Are the volumes in Mixer absolute or relative?
Since my score is intended for a real music band, I have to make the volumes imitate the real instruments' so that I can make the optimum dynamics for each stave and measure. Thus comes my problem.
I'm not sure whether the volumes are absolute or relative. To further explain, there're two possibilities:
1) Absolute: The maximum volume of each instrument reaches the same decibel (or other measures);
2) Relative: The maximum volume of each instrument is the exact maximum decibel the very instrument can play.
Do you know which is the case? I'm urgently in need of a reply. Thank you!
Comments
I'm afraid it's really neither. MuseScore's playback is based on MIDI, not on raw audio, so things aren't measured in decibels. And each specific sound in each particular soundfont has different characteristics. All you can really count on is that turning the knob up makes it louder, turning it down makes it softer, and you'll have to trust your own ears (and or sound meter) to figure out what settings work for you to best achieve the results you want.
Normally, one wouldn't try to get more specific - just enter the dynamics you think liogically make sense, then listen to the playback, and if things seem out of balance compared to what you were expecting adjust in the Mixer as needed.
In reply to I'm afraid it's really… by Marc Sabatella
Thank you!
In reply to Thank you! by Howard-C
If we need to talk about MIDI terms:
Mixer values are absolute.
The dynamics are relative to the mixer values. (p, mf, f, etc.)
although, maybe this is not the answer to the question you ask; but its relative ;)
In reply to If we need to talk about… by Ziya Mete Demircan
This is true although as you say, not quite the question being asked, and I need to clarify a bit: the Mixer is about setting the volume of the channel as a whole whereas dynamic values are setting the velocity of each individual note that the dynamic applies to.
In reply to This is true although as you… by Marc Sabatella
I'm not at all talking about dynamics inserted into the score; I just want to say, for example, does the maximum volume of "violins" several times louder than that of a single "violin", or the same as it? Generally, do the maximum volumes of all instruments the same volume, by any appropriate measure? Or do they cater to the special volume each of the instruments can reach? I figure by my ear that they're approximately the same, but I just want to confirm that a little bit.
In reply to I'm not at all talking about… by Howard-C
It is related to the construction of soundfont.
In theory: they must be set to be at a certain level when they are at the maximum volume. (eg: 0dB, -10 dB, -6 dB or some other value)
Unfortunately, there are some imbalances (less or more) between the instruments in many soundfonts.
However, there are differences between the sound level heard by our ear (loudness), and the measure of the VU-meter. This also affects the balance.
After all, we can only speak of an average balance.
an example measurement, can be set as follows: (just an example):
Waveform/instrument: Sine wave
MIDI-velocity: 127 //=Dynamics fff
MIDI(Mixer)-volume: 127 (Full)
Master-volume: use default level //in Musescore: default preset level is -42.5dB (approx).
Mixer-Pan: Full-Left or Full-Right (If the balance is set to "Center", the volume should be ~ -3 dB.)
Expected result: ~0dB. (See the "Volume-bar" in Synthesizer window) *1
*1 This setting may be fixed between -6 to -12dB (or some other value) to make room for other instruments in some sound-fonts.
a test file is attached.
PS: These are my own experiences. Please do not perceive it as a rule.