Hi,
My monitoring is calibrated to K-20.
When I import a commercial mp3 into a project to serve as a reference Track, this gets wayyyyyy too loud any time if I dont alter its volume.
Is this normal behaviour because of the way the songs are mastered?
Thx Ernst
Exactly!
From the net:
The K system is nothing more than using pink noise set to -20dB Integrated LUFS (or RMS) in your DAW and making that equal to a reference volume at your listening position.
Since most commercial releases (at least in “POP-Music” world) are mastered way louder (anywhere approx. between -10 to -6 LUFS integrated) this is what you are experiencing.
Yes.
Sort of. But there’s also K-14, and K-12 and why they exist.
But, sure.
So maybe the point would be, to choose a metering-system/monitor calibration system which somehow reflects the music you are producing/mixing/mastering?
So if your reference-tracks constantly are too loud in comparison, it´s time to choose a different one.