Calibrating audio levels for a noob

[ericcarl]

So today I made the switch from my old PC to a new MacBook Pro with the MOTU UltraLite-mk3. I am loving everything so far but am totally lost about how to make sure all my levels are set up properly.

I ask because right now everything seems really loud and I'm not sure what the right method is for controlling volume. Between controls on my monitors, the control on my external synth, the UltraLite's "Main Vol" knob, CueMix's "Monitor Level" knob, CueMix's channel sliders, and my DAW's output level, WHERE do I start to get everything where it should be? There are so many different moments in the chain to control volume its crazy.

Specifically right now I have my KRK VXT4 monitor controls down to around -25 db (from what I believe is their default of 0). The first time I turned these things on with my old PC setup it was insane and I had to bring them way down. On the UltraLite I have the "Main Vol" knob at -24 db. In CueMix I have the "Monitor Level" knob at a little over 90 degrees on the left (about 1/4 of the turning radius). Playing a song out of iTunes with iTunes volume at about half, I am getting what to me is a pretty loud sound. The "Outputs" meter in CueMix is hovering at the bottom around 36. Shouldn't that be really quiet?\

So yeah, any help with this would be really appreciated! Thanks!

[Fnoxib]

Generally, you want the most signal you can get (but not clipped/distorted) at every stage of your system. So, where to begin? Start at the signal sources. Anything with a VU/Level meter should be showing you near 0db. If they're low, turn 'em up. If they're high, turn 'em down. Do this starting with your inputs and follow them through to your speakers/headphones/whatever. At each stage, adjust the gain/attenuation controls until you get near 0db for your typical program material. It can be handy to put a synth on "demo" or play a CD or something at your system inputs to get this worked out. A test tone is even better, if you have a tone generator (or an effects box or synth that will do it for you... my MPX-1 effects box has a "tuning note" output which does nicely for this kind of work). The very last place you should adjust your volume is the headphones/speaker amp. That's where you set it to "comfortable". This way, you get maximum signal quality throughout your system, but you're not blasting any of your equipment or ears.

That's my $0.02. Your milegage may vary, etc., etc.

[ericcarl]

Thanks for the help Fnoxib, I'll be going through my system the way you mentioned!