Calibration Tone

[Rockguitarzan]

As a professional video editor for 35 years https://www.facebook.com/tom.daigon I got used to calibrating all my equipment using tone and bars to set levels. Does my Axe FX 2 have anything analogous to use for calibration?

 

[zenaxe]

You mean like the pink and white noise generation in the synth block?
http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Synth_effect

 

[Rockguitarzan]

No more like a consistant tone that comes out of the Axe at a calibrated level, like tone and bars in the video world.

 

[barhrecords]

IIRC calibration tones are usually sine waves at a specific frequency with a specific energy wrt full scale?

 

[zenaxe]

Makes sense. Maybe the synth block could be used to generate a specific frequency/level.

 

[Rockguitarzan]

Video tone uses a 1Khz Sine Wave thats at -12 db.

 

[Admin M@]

Yep. Just set the synth block to a 1K sine wave at -12 dB.
Turn OUTPUT 1 to the maximum level position.

 

[Rockguitarzan]

Sweet!. Thank you!

 

[bdrepko]

Curious how you would use it?

 

[FractalAudio]

There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test but use the Synth block. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator.

 

[brokenvail]

I got lost at the very start of the thread but still read the whole thing

 

[SeasonOfPain]

So can this be used for gain-staging gear after the Axe's analog outputs? e.g. generate a -12dB sine from the Axe, and match levels on your audio interface?

 

[bdrepko]

Sweet!. Thank you!

How would you use this?

 

[barhrecords]

How would you use this?

In the analog world you trim out gains such that the analog VU meters on various gear in the signal chain all read 0VU with same voltage level input.

The idea is get all your metering in various different devices calibrated to the same reference level.

In the digital world, the meters are typically not VU but instead 0dbFs is max and over 0 is to be avoided (although these days a lot of D/A converters actually handle overs gracefully)

Calibration between digital and analog is fairly new-ish.

The exact level dbFs in the digital world to set as your "zero VU" is not 100% agreed on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_level

http://www.digido.com/articles-and-demos12/13-bob-katz/22-level-practices-part-1.html (section III)

 

[bdrepko]

In the analog world you trim out gains such that the analog VU meters on various gear in the signal chain all read 0VU with same voltage level input.

The idea is get all your metering in various different devices calibrated to the same reference level.

In the digital world, the meters are typically not VU but instead 0dbFs is max and over 0 is to be avoided (although these days a lot of D/A converters actually handle overs gracefully)

Calibration between digital and analog is fairly new-ish.

The exact level dbFs in the digital world to set as your "zero VU" is not 100% agreed on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_level

http://www.digido.com/articles-and-demos12/13-bob-katz/22-level-practices-part-1.html (section III)

Thanks for the info.

 

[Rockguitarzan]

There's actually a hidden calibration tone that is used during functional test but use the Synth block. The Synth block is reference quality. I use it all the time to generate test tones. The output is spectrally purer than my $2000 Stanford Research Systems Synthesized Function Generator.

Just switched to a new (and quite fabulous) DAW (Studio One V3.2) after 20 years with Logic. I wanted to make sure its digital input levels were where they should be. I did as you suggested. Lo and behold the levels on all meters where right where they should be. Not that I thought that Studio One might have issues, I just never assume anything. And this lets me know I can continue to use theAxe FX USB feed with confidence (and save money from not needing a Scarlet 6i6)