What level should my computer speakers be set at?

Question

What level should my computer speakers be set at while I edit in order so the final levels are good for DVD and Television sets?

Answer 1

The best method for monitoring audio is much like the best method for monitoring video; externally. I would not rely too much on your computer's speakers if you're hoping for accuracy.
It is highly recommended to monitor both video and audio on properly calibrated devices - a TV monitor for the video and nearfield or reference monitors for audio. Nearfield/reference monitor don't color the sound the way regular speaker do. And that's what you need in order to ensure the audio you're editing will sound as you actually want it to.
As for the speaker volume, it's just as important to watch the meters while listening. Average levels should be around -12db with peaks up to -6 or even as high as -3 if it's something that's supposed to be loud like a gunshot.
To calibrate the speakers (unscientifically), route the audio output from a TV with normal broadcast or cable channels to the speakers you'll be using. Set the speaker volume to what you consider to be a normal listening level while surfing the various channels. Once you've set the volume level, you'll know when editing that the audio levels you're outputting will be the proper volume for TV viewing.
-DH