Monitoring Levels

[Jedeye]

Personally i don't have it blasting when making music, i like it at a level where i can hear each instrument clearly but haven't been able to even do that recently because of the multi occupational flats i live in, the walls are like paper! I had a visit from the noise pollution police a while ago so that basically put a stop to it and made me paranoid about any type of volume. The good news is we are moving house to a semi detached house in a few months time so i am hoping the walls are a bit thicker and the neighbours are more tolerant! Have you had any such problems regarding complaining neighbours?

[Jas0n]

You know... you could drop a few bucks on a serviceable pair of headphones. You can get KRK 6400s for about $100, you can spend a lot more but you can also spend a lot less and at least be able to work in peace.

[Jedeye]

Yeah i have been using headphones for years for getting idea's down but i don't really like using them for mix-downs and general sound design.

[ChadDub]

What I do now is I turn my monitors all the way up, and start from there. I make the mix so that it sounds like my monitors are on halfway volume when they're actually all the way up. This makes my mix peak at around -12 or -14 usually. I get cleaner mixes this way.

[lloydy]

My neighbours have moaned like fuck in the past about my music,i live in a semi and can tell you don't matter where you live you will more than likely be surrounded by moany tnucs.In the end with me we come to a compromise.I said to them i will be as quiet as a mouse sunday to thursday and then fri and sat are my days.Also i moved my speakers off of their wall so the back of them is facing my patio doors and now i dont get a single complaint.Its normally the lowend that gives people the hump so getting control of that can help no end,i installed bass traps and a cloud above my desk to eliminate early reflections and cut down the bass response in my room,it seems to of worked because they haven't had a grumble in ages so just a few ideas for you.

[Jedeye]

Yeah bass is the tricky one with neighbours! I will have to think carefully about where i put my desk in the new gaff. I've been looking at buying some kind of bass traps, where did you purchase yours from?

[lloydy]

Gik,nice guys man.They are based in the states but have distribution in the uk i think from bolton or somewhere like.I can't remember
the guys name i dealt but he was more than helpful.I spent a fair amount on mine but for what you get they are reasonable and their traps are very very effective.

[lloydy]

http://gikacoustics.com/

[Jedeye]

Thanks man, great help!

[lloydy]

No worry's mate,also if you wanna read up on room treatment realtraps.com i think it is has a really good forum.A guy called ethan winer owns and runs the company,he is like a god in the states when it comes down to room treatment.He answers questions on his forum and over on gearslutz,he has made some well informative vids too about peaks and troths in your room and how to detect them,if i can find them i will post for all to have a gander.
Also on the law side of it between the hours 7am till 7pm in the uk your neighbours can do fuck all about it.As long as you give them 12 hours of peace you could literally hold a fucking rave in your gaff and the wankers wouldn't be able to do shit about it.I told the old nobs next to me if they are not careful this is what i will do and they compromised so it must be true because they were at the council office near enough every day.Proper bitter some old people,don't you find bassheads are common day lepers.

[lloydy]

http://www.realtraps.com/video_wave.htm

Check this vid and the other ones on his site really informative.