This article is from the rec.arts.movies.tech FAQ, by Scott E. Norwood snorwood@nyx.nyx.net with numerous contributions by others.
This is widely ignored, but officially, a CAT-85 pink noise generator
card in a Dolby processor should generate a sound level of 85 decibels
at the `average' seat, and this should be calibrated to the `7' on the
volume dial (which ranges from 1 through 10). Mixing stages are set up
in this way, although theaters are often calibrated for lower sound
levels, as films (and, more frequently, trailers) sometimes get mixed
too loud.
 
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