it into.

[John Griffin] “As far as the 610 directions on connections and routing, not clear to me, but in time.”

It’s just like the sound card in your computer. You’d need to buy a set of powered speakers like the M-Audio Studiophile BX5a/BX8a Deluxe that will plug into the back of the 610. Then just plug your mics into the front of 610 and you’re ready to record and monitor. In Vegas you can select the ASIO drivers for the 610 in the preferences and that tells Vegas to use that audio device instead of the one on your motherboard.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[John Griffin]

[John Rofrano] “You most certainly could (and should) use test tones to adjust your monitors providing that you also purchased the equipment needed to measure those tones and make adjustments. You would nee a microphone and a VU meter to check when the VU from the mic matches the VU from Vegas. If all you have is your ears, test tones won’t help much.”

Not much luck on finding a small vu meter.

[John Rofrano] “Yes, as long as your computer has a firewire port. Some newer computers are starting to not include them so just make sure you have a firewire port to plug it into.”

Yes, do have firewire port. Built total new machine, need to put my specs on here:-)

[John Rofrano] ” You’d need to buy a set of powered speakers like the M-Audio Studiophile BX5a”

In the cart. May be a stupid question, but what about low end? Do I need a sub? Or will these cover that too.

John, thanks for taking the time to help.

John Griffin

[John Rofrano]

[John Griffin] “May be a stupid question, but what about low end? Do I need a sub? Or will these cover that too.”

A sub woofer is always nice. I have one on my main workstation and it really does make a difference, but the speakers I have (StudioPhile LX4) aren’t made anymore. I use the Studiophile BX5a Deluxes on my son’s MacMini and they sound great for mixing. The bottom end is decent but not like having a sub. The nice thing is, the sub can be added later and the M-Audio SBX10 sub allows you to plug any M-Audio CX and BX Deluxe series monitor into it. Get it now if you can afford it. You won’t be sorry.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[John Griffin]

John,

Thanks for the response. Spent some time last night on the M-Audio site and learned a lot. I’m just about there.

So I found SPL meters last night, is this the right thing to use?

I have the test tones that were included with the VASST training dvd’s, how do I go about using them? If I use the -10db tone, according to the directions for the spl meter you want your level set to 75db?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am learning something, which I probably should have done first.

Thanks for all your help.

John

[John Griffin]

Is this on the right track?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQZfVSm35us&list=FLUJYwOk5dHyWHRtN51ufaQg&feature=mh_lolz

Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

[John Rofrano]

[John Griffin] “Is this on the right track?”

That’ll work fine. In fact, I was going to mention that I had downloaded a iPhone app that measures SPL’s. 😉

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[John Rofrano]

[John Griffin] “I have the test tones that were included with the VASST training dvd’s, how do I go about using them? If I use the -10db tone, according to the directions for the spl meter you want your level set to 75db?”

As stated in the video you posted, you want to use -20dB as your reference and you want to use Pink Noise. I don’t know if the VASST DVD has pink noise but you can generate one with Sony Sound Forge.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[John Griffin]

[John Rofrano] “As stated in the video you posted, you want to use -20dB as your reference and you want to use Pink Noise. I don’t know if the VASST DVD has pink noise but you can generate one with Sony Sound Forge”

John,

Things are coming in as we speak. One question for you, we talked about pink noise -20db, but you had a response to Kelly Griffin, in July 2011, about studio setup using a -20dB test tone at 400Hz. Can you educate me on the difference and why one over the other for calibration?

Thanks,
John Griffin