Dolby Laboratories DP564 - Manual (Page 50)

DP564 Multichannel Audio Decoder Listening Room Calibration
5-6
For film work, test noise at reference level should produce an SPL of 85 dBC for each
of the main front channels (Left, Center, Right) and 82 dBC for each Surround
channel . The lower Surround level is specific to film-style mixing rooms.
For television work, test noise at reference level is typically set to produce an SPL
ranging from 79 to 82 dBC for each of the main five channels. The lower reference
level for television reflects the lower average listening levels preferred by the
consumer (typically 70 to 75 dBC).
For music mixing, each speaker channel should be set to the same SPL (just as in
television mixing). There is no standard practice for reference levels for music
mixing. Some engineers prefer to mix louder than others do, but if the levels between
channels are correct, the overall level is not as crucial.
When mixing for television or music in very small mixing rooms (for example,
remote recording trucks), the Surround channel is generally set 2 dB lower than the
front channels. This takes into account the short distance to the Surround speakers.
Experience has shown that this setting makes the sound heard by the mixer more
accurately reflect the sound heard in the home environment.
Digital Reference Level
Set this value to match your studio digital reference level. We recommend you set
this level before turning on a test noise when calibrating your speaker system,
because the level of the test noise, as measured by an average-responding meter,
changes to match the digital reference level setting. This setting also properly
calibrates the B-type section in the Pro Logic decoder.
To automatically set the digital reference level:
1. On the
Monitor Configuration
menu, select
Digital Ref Auto Cal
, then press
Enter
.
2. Send a 1 kHz PCM tone at studio reference level to the
Left
input.
3. On the
Digital Ref Auto Cal
menu, select
Yes
, then press
Enter
.
The DP564 sets the reference level to match the input.
To manually set the digital reference level:
1. On the
Monitor Configuration
menu, select
Digital Ref
, then
press
Enter
.
2. On the Digital Reference menu, use the ▲▼ buttons to change the setting to
match your studio digital reference level, then press
Enter
.