Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

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Radian
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Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#1 Post by Radian »

When researching FM curves in google, different graphs come up. Which one is most relevant?
Fletcher-Munson 1933
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Robinson-Dadson 1956
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:conf: Who knows what..
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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#2 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

The most recent, due to advances in measuring gear and techniques.

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Radian
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#3 Post by Radian »

ISO 226:1987vs.2003
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Tom Smit
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#4 Post by Tom Smit »

I'm still trying to understand these charts. Am I right if I presume that equal loudness of 31.5hz is about 78db as compared to 1000hz at 20db?...and about 125db (31.5hz) seem as loud as compared to 1000hz at 100db?
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#5 Post by gdougherty »

tammojsmit wrote:I'm still trying to understand these charts. Am I right if I presume that equal loudness of 31.5hz is about 78db as compared to 1000hz at 20db?...and about 125db (31.5hz) seem as loud as compared to 1000hz at 100db?

You got it.

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Tom Smit
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#6 Post by Tom Smit »

Ah! Thank you very much, sir! :D
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#7 Post by jcmbowman »

tammojsmit wrote:I'm still trying to understand these charts. Am I right if I presume that equal loudness of 31.5hz is about 78db as compared to 1000hz at 20db?...and about 125db (31.5hz) seem as loud as compared to 1000hz at 100db?
Yes - that's exactly the reason I have a gain dial for my AutoTuba amp mounted under the dash in my car. When I'm listening at low levels I like to have the gain cranked, but as I turn the overall volume up I turn the bass down so that it continues to sound evenly balanced.
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bitSmasher
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#8 Post by bitSmasher »

Hence the "bass boost" function on stereos originally intended for low listening levels.

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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#9 Post by Strapping Young Stu »

So from a practical perspective would it be fair to say that for useage of cabinets in a room where between 110 and 140dB are expected the most common EQ adjustment should be to cut by 6-10dB with a fairly wide Q at 3.5kHz?

Stu

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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#10 Post by jcmbowman »

Strapping Young Stu wrote:So from a practical perspective would it be fair to say that for useage of cabinets in a room where between 110 and 140dB are expected the most common EQ adjustment should be to cut by 6-10dB with a fairly wide Q at 3.5kHz?

Stu

[edit]
But bear in mind that depending on the music, it most likely is already EQ'd to be pleasing to the ear.

[edit again]

I'm a moron and shouldn't post when after three or four shots of Jameson - at least not on the technical stuff.

You're right, Stu.
Last edited by jcmbowman on Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fletcher Munson Curves...which one?

#11 Post by Ron K »

jcmbowman wrote:
Strapping Young Stu wrote:So from a practical perspective would it be fair to say that for useage of cabinets in a room where between 110 and 140dB are expected the most common EQ adjustment should be to cut by 6-10dB with a fairly wide Q at 3.5kHz?

Stu
Actually, you'd want a boost of around that much at 3.5kHz, and then you'd want a cut about half that size at 1.3kHz, if you're going strictly off the F-M Curve.

[edit]
But bear in mind that depending on the music, it most likely is already EQ'd to be pleasing to the ear.
Not when it's live music. That's the sole reason I set my rigs final curve to match something close to Fletchur-Munson.This way I can create a mix that will stay consistent to the way most people hear music.Then when I play recorded stuff I simply EQ on the strips what I dont like.Recorded and live are so different both in dynamics and final mastering of the mix for live it's better to mix into a solid FM curve and get used to making things sound good under those settings.Simply EQ any recorded stuff down. The recorded stuff in a live setting is mostly background noise and something to fill the empty space. You dont make it sound like crap but you dont go out of your way to fix every song that plays either.

I also like to use a 3-5min quiet period prior to restarting the bands next set.To give the ears a break and decontaminate from any recorded dynamics squashing that you had been listening to.
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