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BadMouth:
Eventually, I'd like to make sure the volume levels don't vary too much between games on my new cab.
At least the ones in the main gamelists.

It's always been a someday thing, but I think I might start chipping away at it.
I downloaded a sound level meter app for my phone.  I figure that will be good enough for this purpose.
It's not like I'm tuning a 30 band EQ.  Just don't want to have to mess with the volume knob as much as I do now.

Has anyone else done this?
Have any advice?
rCadeGaming:
Sorry, haven't done it yet, but I plan to.

Does the phone app work from a line in or a mic?  A mic is going to be a lot less accurate with all the variables like other noise, distance from the speakers, etc.  I'm thinking of looking for a program that could run on a laptop, and measure through the line in jack.

Let me know your results.
BadMouth:

--- Quote from: rCadeGaming on December 13, 2012, 03:31:11 pm ---Sorry, haven't done it yet, but I plan to.

Does the phone app work from a line in or a mic?  A mic is going to be a lot less accurate with all the variables like other noise, distance from the speakers, etc.  I'm thinking of looking for a program that could run on a laptop, and measure through the line in jack.

Let me know your results.

--- End quote ---

It uses the mic on the phone.  The number it spits out isn't going to be accurate, but it still tells me if two things are at the same level.
If a game that has mostly high frequencies is compared to a game that has mostly low frequencies, then the response curve of the mic would be a problem.
But I'm not going to be that picky.  I just don't want a game blasting loud noise unexpectedly.
I thought about getting a cheap $30 meter, but I think the app will do fine.
I just wanted some type of measurement instead of doing it by ear.

In the past, I've owned an Audiocontrol RTA and also PC software with a beringer mic.
The thing with the PC software is that you need a reference to calibrate it to.
harveybirdman:
I'm very interested in this. And ultimately I'd like everything to balance with the bg music in Mala.
brad808:
I probably wouldn't put too much faith in a phone app just because of the amount of variables that could be way off. Especially if its say an android app where the phones are all different manufacturers with different mics etc. If its say an iphone it might be better dunno? If you do go this route, even if you get a proper spl meter, try and get something with a weighted spl reading vs a flat spl reading. It will be more in line with what you are hearing as our ears frequency response is not even across all frequencies. Follows the fletcher munson curve, which shows our ears being more sensitive to midrange frequencies.

You could get a better idea where your levels are sitting with regard to each other by taking your line output from your computer and putting it into your line input. Load up an audio recording/mixing program and create a new track. Make the track's input your line level in and change the output to a buss assignment to avoid feedback. Load up an audio meter plugin on the track and check out the weighted rms values in there.

Easiest way to get them closer is probably use mame volume control, I think its default is - and +. Just change them on a per game basis.

If you want something to effect every audio signal leaving your computer add a compressor. It's the reason everything on the radio sounds the exact same level. Sounds like garbage, but its the exact same level. They reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal with heavy compressors/limiters. If your trying to avoid loud transient sounds then a "limiter", which is what a compressor with a higher then 10:1 ratio is called. You can set the threshold high enough to not have an effect on lower level signals but it will limit anything above whatever level you set.

If you add a software limiter or compressor into your computers audio stream then you have to watch out for the latency that it will cause.
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