Tell me more ×
Audio-Video Production Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for engineers, producers, editors, and enthusiasts spanning the fields of audio, video, and media creation. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that when setting up a home theater system, you were supposed to play a track at -12db and bring the volume up to about 80db. That was supposed to help with the whole "movie theater experience" as it would allow you to also hear the quiet stuff well and the loud stuff would sound loud. Problem is, I read this article a while ago and haven't been able to find it since and would like to know what the numbers really are. I really have no idea if it was -12 and 80, that's just what I think I remember. Does anyone who knows any better have some concrete numbers?

share|improve this question
Home theater questions are off-topic here so I unfortunately must close the question. Our chatrooms, however, are considerably more casual than the site itself, so you might have some luck there. – Warrior Bob♦ Sep 9 '12 at 21:59
Sorry about that. I figured since it had to do with calibration and setting it up to professional standards ie what is used when producing, it would have been on topic. – Sean Sep 10 '12 at 7:18
Also, I had searched for days before posting here, but a few hours later I found a forum where someone had already answered the question. So to anyone wondering, you should calibrate a -20db track to 85db or a -30db track to 75db. Either way it's supposed to add up to 105db. – Sean Sep 10 '12 at 7:20
It's no big deal, and I can certainly understand your reasoning. The change in context can change the answers though - "professional standards" for a theater system don't necessarily translate to a production situation. I would never run my home-studio monitor speakers anywhere near 105dB. Mixing at that level for a few hours would probably damage my hearing. – Warrior Bob♦ Sep 10 '12 at 14:54

closed as off topic by Warrior Bob♦ Sep 9 '12 at 22:00

Questions on Audio-Video Production Stack Exchange are expected to relate to audio or video recording and production within the scope defined in the FAQ. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about closed questions here.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.