The K- Meter - Mixing with The K-System (in Mixbus and other DAWs)

Many of us are a little confused about that K-Meter thing that sits in our master channel.
Here are the Answers for a better mix and confidence.
Here's where to get your pink noise
www.digido.com/
Sign up and go to the resources-downloads-general
Download the -20dBFS uncorrelated pink noise 44.1 wav file.

[@glennnmurphy]

Mixbus is the best DAW ever

[@nathanaxel8758]

instablaster

[@Psalmistjamel246]

One of the best and most educational videos out there

[@RussCottier]

Jamel Newton cheers.

[@jimwilliams330]

83dBspl is really aimed at large studios. The somewhat buried advice is that you should calibrate to 77dBspl in small studios or when using nearfields. In a small space 83 will just blow your head off. That's why BK advocates a drop of 6dB per speaker for small rooms

[@MortenAndersen-hjemmesider]

My ears can confirm that ... they are bleeding when level is at 83 db

[@nimbvs7233]

K-20 should be used for more orchestral/film score type music. K-14 for modern rock/electronic/pop music. K-12 for broadcast.

[@RussCottier]

N I M B V S absolutely! Though I hoped I made it clear here that we are talking about using K-20 for MIXING. (As advised by Bob). The healthy dynamic range for mixes that allows mastering stage Gain Reduction if needed. Hope that makes sense. For more I fo about mixing with the K-System see Bob’s book and website.

[@markgriskey]

@@RussCottier Thanks... Good explaination.

[@SXTransmission]

I never really understood K system before, even though i tried to find out what it meant. Your explanation is clear and understanable!! Thanks.

[@RussCottier]

Punk Duck thought you might enjoy this one. I agree though the last vid was a little quiet, but I like to avoid clipping and keep the music nice and loud.

[@SXTransmission]

Russell Cottier, you are a gentleman and a scholar! 😎 Got my SPL, my pink noise file and will be calibrating today.

[@jasmonahan]

BRILLIANT! Bob Katz would be proud!

[@RussCottier]

jasmonahan well yeah Bob liked the vid, one thing I could have been clearer on was that the master channel k meter doesn't change but the top bar k meter does. :-)

[@purecountry70]

I also wanted to thank you for all your awesome Videos, I've learned so Much. thanks again you have a great way of expressing details

[@TripleS65]

Excellent explanation of the K-metering system. Thanks !!

[@gmichaelhall]

Thank you Russell, great explanation. 👍✌️

[@citytonightproductions]

Russell, can you please develop an in depth tutorial course for HMB 32C version 4? From tracking to recording and highlight the editing functions in detail. You're the only guy out there in youtube land that really knows this DAW inside out. I have been struggling with changing over from Logic Pro X and really want to master this DAW as I do believe it is sonically superior. I'm just frustrated with the lack of information and tutorials to the point that I have walked away from it. If any one can put together an in depth and HMB course properly, I believe it is you my friend. Even an HMB 32c for dummies! That would be wonderful

[@RussCottier]

City Tonight Productions I will put it on the list...in the meantime sign up for classic mixing at recordingstudiomasterclass.co.uk

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

Check out my channel for some in depth videos coming soon.

[@RussCottier]

Ha I just spotted this comment again......stay tuned for something cool in the coming weeks

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

Thanks for great lesson (that I didn’t know I needed!)

[@RussCottier]

Glad to hear it!

[@robertshupin3963]

Thank you so very much! Great information indeed.

[@RussCottier]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MorisoniProductions]

excellent video, as always! thanks..

[@RussCottier]

Henry Morris cheers man...few new ones on here over the last few days

[@GregRband]

Great explanation, thanks!

[@glennnmurphy]

Another awesome video !!!!

[@monkeyflava1436]

Great video, really well explained. Salute!

[@RussCottier]

Glad it helped!

[@HansBaier]

As of Mixbus 4.3 you can set the type of the Master K-Meter in Preferences->Metering->Default Meter type for the Master bus. Note that it only applies to newly created projects. Well... thats what it says, at least. But it does not seem to work.

