If you don't have an audio interface, and are using headphones, why are you even bothering with the K-System at this point? This is for calibrating near field monitoring systems, not shooting 83db directly into your ears with headphones.

 

You can still use the K-System on your Master Buss.

 

I'm sure you can, anyone can set the meter to whatever they want. How are you measuring the 83db coming out of the headphones to properly use the K-System as it's intended to? The K-System isn't just watching a meter, its about calibrating volume levels coming out of the monitor speakers.

 

It isn't just about monitor calibration either, just like headroom is not the only purpose of it. It's both, and more; because they are interdependent.

You are setting up one concrete value as a "known", even though it too, can be variable; and working backwards through the signal flow. Your monitors are adjustable probably, your audio interface has a monitor volume, your audio interface's software likely has its own mixer. Your DAW, many more points of measurement. Mixer, Clip Gain/Region Gain, channel strips, etc. And then these people want -14dB also, to maintain headroom.

All the points inside the box are what it calibrates, against the monitors. Otherwise you could just turn your monitors up or down until they hit the 83 dB SPL you are using as a target. For headphones, they just use pink noise.

 

1. Try Windows settings > System > Sounds. If the slider of the system mixer isn't 100 % make it louder.

2. Use any gain VST plugin as the last (the most lastest, yes) plugin on the master buss. Adjust volume as you want. Just google "gain VST".

3. Try Equalizer APO: https://equalizerapo.com

 

No. K-Sysytem is about "the loudness war", dynamic range and headroom. Calibration to 83 dB doesn't relate to K-System at all.

 

When I see you guys talking about this kind of thing I realize how much of a newbie I am.

 

Check out this video at about 8 minutes in. There is some guy talking who does not agree with this.

 

If you have no clue what you're talking about, you should probably sit this one out.

 

that´s exactly how it is.

and you can still mix wrong with a k14-metering display, just as you can do it right with PPM.

 

I saw this: https://gearspace.com/board/mastering-forum/1024714-depth-bob-katz-k-system-tutorial.html
and used it to calibrate my speakers in my room. "Now I am mixing with speakers".

I have a doubt: If I have calibrated my speakers, should I use the k system on every track too? I mean, Do I have to lower every volume to -14 db ? (for example).

"I USED THAT TUTORIAL LINKED ABOVE"

I calibrated my speakers to have a 65 dBC { That's for my room, detected with spl meter on iphone [<40m3 = 74 dBC] -> minus 3 dBC (because of the perceived additional loudness of the room I had calculated with a track example and the pink noise) -> 71 dBC (famous target of -20 reference) -> minus 6 dBC (to get -14 reference) = 65dBC }

now i got my speakers calibrated.
The total volume doesn't sound so loud when i listen to a track at 0db.
Also I don't know if i have to downwards every track volume to get my 0 point (k-14)
I tried, and the volume feels to low, is that how it has to be?

THANKS

 

Sounds all very complicated.
Glad I do not have to do any of this.

 

Just no!

1. LUFS is ITU-R BS.1770 compliant, which means K-filters are used!
2. The K-System metering contains neither filters nor gating.
   It's a simple meter scaling offset for dBFS Peak and RMS in combination with monitor loudness calibration.

 

Calibrating your speakers to 65 dBC is a good approach for a smaller room. It's normal for the overall volume to seem less loud after calibration, especially if you were previously accustomed to higher levels.
Regarding your question about volume adjustment:

You don't necessarily need to lower the volume of each track.
The K-14 system you're referring to is a guideline for production and mastering, not for playback.

If the calibrated volume seems too low, that may be normal. The K-System aims to preserve more dynamic range, which means the average volume may be lower than with heavily compressed recordings.

Acclimatization: It may take some time to get used to the new, calibrated volume.
Give yourself some time to adjust to the new reference point.

Flexibility: The K-System is a guideline, not a strict set of rules.
You can adjust the volume to your personal taste and comfort level, as long as you remain aware of your reference volume.

Room acoustics: Keep in mind that room acoustics can have a significant impact on the perceived volume.
You may need to make adjustments to find the optimal balance for your specific room.

If you still feel the volume is too low, consider adjusting your calibration slightly.

Created with AI.

 

A sound pressure level of 80-87 dB SPL is ideal.

To know how loud it really is, we need a level meter. I have a Teufel level meter. I set it to 80, C-weighted, and with a slow response time. This is very close to the human hearing. The volume is then adjusted so that the level meter displays a volume between 80-87 dB SPL. Why this particular volume? At this level, we hear the frequencies most evenly.

The perceived frequency response at different volume levels is shown in the Fletcher-Munson curve. This illustrates that 80-87 dB SPL represents the most even (optimal) frequency range for our hearing.

The curve and its corresponding explanation can be found on Wikipedia (Fletcher-Munson curve).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

 

If you are going to copy paste material verbatim from others, make a citation. Anyone reading what you just wrote here would think to trust you on your personal experience ie "I have a Teufel level meter. I set it to 80, C-weighted, and with a slow response time."

 

This thread gives me severe headaches.

 

* K-Weighting is not used for LUFS (EBU) (European.) It is used for LKFS (ATSC) (American.)

Read my post more carefully. I said that K-Weighting could be thought of as an EQ curve. That's because I was trying to explain something new to someone who is still learning some basics.

* I didn't mention the optional -70dB gate.

- - - - - - - -

What did you say?:

What did I say?:

You've essentially said what I said, except you've included “dBFS Peak” and left out K-Weighting.

- - - - - - - -

Question: How would you explain “Weighting,” of which there are many kinds, to someone just starting out? If “EQ curve” is a big no-no for you, then what would you suggest is a better way to communicate the concept?

 

The original K-System proposed by Bob Katz had different purposes (for example, preservation of dynamic range and avoidance of distortion caused by "loundness wars"). One of these purposes was consistency of levels. For now this goal (consistency of levels) is achieved by LUFS metering. Why should we rely on completely obsolete technique (K-System) when we have the acknowledged standard that is used everywhere? This makes no sense at all. For the current moment K-system is of historical interest completely and practically only K-Scales are useful. Why? To make levels modest and avoid all negative effects of "loundness wars". That is to create headroom. And only newbies think that this technique may and must be used in all the details. Because they probably know nothing about LUFS, EBU R128, ITU-R BS.1770-4 etc., etc. As if they don't exist.

Yes, it makes sense to calibrate monotirs to approx. 80-85 dB and be able to return to this level. But it makes even more sense to mix on different levels from time to time. Especially if conditions when you work aren't ideal. This is also useful to avoid ear fatigue.

And yes, K-Scales (not K-System in the whole) are completely useful even when mixing with headphones. No need to calibrate them (this is really problematic), just look on meters and avoid to go red. Furthermore, for the moment this is the single meaningful use of K-system which is legacy.

Please, don't follow blindly recommendations of tutorials especially if they are from 2000th. We must think from time to time.

 

I removed this post because I fucked up.

 

Last edited: Mar 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM