How loud is your volume while producing?

[Mind Fight]

I'm always wondering what is better to do while producing.

Set your volume really loud trough your monitors, so it's better to hear any sound that's going on. Or limiting your volume so, for example, you can avoid that it's sounding worse on a lower volume.

I guess both are necessary, but what are your volume settings most of the time?

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

hm what people tend to do is set a limiter one the master while producing so you cant for example blast your speakers or ears when you open a fucked up vst or you raise the feedback in a endless chain

hm just make it as loud as you feel comfortable never make it really loud dont see the point of it other then destroying your ears

[Attila]

I always set the dial at about one o clock so I know when everythings hitting right. I'd just say be consistent in the volume level you choose.

[fuzion]

I usually listen really loud but I found this on the Propellerhead reason website recently -

We love it loud, don't we? During the long hours of a studio session you turn it up a notch every time the ears have gone numb. It makes the music sound better, more powerful, and brings subtle details out in the open. A word of caution: Don't. First of all, the human ear has a built-in compressor/limiter that works in mysterious ways (part self-preservation mechanism, part imperfection); at near ear-splitting levels your ears will smooth out the roughness and give you the impression that the mix is reasonably balanced when it's not. The best way to discover if anything in the mix shoots straight off the charts is in fact to listen at very low levels. Only then will you discover that, for example, the bass drum is twice as loud as everything else. Another trick is to listen from a nearby room rather than being right in front of the speakers. Second, the louder the sound, the more bass you will hear - this is because the ear's response to bass energy is non-linear. Consequently, monitoring too loud will prompt you to cut away some bass when in fact you should leave it as it is, or even boost it.

[NinjaEdit]

Not too loud, not too quiet (obviously). This is basically for that bass (and highs) balance.

[__________]

I normally build with the monitors up LOUD (helps get me in the groove while the tune is still barebones) then check it and re-mixdown with the monitors quiet.

[siperdellyeer]

I usually listen really loud but I found this on the Propellerhead reason website recently -

We love it loud, don't we? During the long hours of a studio session you turn it up a notch every time the ears have gone numb. It makes the music sound better, more powerful, and brings subtle details out in the open. A word of caution: Don't. First of all, the human ear has a built-in compressor/limiter that works in mysterious ways (part self-preservation mechanism, part imperfection); at near ear-splitting levels your ears will smooth out the roughness and give you the impression that the mix is reasonably balanced when it's not. The best way to discover if anything in the mix shoots straight off the charts is in fact to listen at very low levels. Only then will you discover that, for example, the bass drum is twice as loud as everything else. Another trick is to listen from a nearby room rather than being right in front of the speakers. Second, the louder the sound, the more bass you will hear - this is because the ear's response to bass energy is non-linear. Consequently, monitoring too loud will prompt you to cut away some bass when in fact you should leave it as it is, or even boost it.

could you post a link?

[Mad_EP]

I pretty much keep my set up at the same volume 99% of the time (listening / producing / watching videos / etc).. and it is a rather reasonable, medium volume. With my set up - my laptop goes to my soundcard which then goes to my amp. My laptop volume is full into the soundcard - my sound card is at half volume and my amp is at 25%. That produces a volume that is full, but not loud and never fatiguing.

The reason I do this is that it creates a basic bar line for relative volume, instead of constantly moving the goalposts by turning it up and down.

[fragments]

I usually do everything at a medium to low volume...low volume for mixing especially

[mthrfnk]

I usually do everything at a medium to low volume...low volume for mixing especially

Why do you mix at low volumes, I always thought it was better to mix at louder volumes?

[Isley]

I usually do everything at a medium to low volume...low volume for mixing especially

Why do you mix at low volumes, I always thought it was better to mix at louder volumes?

The best way to discover if anything in the mix shoots straight off the charts is in fact to listen at very low levels. Only then will you discover that, for example, the bass drum is twice as loud as everything else. Another trick is to listen from a nearby room rather than being right in front of the speakers.

[mthrfnk]

I usually do everything at a medium to low volume...low volume for mixing especially

Why do you mix at low volumes, I always thought it was better to mix at louder volumes?

The best way to discover if anything in the mix shoots straight off the charts is in fact to listen at very low levels. Only then will you discover that, for example, the bass drum is twice as loud as everything else. Another trick is to listen from a nearby room rather than being right in front of the speakers.

Hmm that makes sense, but conversely surely at louder volumes it's easier to detect any minimal volume or EQ changes you make whilst mixing down. Also I swear I read an article recently promoting the fact louder volumes are better for mixing because I've recently upped the volume I mix at mainly to analyse the minor tweaks I make.

[Marzz]

I mix at low levels.

better all around for mixing

doesn't hurt my ears

can't be a deaf producer unless you know what you're doing and you can do it well without hearing it

[Huts]

Usually mix at lower volumes for a few reasons. I live with 4 other people, I can last longer without my ears getting tired, and I feel like I can better judge where things are in the mix. I'm curious about listening from another room as there have been a few times when Im listening to music and get up to take a piss or whatever and things like hi-hats sound totally different, pretty neat

[AxeD]

Recommended mixing level is around 85dbs.

Mix on headphones myself.

[Mad_EP]

but conversely surely at louder volumes it's easier to detect any minimal volume or EQ changes you make whilst mixing down. Also I swear I read an article recently promoting the fact louder volumes are better for mixing

Nope.

It may be more fun to mix at loud volumes, but it isn't really beneficial. Think of it this way - at louder volumes you hear things because they can't be ignored, yet it is more passive... whereas at lower volumes, you are actively listening - and usually able to discern in greater detail.

Not to mention what has been said before - extended sessions at loud volumes will fatigue your ears quicker, so they won't be as reliable anyway... and can even lead to hearing loss. Both are bad news.


But the lower volume thing is nothing new, or even limited to mixing... As a cellist, when I am practicing something and really focusing on extremely subtle intonation... I tend to play quieter.

[NinjaEdit]

My laptop volume is full into the soundcard

Are you sure this is where it sounds best, and that it isn't clipping?

[Mad_EP]

My laptop volume is full into the soundcard

Are you sure this is where it sounds best, and that it isn't clipping?

The soundcard isn't receiving the signal from the audio from my laptop - it is receiving it directly from the system via Firewire.

Ie- altering the laptop volume doesn't change any of the meters of the soundcard while audio is playing. I can have the volume at 0 and the soundcard still shows the same reading.

[RandoRando]

I remember benga said he likes to mix his hi hats and other hi frequency elements as low volumes

[Marzz]

I remember benga said he likes to mix his hi hats and other hi frequency elements as low volumes

yea and does it on a mono panned speaker to get it perfect mono. He said he liked to do it that way