My Analog mixer Studer 928 has left channel a bit louder than the right in the master bus

[Primary perception]

Hi everybody,

Today doing some checking of my new analog mixer I realized that the left channel of master bus is louder right exactly 0.2 rms and 0.4 peak. I knew that when I did some checks on my daw with a meter plugin but for my ears the stereo was in the center.

Do you think this is normal in analog mixers or Do I have to bring it to the technician for a proper calibration?

Thanks

[Primary perception]

Forgot to mention. I did the check with mono kickdrum in a mono channel send it to the master.

[Wonks]

Have you tried this on different channels? It may be that it’s the pan control on that channel and other channels will give different results. The two carbon tracks on the balance pot will have some tolerance on their values, and for an analogue circuit, 0.4dB difference is pretty good!

[Primary perception]

Thanks a lot for your reply!

I only tested it in one channel, I will do the test on Monday.

Yeah I would be pretty good for analog because to my ears the difference were not audible and in VU meter was ok.

[ef37a]

Mr Sweetbeats is our resident TOTAL expert on Studer mixers but in the meantime you will have to put up with my meagre knowings...

You need a SINE signal source and any DAW can generate them including Audacity. I would choose a frequency of 300Hz, less piercing than the standard 1kHz and since I suggest you use a Digital Multi-Meter to measured the levels that is low enough to be in its accurate range. Much over 1kHz will not be.

Once you have the voltage differences there are several online calculators that can turn them into "dBV" or "dBu".

If you don't know how to test this, come back to me and I can walk you through it. I will however need an attached user manual/better service manual. These will also surely give you the specification including channel match?

Jusfort! The desk might have a built in line up sine generator of its own!
Dave.

[Wonks]

Earth to Dave, Earth calling Dave.

This isn’t about aligning the VU meters. The OP has taken the mixer outputs into his DAW to compare the signal levels on the L and R outputs and noticed a very slight discrepancy in levels.

0.2dB RMS level and 0.4dB peak. That’s probably under the threshold for the human ear to tell a difference, and you’ll get far bigger differences between drivers in speaker and headphone response, so it’s not a value to be concerned about.

A sine wave is an easier wave to measure accurately, so the OP may want to try again with a sine generated by the DAW and fed from the audio interface back into the mixer. They can then try the sine at different frequencies to check that the frequency response is the same on both channels.

[ef37a]

Saturn (see Holst) to Wonks. Gotcha. You did not however spot that I mentioned a contributor that is not actually part of this forum!

Sweetbeats is the expert on all things whirly and analogue over at HR.com

Bleary and not had me Alpen yet. MUST put lappy away.

Dave.

[Hugh Robjohns]

This highlights the dangers of looking at the numbers and ignoring your ears!

0.2dB difference between channels is perfectly fine for a vintage analogue mixer and not something I'd get even slightly bothered about.

[ef37a]

This highlights the dangers of looking at the numbers and ignoring your ears!

0.2dB difference between channels is perfectly fine for a vintage analogue mixer and not something I'd get even slightly bothered about.

True Hugh true but that is what the OP asked. Also I hope it never happens to you but I can no longer trust my ears. Not only are they very mutton but I also have a left/right discrepancy.

Dave.

[Hugh Robjohns]

It would be rather silly to invest in a Studer 928 if you couldn't trust your ears...

But I should have been clearer. A level discrepancy of 0.2dB is definitely inaudible and virtually unnoticeable on analogue meters -- even the lovely twin-PPM.

But on a DAW with digital readouts, different numbers take on a much greater apparent significance than they deserve.

Hence it being better to use metering to confirm and quantify what your ears are telling you, not the other way around.

[ef37a]

"It would be rather silly to invest in a Studer 928 if you couldn't trust your ears..."

?? Never said I woz Doc?

Dave.

[Primary perception]

Thanks a lot everyone for all the info!

It has been really helpful

I thought that was nothing important because to my ears was good but I wanted to be sure about it. ( Always the fear that something is broken)