Reaper Master Limiter to protect speakers

[garrettendi]

What values and limiter should I use in Reaper to protect Eris 3.5s from becoming damaged when tracking and mixing things like guitar amp sims?

[garrettendi]

Also, what would I need to do with the Tascam DP-24SD to protect the speakers?

[James Perrett]

Rather than use a limiter, set your output level so that 0dBFS is at, or just below, the maximum level of your speakers.

[James Perrett]

Also, what would I need to do with the Tascam DP-24SD to protect the speakers?

See my answer to your previous question.

[garrettendi]

Rather than use a limiter, set your output level so that 0dBFS is at, or just below, the maximum level of your speakers.

I'm afraid I have no idea what that means!

[garrettendi]

If it helps, I won't be listening to anything loud. Just enough to be comfortable with my mix/tracking

[garrettendi]

Sorry chaps! I'm really nervous I'll blow my lovely new Eris 3.5s!!!

[James Perrett]

Having looked at the manual the specs are poorly documented so the only way to measure things would be to use a sound level meter because that's the only level specification that they give. The manual says that they can produce 100dBSPL peak at 1m distance. I would set the output level on your audio interface to max and adjust the volume control on the speakers so that, when you sent a continuous 1kHz tone at -12dBFS, the sound level meter should be reading 88dBSPL at 1m from the speakers.

Reaper has the JS tone generator - just set this to a 1kHz sine wave.

Of course this doesn't take room effects into account and you may want to set the level lower than 88dBSPL to give yourself some safety margin.

[garrettendi]

Sorry I really do know nothing! Despite my post count...

How likely is it I'll damage the speakers if I keep the volumes reasonable?

[James Perrett]

You would be very unlikely to damage the speakers although I'd keep the volume very low when recording distorted guitars.

I've never bothered about this with my main speakers - although the cones and diaphragms on them are easily replaceable if I did happen to damage them. However I'm very careful with my secondary monitors as their drivers aren't as easily available.

[garrettendi]

Thanks James. When tracking distorted guitars I'll keep the volume low enough to hear but protect the speakers.

I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder so instead of being excited about these speakers, I'm instead constantly finding things to worry about. I've already had a panic when I thought the cables were too big to fit in the jacks...

[Drew Stephenson]

Define "reasonable"!
You should be able to download a sound meter app for your phone. They're not particularly precise but they should get you in the ball park.
First, TURN THE VOLUME ON THE SPEAKERS TO ZERO.
Start a new reaper project, add a track and put the JS tone generator in the plugins. Set that plugin to 1kHz and the adjust the fader so that the level is reading a steady -12dB.
Now turn the volume on the interface, not the speakers, to full.
Using your app on your phone, at 1m from the speakers, gently increase the speaker volume until the app is reading about 85dB (to allow for a bit of meter inaccuracy). You may find that that's way too loud anyway in which case stop lower.
Mark that position on the speakers with a pencil and don't touch that knob again.
Now remember to lower the volume on your interface.
Reaper will automatically cut out if it detects a sustained signal over 0dB or in the event of howlround, (Ask me how I know. ) but if you want belt and braces you could always lob a true peak limiter on the master bus and set that for -1dB as well.

[garrettendi]

Define "reasonable"!
You should be able to download a sound meter app for your phone. They're not particularly precise but they should get you in the ball park.
First, TURN THE VOLUME ON THE SPEAKERS TO ZERO.
Start a new reaper project, add a track and put the JS tone generator in the plugins. Set that plugin to 1kHz and the adjust the fader so that the level is reading a steady -12dB.
Now turn the volume on the interface, not the speakers, to full.
Using your app on your phone, at 1m from the speakers, gently increase the speaker volume until the app is reading about 85dB (to allow for a bit of meter inaccuracy). You may find that that's way too loud anyway in which case stop lower.
Mark that position on the speakers with a pencil and don't touch that knob again.
Now remember to lower the volume on your interface.
Reaper will automatically cut out if it detects a sustained signal over 0dB or in the event of howlround, (Ask me how I know. ) but if you want belt and braces you could always lob a true peak limiter on the master bus and set that for -1dB as well.

Thanks Drew! I'll get that sorted out this weekend! For tonight, I'll be setting this up with my new Arturia to play some gentle piano. I assume that is likely to be safe for now? I might also play something on YouTube to check the speakers work.

[garrettendi]

Sorry, I can't stop worrying! I can't do that 1kHz test tonight as the baby will be sleeping in the next room... Will I risk damaging anything between now and say Sunday morning?

EDIT: Sorry to be a pain to everyone. Life with Anxiety Disorder

[Drew Stephenson]

No apologies needed. Time to trust yourself a bit though, keep volumes low-to-sensible and you'll be fine.

[garrettendi]

Thanks Drew. I really appreciate everyone for helping me when I have my panic attacks!

If all is well, I'll hopefully give you all a tour of my new toys in the next Virtual SOSage!

[Drew Stephenson]

If all is well, I'll hopefully give you all a tour of my new toys in the next Virtual SOSage!

Sounds good!

[RichardT]

As long as you play at a volume you don’t think is ‘loud’ you’ll be fine! And remember to turn the volume down, obviously, when you’re connecting and disconnecting instruments.

[James Perrett]

One thought - does your cochlear implant have any way to measure the sound level that it is receiving?

It is worth remembering that most home studios don't work at calibrated levels and, even 85dB may sound too loud to many people. Presonus have an article here -

https://www.presonus.com/learn/technica ... o-monitors

and Hugh has written a more detailed article

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... ing-levels

If you just listen at normal speaking volume you'll have no problems using them with no calibration.

[ef37a]

Have I mentioned that my son has a pair of Eris 3.5s? He is in France and has not inherited any of his dad's modest electronics know how (as I have none of his musical abilities!) Thus he makes rookie setup mistakes and I am sure gets over loud guitar and feed back sometimes. He has not broken the speakers in over six months.
Re an SPL meter on your phone. You want one that has a C weighting and the best signal is pink noise. Audacity does that if your DAW doesn't. You can roughly 'calibrate' the phone by setting it to 20-25dB when in a room so quiet you can hear nothing. My phone so adjusted agrees pretty well with a cheap SPL meter I got years ago from Maplin.

Yes the 3.5s ARE small and cheap but you are very unlikely to damage them unless the sound is G'dawfully loud IMHO.

Dave.

[garrettendi]

Thanks, all! I gave the new speakers and keyboard a test run yesterday and I'm a happy bunny!

A couple of small issues but nothing to prevent me from doing what I want - I'll get everyone's input in the next Virtual SOSage if that's ok!

[ronmac]

This may help relieve some angst....

Reaper has the ability of muting any track, including the master output, when it exceeds a selectable level. The default is "Automatically mute any track when volume exceeds +18db". There is a drop down list where you can select options and a box where you can type the trigger level.

This can be found under "preferences" > "audio"> "mute/solo".