PreSonus Monitor Station - Manual (Page 10)

OPERATION
8
Maximum Loudness Reference
This method references a 0 dBVU meter reading to the loudest level you or your studio can handle or desire.
This is the least technical, most subjective method and is good for environments where there is such a thing as
“too loud” (i.e. an apartment, school, OSHA-regulated venue, etc.) or when a certain level of “louder” needs
to be attainable (i.e. for entertaining guests at parties, clubs, live venues, etc.).
1) “Zero” the Speaker, Main, Cue and Phones levels by turning them fully counterclockwise.
2)
Select only the ST1 Main Source and Speaker A selections.
3) Turn your primary monitoring system (connected to ST1) input level to its lowest setting. On many
powered monitors, this is the “Input Sensitivity”. Consult your monitor system’s user’s manuals or
manufacturers’ Websites for more information about adjusting the input or amplification level.
4) Remove all effects processors (i.e. EQs, compressors, reverbs, etc.) from the signal path and play
500 Hz – 2.5 kHz bandwidth-limited pink noise at 0 dB through your primary audio source outputs.
If you are calibrating a subwoofer, use 40 Hz – 80 Hz bandwidth-limited pink noise.
You should not hear the test tone. If you do, repeat step 1 and turn down the speakers playing it.
5)
If you are using an SPL meter, pan the test tone so it only plays in the left speaker (hard left).
NOTE: When both speakers play simultaneously, the overall SPL will increase by about +3 dB. To
account for this, subtract -3 dB when calibrating the left and right channels. (For example, if your
overall acoustic level cannot exceed 90 dB SPL, calibrate each speaker to reach only 87 dB SPL.)
6) Turn the Main level knob to Unity Gain by turning it fully clockwise.
7)
Begin turning the Speaker Level Adjust A knob to Unity Gain by turning it fully clockwise. You
should begin hearing the test tone playing through your primary speakers. If the acoustic level
reaches your desired maximum level (as measured by your ears or an SPL meter), stop increasing
the Speaker Level and skip step 8.
In most cases, you should not reach your maximum level yet.
8)
Begin slowly increasing the input sensitivity (volume) of your primary monitoring system’s left
speaker until the acoustic level of the test tone playing reaches the desired maximum SPL.
9)
Repeat steps 4, 5, 6 and 8 for the right channel.
10) If you are calibrating a monitoring system with independent subwoofer level control (such as a 2.1
or 2-way speaker system), repeat steps 4, 5, 6 and 8 for the subwoofer level.
11) Repeat steps 1 through 9 for the monitoring systems connected to ST2 and Aux/Phono.
12) [Test] : Play audio through Speaker A only. Without adjusting any of the Monitor Station’s levels ,
toggle Speaker A ‘OFF’ and Speaker B ‘ON’. You may hear a slight tonal variance due to the
different acoustic properties of the monitoring systems, but the loudness should remain the same.
If the loudness varies drastically, you may wish to repeat this calibration procedure from step 1.