[@RussCottier]

Hans Baier yeah as I say I think it's just the top meter a d meterbridge that changes the one on the master. Channel doesn't when I last checked. I'll double check in 4.3 later.

[@hamtalip1510]

well good explanation many thanks.....good stuff!

[@Tracks777]

Nice video man!

[@benjaminbattenberg3682]

thank you Russell! this is the first time I actually got what this System can do (and I've Rad Bob Katz's book;). does this work für headphones too?

[@RussCottier]

Sing for Me yes you can set headphones. Katz discusses his ideas somewhere about that but my easy hack is to adjust the HP volume as you take them on and off and compare to your monitors.

[@benjaminbattenberg3682]

thank you, i'll try that!

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

7:51 right speaker cuts out, mind warp! LOL 8:50 “SO” Sound came back in stereo, the word ‘so’ scared the crap out of me! LOL again

[@JosteinChrAndersen]

Good stuf!

[@saam6768]

Great video, I learned a lot but I am still confused about exactly what the K-meter system is. It seems, but I am not sure, that it is just translated dBFS measurement, correct?

[@RussCottier]

Saam it is a 2 part system RMS metering with a zero point at a specific level below 0dBFS. Plus Calibrated monitoring volumes that relate to the 0 on the K meter. Hence k meter zero is always a specific sound pressure level in your room. The K value you select allows you more or less headroom.

[@dusanspasic9687]

I can suggest that you edit video afterwards - bring down the noise level for the sake of someone not blowing their ears up :)

[@RussCottier]

I fear that you may have missed the point here. But thanks for the feedback

[@dusanspasic9687]

@@RussCottier Hi Russell, but i wasn't referring to the point at all. I'm long-time follower and a fan, and this was more a friendly suggestion. At least 'notice/warning' in the video is good as a reminder that material might get too loud - huge difference. Do not get me wrong. Technical side is all great and i cannot agree more, but someone watching this first time might go deaf, or get serious damage. Cheers

[@RussCottier]

@@dusanspasic9687 aww thanks again for following it does mean a lot . I guess I could have warned people a little more vigilantly :D . If I recall I think that did this video as a standard pre production level. So yeah you will find that when you calibrate your monitors the pink noise is pretty loud.

[@kris-lv7ql]

Thank you for the vid and great explanation! Would you mix a feature film also with the k-14? or would it get too hot? I know you would need to level for broadcast on ebu R-128, but for a movie for cinema / DVD?

[@RussCottier]

kris yep k-20 for film mixing I think though I'm not in that industry.

[@RussCottier]

kris of course you need to get your file levels compliant for R128 too

[@kris-lv7ql]

thanks for your advice! yes i thought about that, in Mixbus i can just switch to IEC2/EBU, but as i m used to mix with the K-14 / K-20 meter it s a bit uncomfy for me... so i might just mix in k-20 and level compliant for R128 in the last step...

[@RussCottier]

kris I'm fairly sure R128 requires an integrated Loudness analysis of the whole programme.....I think. Changing meter type only changes the top strip meter by the way so use that one or the meterbridge rather than the k-14 meter

[@kris-lv7ql]

Russell, thanks! I think the x42 plugin for mixbus provide a momentary loudness analysis and another part so to say is the analysis of the whole piece, which can be achieved with the mixbus analysis tool (i think) or with the ebumeter program (on linux) where you analyse the whole .wav file and it gives you a final value (which should have a target level of -23 LUFS)... I will stick with the the k-meter on the meter bridge for now as i dont need to be ebu compliant in this specific case. but generally thinking i was wondering which way to go for future projects...

[@erkamau9629]

it is a pleisure listen this nice english accent !

