r/ProAudioGear

My Pro Tools sessions are outputting at a strangely low volume. This happens on any session. Does not matter if I have a master buss track or not.

My OS settings have pro tools output at 100%. I use an RME fireface 802. Software playback / main output faders set to unity.

I have to push my monitors past the halfway point to get a healthy listening volume. My tracks are also bouncing at this low volume.

I thought this was normal and that Pro Tools operates this way (unless using master buss processing) to allow headroom for mastering. The other night while in a session with my studio partner, he pointed out that my output volume on pro tools was weirdly quiet.

We went through Pro Tools, Totalmix and OS settings in addition to hardware settings and cannot figure out why this is happening. Ran a test off of his computer (just a DI guitar signal with meter sitting at the top of the dark green and hitting light green occasionally) with no processing whatsoever. All software playback settings set the same on OS and Totalmix. Hardware setting also setup the same. Off the bat, when turning monitors up with his playback I am well below the halfway point before perceived volume is the same as my playback volume.

Does anybody have any idea what could be causing this? I’ve been diving deep into Pro Tools preferences and I’m not seeing anything that appears to be correlated to this. I can’t tell if I’m losing my mind.

So, I'm the lighting guy. Switched from concerts to tradeshow during the pandemic. At that time, I was working for a guy that didn't really care, and would totally fight with the hall about things he knew he was wrong on. But that's not me. I don't like to argue with the guys just doing their job unless I am absolutely certain that me being right requires them being wrong.

So, I recently developed a need for an SPL meter. I could get a cheapo, and that would probably get the job done fine... But can I really trust the $30 model if it comes down to telling some hall guy that's been doing this since 1875 that his ear is wrong? I want to know for damned sure that my meter is correct before I make someone else's life difficult.

So. I don't need 1/100 decibel accuracy. But I do need absolute confidence that when the meter says 87 at a given point, the sound pressure is absolutely 87 and not 88. Is there a budget balanced model that you guys would put full faith in?

TIA

I’m trying to cast music from a MacBook or an iPhone to a speaker and to a set of wireless headphones.

I’ve read about Auracast but not a lot examples of folks doing it successfully. Is this currently possible? I have a JBL Clip 5 (newest version with Auracast) and read if I start streaming a source to the JBL speaker then I should be able to connect to a Auracast supported set of headphones?

Can I use an Auracast receiver/transmitter setup?

I’m trying to find a solution for psychedelic therapy setting where the facilitator/therapist can stream audio to a speaker and also simultaneously play that audio to a client’s wireless headphones.

I’ve tried a number of speakers and headphones with various Bluetooth receiver/transmitter devices but there’s often significant latency and it’s less than ideal having so many different components for facilitators to have to navigate, some of whom are less tech savvy. Auracast seems like a great solution.

Thanks so much!