SPL meters can be very helpful while you’re mixing, but you have to know what you’re looking at to properly interpret the data it’s giving you.
NIOSH Time Weighted Average Limit Recommendations:
For each 3 dBA increase in noise level (measured in SPL Slow, A-weighted), NIOSH recommends reducing the exposure duration by half.
85 dB-A - 8 hours
88 dB-A - 4 hours
91 dB-A - 2 hours
94 dB-A - 1 hour
96 dB-A - 30 minutes
99 dB-A - 15 minutes
Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/noise.html
Recommended SPL Meters:
Extech 407730 https://amzn.to/3RFY4xC
Erickhill ES100 - https://amzn.to/4ai5C0Y
Galaxy Audio Check Mate CM-130 SPL Meter - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLxAKa
Galaxy Audio Check Mate CM-140 SPL Meter - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3eWRNA
P.S. Some of the above links are affiliate links, which generate a small commission for me at no additional cost to you. It’s a way you can support the channel and get great hardware and software all at the same time :)
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