Maybe stupid, but what is best way to handle stacked volume controls?

[Varmann]

If you have a system with several alternative ways to adjust the volume, are there any way to prefer?

I have at least 3 stacked ways to adjust the volume on my mac studio.
1) MacOS volume control panel - also coupled to a knob on my keyboard. A very comfortable way to adjust volume.
2) Knob on audio external interface/dac. Here are also two separate output volume knobs, to speakers and to headphones.
3) Knob on the backside of my active monitor speakers.

I see several possible ways to handle it (I never need absolute full volume)
* Put two of them to max and use the last one as master volume, preferable the one on the keyboard.
* Put the two that handle analog signals, DAC and Speakers, to 80-90% and use the knob on the keyboard as master.
* Use the last in the chain, on the speakers, as the master volume, others put at 100%.
* Does the same apply to speakers as for headphones?

 

[M.Brane]

Level Practices (Part 2) - Digido.com

Digital Domain - we ensure musicians, independent artists and record labels get the best sound possible. Bob Katz provides the best in mastering and mixing.

www.digido.com

 

[Varmann]

Thanks for a pretty thorough article. Very interesting but probably a bit over the top for my usage.

However, it gave me a good insight in the problems with extremely varying sound levels when using different kinds of media, CDs from different time periods, LPs, Movie DVDs, streaming, youtube etc. I have read some about it before but not as well as this.

Almost all listening I do is at fairly low volume. So I guess it doesn't really matter for me, as long as I do not put different controls in different ends of the scale to get a level in the middle. I will anyway always have to adjust a lot for the different levels of the sources.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I have an Audient USB audio device which isn't controllable via the system volume controls. I adjust the output of that to (what I think is) 0dB and I don't move it after that. From the Audient there's a headphone out that goes to a headphone amp with its own volume control. The main outs of the Audient go to a Mackie Big Knob that I use to control the volume of my active monitors…which are set at maximum.

I think everything should be set at max except for the one volume control you want to use for adjustments.

 

[MajorFubar]

I think it depends whether you're interested in balancing the volume levels of different sources or whether you want just the 'best' route, where 'best' would IMO be setting everything to max except the final control in the chain controlling the playback level to your speakers or headphones. However, that also depends whether turning the volume to max earlier in the chain causes clipping or overload at some point in the chain. That's why literally books exist just about gain staging.

 

[M.Brane]

Due to bugs in certain software the can randomly produce a 0dbfs white noise I make sure to calibrate my setups so it doesn't blow my drivers. It's rare, but it does happen unexpectedly.

I also tend to mark my volume controls at certain db levels so I know where I'm at without having to get out the meter.

i have an Audient as well, and like many AIs it disables MacOS software volume.

 

[Solarflares]

Would be prudent to have a good quality preamp after your soundcard, with a good headphone output. Perhaps with remote control?
Yes keep vol 1 and 2 on max.

Lowering volume on some digital audio devices sometimes reduces bit-count, which you don’t want.
Keeping through signal level high, any picked up noise levels are kept to a minimum.
Soundcard into power amp is ok, but a nice preamp will bring the level up, and often give you a fatter sound.
Pic - Bryston BDA-2 DAC, BP6 preamp, 4BSST amp, Tannoy System 12 DMT mk1.
I output USB-C from my Mac Mini M4 to the DAC, and also use a soundcard which outputs S/PDIF to the DAC.
I also use a Beyer A20 headphone amp with this setup. Well recommended.
Most soundcard and preamp earphone outs are a bit weedy.

I would say, buy a 1.5m SUPRA USB cable for your DAC. Very nice sounding cable, and cheap ($40).
I did use Van De Hul 102 mk3 signal cables. Great quality, and a smooth sound. Used eBay bargains out there. On a budget, then cheaper QED models, or Van Damme silver-coated ‘touring’ cables are decent.

My present cables are over £3000, a bit much for you I think!

This pic is purely for inspiration, and to show how it’s done when money is no object, but room-size, common-sense, and extensive research, keeps you realistic (no 15” drivers).
This system was built for accurate, flat studio monitoring, and has been tweaked and customised extensively.