This will be a non-technical, bare bones tutorial. The starting point for Avia is 85db on the SPL meter. This might equate to about -10 on your receiver volume. You will be surprised how easy this is to do. Also, it's not necessary to pack overnight provisions - this is a 20-30 minute process.
Keep this thought in mind - all you are trying to do is have each speaker push the same amount of air/have equal volume. When they do this, it is a noticeable improvement. Don't make it any harder for yourself than that.
Go into your receiver setup menu and set all speakers to "small". Then go to the individual speaker volime controls and set them to 0.
Set the gain (volume) on your sub at about 40% of maximum.
Put the Avia disk in and go to the speaker calibration chapter (7?). Sit in the listening position and hold the SPL meter at arm's length in front of you . Rather than point it straight up, tilt it to about 45 degrees (halfway between vertical and horizontal). You will use this specific position for every speaker. Do not move the meter around or point it at each speaker.
The left front speaker is set to 0. Turn up the main receiver volume until you register 85db on AVIA on this speaker. This will be your reference point. DO NOT adjust this speaker in the receiver menu. Having it set at 0 and using the main receiver volume gives you the same starting point for each speaker. After setting this speaker, the others will be adjusted in the receiver menu.
Move to the center speaker. For this one (and the remaining speakers), adjust the individual volumes inside the receiver setup menu. You won't be far off 85db on Avia when you start and you can adjust up or down (usually) by 1 db increments.
Cycle through the remaining speakers. You are pretty much done.
As far as the sub is concerned, Avia runs the sub into the speakers anbd you are essentially balancing as you go. No need to do anything separate for the sub. Once you are all set up, Avia suggests that you run the sub 2-3 db "hot " (more gain). You can choose to run it as hot or cool as you like. I run mine 5-6 db hot for movies and 2 db hot for music. If you aren't satisifed with the sub, add a bit of gain until you are. This thing is there to support LFE. No magic here; if you notice that insects and small wildlife begin to die in close proximity to your HT, you probably have the sub gain a tad high. Back down such that the paint stops peeling.
If you want to get really tweaky with this process, google Avia hints or something similar. You will get a mind boggling array of expert advice.
Also, Alan may pop in and correct any incorrect advice I've given you
. Good luck with it.