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.