Subject:Time to recalibrate the studio...

Posted by: groovewerx

Date:8/28/2002 4:54:32 AM

Were can I download a 10khz test tone?

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Spirit

Date:8/28/2002 7:09:31 AM

You might try here:
http://www.downlinx.com/windows/Audio/SoundGenerators/

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:8/28/2002 2:17:19 PM

Couldn't you make one yourself using Sound Forge? (Tools>Synthesis on the menu bar)

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:8/28/2002 3:42:27 PM

thanks spirit and yes md i prolly could do it with soundforge if i had it to use.

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:8/28/2002 5:39:42 PM

Ah. If you have ACID Pro 3.0, it comes with Sound Forge XP Studio 5.0 free, which includes a basic FM synthesis tool if I remember right. (If you took up that recent SoFo offer to get Sound Forge Studio 6.0 with ACID Pro 4.0, it should have it as well.)

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Rockitglider

Date:8/28/2002 9:59:07 PM

Groovewerks,

He's got a good point there.

See ya, Rockitglider

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:8/29/2002 3:51:51 AM

thx guys but use wavelab for editing.

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:8/29/2002 10:22:49 AM

Groove,

A bit off topic here but could you briefly outline how you go about your calibration in your studio. Like settings...levels...etc

Cheers,

Cuzin B

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:8/29/2002 4:34:10 PM

Calibration is the process of setting all input and output levels on all equipment to a single reference level (10khz). After properly calibrating the studio equipment, the studio mixer's VU meter levels will become the primary visual reference level for all the peripheral equipment: tape recorders, EQs, and other effects.

When you have calibrated the recording equipment levels to match those of the Mixer; levels on the Mixer VU meters will read the same as on the tape recorder VU meters. With all machines calibrated, they no longer need close hand monitoring and may be placed in more remote locations the eliminate equipment noise in the studio environment.

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:8/29/2002 6:32:19 PM

Groove,

Sorry for my phrasing - I know what calibration is - I just wanted to know how you go about yours...what hardware you calibrate, what you set your SF apps to etc etc...

Cheers,

Cuzin B

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: spesimen

Date:8/29/2002 6:43:55 PM

calibration is fun!!! i don't use much external gear (like a tape deck or anything) but i always set my soundcard and amp up to have a fixed monitor gain using a similar technique to the dolby standard.. this is outlined in an excellent paper on www.digido.com called "metering and levelling practices for the 21st century" (or something close to that).

it's pretty basic...first, i make a pink noise file with an RMS of -20dB..then essentially i run the wav file through unity gain on my soundcard, in my app, and mixer. using an spl meter ($30 at radio shack) i make sure that sound is about 83dB per channel..or about 86dB for both channels. then i do it again for a file with an rms of -14dB..mark both those points on the amp and i'm done.

this is really useful to me because the freq response in a mediocre room like the one i use varies quite widely with volume..it also becomes very easy to tell if a signal isn't right because you can put the mixer at unity and know right away if it's too loud or soft that means it probably wasn't recorded right. anyway the paper i mentioned earlier goes into much more detail about the hows and whys of this and it's pretty good readin'.

some folks also like to run multiple tones at specific frequencies (or use the riaa curve or something), measure the differences, and compensate with eq or whatever but i prefer to just keep it flat and rely on my experience with the freq. response of the room as a guide..

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:8/29/2002 7:07:39 PM

what he said...

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:8/29/2002 9:09:44 PM

I see WaveLab has a DTMF generator. It must have a synthesis generator tool in there somewhere...

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Time to recalibrate the studio...

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:8/30/2002 12:40:17 AM

wavelab 4 has alot neat tools but while searching for them i found the perfect solution... triton's "nasty bass" firing osc2 only. a sustained f2 lets me set all i/o.