Are you struggling to reproduce audio close to the original recorded sound because the studio monitors are not properly calibrated? Fortunately, you can solve this problem with some specific solutions.
To make things easier, we took the time to write a comprehensive step-by-step guide on calibrating studio monitors. We’ll also discuss why it’s important to calibrate studio monitors for better production.
What if I calibrate the studio monitor?
Calibrating studio monitors is essential for audio engineers to balance the sound by removing unwanted noise and equalizing the audio.
If studio monitors are not properly calibrated, they can trick you into editing the audio too much, and make the sound sound artificial.
Calibrating studio monitors
If you’re struggling with calibrating studio monitors, our step-by-step guide will help you do it easily.
Step 1: Determining Device Connections and Placement
In the first step, make sure that your studio monitors are positioned correctly according to the size of your room. Now, adjust the room acoustics and position yourself where you can hear the audio properly.
Next, connect the left speaker to the left output and the right speaker to the right output on the audio interface to ensure that the devices are connected correctly.
Step #2: Setting the Studio Monitor to Zero
Next, use the volume knob on your studio monitor to change the volume level to zero. Next, adjust the audio interface to the lowest setting and turn off the monitor controller.
Step 3: Setting the SPL Meter
After turning the studio monitor’s audio interface to zero, place the SPL meter’s mic in a sweet spot, in front of the speakers and at the height where your head would normally be when mixing audio.
Now, set your SPL meter to “C-weighted” using the buttons and select “Slow Response”.
Step 4: Play Pink Noise
Download and play Pink Noise using your digital audio workstation in mono with -20 dB peak. Set all faders to a unity gain setting of 0 dB.
Also optimize the audio interface to 0 dB.
Step 5: Adjusting the Volume
Start increasing the volume of the left speaker/monitor controller and continue until the SPL meter shows a reading between 75 dB and 85 dB.
Once you get the desired reading, repeat the steps for the correct speaker/monitor controller.
Step 6: Fine Tuning
In the final step, turn off the pink noise after both studio monitors are calibrated. Sit yourself in a normal mixing position and play an audio file as the primary audio source. Listen carefully and guess the sound.
If the audio doesn’t sound right, adjust the placement of the studio monitor properly.
Why is it important to calibrate a studio monitor?
There are a number of reasons why you should calibrate a studio monitor, some of which are listed below.
Reason #1: Difference in room size
It is important to calibrate a studio monitor because it is highly dependent on the size of the room. Therefore, the default calibration settings may not work for your studio room.
The recommended calibration level for a small room is 75 dB. Whereas in a large room, studio monitors should be calibrated at 85 dB.
Reason #2: Exact frequency range for both speakers
To get an accurate stereo image, both the left and right speakers must be calibrated to the same level.
A minimum difference of 0.5 dB or more is enough to unbalance the audio structure. Therefore, it is important to maintain the correct frequency range for both speakers.
Reason #3: Reducing unwanted noise
Calibrating your monitor can help you carefully review the audio at a consistent level to reject any unwanted noise from your masterpiece.
Final Thought:
In this guide, we have discussed how to calibrate a studio monitor. We’ve also discussed what happens if you calibrate them.
Additionally, we’ve explored a few reasons to calibrate studio monitors for any audio studio.
Hopefully, your question has been answered, and now you can produce balanced audio that is a mirror image of the original!