Studio monitors?

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

I've been looking into it a bit more.

Jimmy.. The bigger the drivers, the higher the price. I've looked at Genelecs with 6" drivers and the price tag would already become quite challenging for my budget.

I've been using Behringer Truth 2030A's for about a year now. They're OK - certainly good enough to get good results on, or at least good enough so that if you're consistantly making bad mixes it's probably your ear and not the monitors.

I bought them over the 2031A's less because of the difference in price (less than $50) but for a somewhat surprising reason - I physically couldn't fit the 2031's on my desk. I've since built a shelf over my desk that I have them mounted on, so eventually I'm going to upgrade to something a little nicer, and probably just give these to my dad (who just works on computer speakers, but doesn't get too hung up on recording quality so he doesn't mind).

I'm not saying go Behringer or anything, though like I said they're perfectly acceptable - I'm just saying that driver size matters, but consider all the logistics. Had I gone for the 8" over the 6.75", I'd probably have had to return them.

[Myst and rain]

Thank you very much for your interesting input, guys.

I still don't know what I'm going to go for. I've just been too busy to go out and check a few monitors out. From the looks of things, it'll probably be another couple of weeks until I finally can start recording. I might post one of my recordings in the multimedia section, so stay tuned for that.

Alwin

[potatohead]

The bottom line is, buy the best you can afford! Go and listen to different models and dont necessarily go for something that sounds "wonderfull" remember that you must spend time listening to lots of different things through your monitors to get the sound of them totally into your head. The last thing you want is a set of "great sounding" monitors that cause you to mix things with too much high or low end. There are advantages to using active and passive monitors but active takes away some of the potential problems with wiring, interfearance etc.
Its possible to get great results with very inexpensive gear, and also to create rubbish on the best gear in the world. What satch uses is only relevant through his experience and personal choice of what he likes to work with. In the same way that you may play through his guitar rig and decide to tweak the eq!! Its a personal thing. Im sure you will make the right choices for you and create some great music as a result.

[Drew]

That's actually worth mentioning, too - I used Kliptsch ProMedia 2.1's for years, with relatively good results. Sure, they're not even designed to be studio monitors, but 1.) I was in college and broke, and 2.) I got to know them quite well over the years listening to both music and mixes, so I knew how a good mix was supposed to sound on them.

The best monitors in the world won't do crap for you if you don't know their response well - any time you read a review where someone's saying "I bought these monitors, hooked them up, and I could magically hear what was wrong with my mixes (and here I'm thinking of Musician's Friend "reviews"), don't believe a word of it. Good monitors are monitors that are both quite transparent,and monitors that you also know how they SHOULD sound. Expect to need to take some time to learn them before you get good results.

[rty13ibz98]

keep in mind, your room has more to play than your monitors. the best monitors will sound like crap in a room that isn't as flat as possible. controlling standing waves and bass nodes are even more important.

rich

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

keep in mind, your room has more to play than your monitors. the best monitors will sound like crap in a room that isn't as flat as possible. controlling standing waves and bass nodes are even more important.

rich

Sorry Rich but, do you honestly think that Alwin has the budget or the space to make sure the room's acoustics are properly adjusted and tuned?? Your recommendation certainly goes in place if the application which the monitors will serve under deems professional results and significant flat response in order to produce the best sound possible.

Jimmy

[Myst and rain]

I was wondering what you meant, Rich. And then I remembered this excerpt from that interview with Satch I mentioned before and it became clear.


JS: I've got a G5 Mac computer. I've got an HD ProTools rig. I've got a set of small Genelec studio monitors that are sized for the room. I did have a professional engineer come and tune the room so it is completely flat. What you record here will sound exactly the same when you bring it to another professional studio.

MF: When you say "tune the room" do you mean tune the room or tune the monitors.

JS: To tune a room you use EQ to make up for or to take away things that the room is exaggerating. So I'm using a Meyer Sound Studio 10S for that.


Anyway, I have to say that my budget is kind of limited, yes. The room I'm going to record in is a medium sized bedroom, really. There's all sorts of things in there, you know? I think I'll just have to position the amp in a way, so that it'll all sound good. I think I'll just do some experimenting.

Alwin

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by gee

You should definitely --->listen before you buy and listen to them alot after you buy before you start mixing.

I sometimes have the tendancy to buy stuff blindly. So it's good that you reminded me to go check them out!

Thanks for all the new, interesting replies, everyone. I do read everything.

Alwin

[rty13ibz98]

you should visit the auralex site before you get started just ot get an idea of how to inexpensively treat your room, just to kill the lows and help minimize early reflections if anything. just budget another $100(usd) for a basic set of dst-112 for spot treatment and that will help out whatever set of monitors you end up with. i went as far as to treat and set my monitors up with an RTA. worlds of difference.

rich

[Myst and rain]

Thank you so much, Rich. I'll surely check that out!

If it's not going to cost me an arm and a leg, it's definately something to consider.

Btw, there are no new developments, yet, regarding my recording setup. I've just been to busy. But I hope to get everything together in the next few months.

Alwin

[jemaholic]

I'm currently using BX-5 active Near-Field monitors and a KLH powered 12" sub om the floor. I had KRK V-8's but to me they we too muddy.

[Myst and rain]

Wow, those have a cool little blue light!

That studio looks wonderful, jemaholic. I always see these racks filled to the brim with stuff in pics of studios... What's in yours, if you don't mind me asking?

Alwin

[jemaholic]

Mackie 24/96 recorder, Lexicon, DBX, power conditoners, Tascam Mastering machine, LX-20, patch bays and a stereo dual 31 band EQ.

It's not too much, but it works for me. Thanks for the kudos.

[Jamie]

I think Yamaha MSP5s are a very good buy for small powered monitors.

[Myst and rain]

I looked those up on the Yamaha site. Their 'trim switch' feature is interesting.



Alwin