[@RussCottier]

Mauro Di Mario spiffing ;-)

[@erkamau9629]

WHEN YOU HAVE TIME... 1) as a sort of rule, it's a common practise to use k20 scale for mixing and k14 for master (not classical music now). How to relate to a target LUFS level ? 2) Every streaming platform has own level of Lufs, have I to realize different type of master of the same song for every platform (CD-A/DPP, iTunes, Spotify ecc,. ) ? 3) How to manage Dynamic range and LRA, or in other words how many kind of different meters must I use, and how ? 4) after have optimezed our single song, when we must realize an album, every song generally will have different Lufs(short-integrated)/DR/Lra/rma/TruePeaks. Wich is the guideline to decide the overall level of the album ? The most important song has the priority ? The loudest or the quiter ? The more important for marketing (radio hit) ? or a medium ? 5) what do you think about HOFA sw for CD and DDP creation ? Thanks for your precious time best wishes, Mauro

[@RussCottier]

Mauro Di Mario ok so it's hard to answer these completely in a single comment so you should definitely check out my buddy at Production Advice KZbin channel m.kzbin.info/door/MFrnWIF6N5YtOZzmCGP16A He has all the answers. 1) That's not a bad starting point to aim for as a beginner. 2) Many platforms do not use LUFS, but if you aim around -12 to -14 you should be ok. 3) Get Dynameter from Meterplugs if you can, otherwise a free LUFS Meyer would be fine. 4) It depends on the playback system some have album mode and do not loudness normalise each track individually I think (this may change in the future). Some seem to raise quieter tracks, some do not...this seems to change regularly too..just imagine a DJ with a volume fader making a judgment on how loud the track should be. Remember in normal track based loudness normalisation you can go above the target level but the platform may turn down the track. It won't get noticeably quieter, just less dynamic. Bob Katz suggested a playback gain parameter that could be stored in the file and allow album play but TO MY KNOWLEDGE this was not implemented...rather the platform works out the gain needed to normalise the track for when you listen as a single track. Note each platform is different but don't worry too much about it yet :-)

[@erkamau9629]

Thanks much Russell ! :-) your link is for mobile, with desktop PC doesn't work (for me at least..) Other link ? Have a nice day, Mauro

[@RussCottier]

Mauro Di Mario take the m. out of the link just after //

[@MaartenFranken]

The website you mention doesnt accept any form of password and I tried to find another download for '-20dBFS uncorrelated pink noise', but I dont find any... Have you got any other advise for obtaining this file?

[@RussCottier]

Maarten Franken you can make your own with a basic sig gen plug-in. Be careful about panning laws though. I would just contact Bob at Digido though

[@MaartenFranken]

Thanks, mate! :)

[@seighart90]

ironically the volume of this video isn't optimal :/ great tutorial though

[@RussCottier]

seighart90 should be -23 dBFS ;-)

[@RussCottier]

@Wayne Brown 🤣 think you are missing the point. But feel free to turn up your volume.

[@RussCottier]

@Wayne Brown Yeah it’s a great book. Bob is a top bloke and consulted on the video content when I made it to check the fine details. Hope the vid was useful I’m sure you can manage to set your playback gains to a suitable level. :-)

[@RussCottier]

@Wayne Brown I don’t think he does. But that was a standard level at the time of production for broadcast regards EBU R128 compliance. KZbin is constantly changing replay gain normalisation though, so I chose a value that was unlikely to be altered in future. This should sound comfortable on a calibrated system. That’s kind of the point of the vid.

[@RussCottier]

@Wayne Brown I’m well aware that R128 specs LUFS. 🤣

[@purecountry70]

Hello Russel , I installed that 10 db app on my iphone and in settings I tryed to change the type to C its at z right now I also installed the Pro type and it still won't change.

[@RussCottier]

Bill McDonald iPhone?

[@purecountry70]

I'am sorry The Message left before I got a chance to read it

[@RussCottier]

Bill McDonald here's the developers support form www.skypaw.com/support.html

[@purecountry70]

iphone 6

[@RussCottier]

Bill McDonald hmm sadly I can't advise on skypaw's app. But on my iPhone I just select as in the video or slide the type slider on the front page. Maybe restarting the app...double click swipe app window up off screen and restart it

[@spontaneousgroovincombusti2902]

It's really OK to saw DAW like SAW.

[@RussCottier]

Spontaneous Groovin' CombustionTM easier for international audience.

[@ACOMPA]

traduction in french please