Monitor speakers

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fluffy
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Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

So, for the longest time I've just been using a pair of pretty good Mission bookshelf speakers and a Sonic Impact amp, but the amp is starting to flake out on me and I have a feeling that I could be doing much better mastering by using speakers which are intended for such (as opposed to just doing all my mastering on headphones and then testing the mix on a variety of stereo systems and nothing ever sounding right anywhere).

What do people use for their monitoring setup?

M-Audio monitors go on sale a lot but I seem to have bad luck with the M-Audio products I've tried, and I'm just kind of concerned about their actual quality. I'd consider them with enough glowing recommendations, though, but if there's something else out there that's good but not too hideously expensive, well, that's what I'm looking for.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Caravan Ray »

fluffy wrote:So, for the longest time I've just been using a pair of pretty good Mission bookshelf speakers and a Sonic Impact amp, but the amp is starting to flake out on me and I have a feeling that I could be doing much better mastering by using speakers which are intended for such (as opposed to just doing all my mastering on headphones and then testing the mix on a variety of stereo systems and nothing ever sounding right anywhere).

What do people use for their monitoring setup?

M-Audio monitors go on sale a lot but I seem to have bad luck with the M-Audio products I've tried, and I'm just kind of concerned about their actual quality. I'd consider them with enough glowing recommendations, though, but if there's something else out there that's good but not too hideously expensive, well, that's what I'm looking for.
yeah - speakers are the only bit of kit I am really lacking now. And I am now set up in a separate 'studio' room which means I am no longer restricted to headphones only.

Any suggestions for something useful - not too big, heavy or expensive?
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Good quality flat frequency headphones. Or GQFFH as I like call them, as of right this moment and in the future if I can remember.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

I have good-quality flat-response headphones which are great for recording, but if you only master on headphones you're missing a lot.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Caravan Ray »

fluffy wrote:I have good-quality flat-response headphones which are great for recording, but if you only master on headphones you're missing a lot.
While we're waiting for someone to suggest speakers - what are a good set of headphones?
I have been using these for years:
Image
http://www.sony.com.au/product/mdr-xd100

Which only cost about USD$25 so I'm guessing I could probably find something that works a bit better. I have a lot of trouble getting bass sounds right.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

I love my Audio Technica ATH-M45 cans for recording, and then for listening to the final master I switch between those and my Grado SR-60 (which are GREAT for listening, but crap for recording since they have a lot of spill).
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

fluffy wrote:I have good-quality flat-response headphones which are great for recording, but if you only master on headphones you're missing a lot.
Oh really? So what are you, some kind of frequency doctor? Cha! Image

But I do pop it on my mp3 player and test it in my cars and house system. But I have gotten used to how things translate to my GQFFH unit devices.

....there is a very good chance I'm convincing myself of the above to avoid using monitor speakers for hidden reasons. My shrink says I have mother issues and that's why I'm insatiable. ......with my headphone.

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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Lunkhead »

I have a pair of Event 20-20P powered monitor speakers, recommended to me by Ken, who used to use the same or a similar type. They sound awesome to me. I'm not really using them to their full potential even, probably, since I haven't treated my room or positioned my desk/speakers/etc. optimally. I haven't really bothered to go that far, since I just record for Song Fight! anyway.

Don't stop using your headphones if you get monitor speakers, fyi. Check your mix on both.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

CR, yours are so small. Do they get the job done?
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

Hm, any idea where I can buy those? Google finds manuals and such but nobody who sells them anymore. Considering they came out in 1997 it's not too surprising they're hard to source though.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Caravan Ray »

Billy's Little Trip wrote:CR, yours are so small. Do they get the job done?
Wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Lunkhead »

I got mine through an ad on Craig's List. Perhaps it's not the most practical recommendation, I guess, since they're long ago discontinued.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Rabid Garfunkel »

A pair of Auratone (extremely) knockoffs, and a pair of those old wedge school announcement speakers up on the wall overhead.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by HeuristicsInc »

these monitors that starfinger sold me years ago are roland ma-8. they serve me well.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

Hm, I had a pair of those in grad school, but was never at all impressed with them.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Märk »

I use these and have had good results. I paid ~$350 for a new set about 3 years ago, and they are discontinued, but if you see some on cl/ebay/kijiji for cheap, I would recommend them. Completely flat response, LOUD if you want, and excellent bass response. Also, they have XLR/TRS/RCA inputs, and cutoff dials to tailor the sound to your needs. I know, they ain't Mackie 824s or KRKs, but good for a home studio on a budget.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by jeff robertson »

I got this to use as a PA system but sometimes I mix with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Roland-CM-30C-Cub ... B000OY4WA6

I only have one of them, so obviously it doubles as a way to see what the mix sounds like in mono.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by ken »

Hey All,

I just noticed the Musician's Friend has some Mackie Monitors on sale for $99 each. This seems like a steal to me, so if you don't have a decent set of monitors, this is your chance to get some!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... 5000000000

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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by nyjm »

ken wrote:I just noticed the Musician's Friend has some Mackie Monitors on sale for $99 each.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... 5000000000
So that's $99 for one monitor? Considering that others have paid $350 for a set, I suppose that's still a pretty good deal.

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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by Manhattan Glutton »

fluffy wrote:M-Audio monitors go on sale a lot but I seem to have bad luck with the M-Audio products I've tried, and I'm just kind of concerned about their actual quality.
Old thread, but I just have to say that I have had nothing but super positive experiences with M-Audio products and I highly recommend them for everything.

My monitors are a pair of M-Audio Studiophile CX5 and I absolutely love them. I tried them out at the store and they sounded really good compared to the others. I think I got the pair for $300, but I can't remember.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by fluffy »

Yeah, actually my current monitors are M-Audio AV30 and they're pretty decent. I guess their products are just pretty hit-or-miss. I mostly hate their keyboards and keyboard accessories, have mostly had problems with their MIDI interfaces, but apparently their audio interfaces are pretty good and their monitor speakers are just fine. So, okay.
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Re: Monitor speakers

Post by signboy »

I've been using these things, and they sound pretty damn good, for $160/pr. no separate amp to deal with.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... ?prodID=86

The biggest thing I'm finding is exactly what you are finding with mastering on headphones. The better your sound system, the farther you are from the average user's system. I will not by any means claim to have this figured out, but I do know it's The Thing to work on as far as mixing & mastering goes. Translation has been a thorn in the mixing community's side ever since the public was allowed to buy their own crappy speakers. I have had equal luck mixing/mastering on reference monitors and headphones. The only difference is that I have to remember that my monitors are quite high endy compared to the average listening setup, and mix accordingly.

On the whole though, my life has been much easier since getting even this cheap set of self powered monitors.
An old roommate of mine had a set of Rockit monitors, and for all how "car audio trendy" they look, they were awesome.
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