Blowing up my speakers

I bought my first Mac PC in 2017, and it became my prized possession for a long time. I treated it with care, promising not to let anything bad happen to it. It was a reliable PC that served me well. I was mostly mindful of physical damage and avoiding corrupt software that could introduce viruses into the drives.

However, I wish I had been more aware that my limited knowledge of loudness would lead to the loss of my left speaker in a few weeks.

As a self-taught audio engineer, I spent a lot of time experimenting with different techniques. Coming from a background in radio, my brain was accustomed to a certain loudness level to ensure proper auditory perception. What I failed to understand was the importance of adhering to loudness standards and how different platforms normalize files after upload. Losing my speaker made me realize the significance of paying attention to these details sooner than I otherwise would have.

I initially perceived measuring loudness as a daunting task, only to discover later that I could achieve the same results without external plugins and minimal compression, depending on the audio file. Also I recently noticed how well-mixed Netflix shows with appropriate loudness levels do not distort, even at maximum volume on my PC.

Reflecting on this journey, I invite you to share your experiences in understanding and achieving loudness in your overall mix. Let's discuss the mistakes made, the discoveries, and the challenges faced along the way.

Keep listening!