Do you have any type of monitor speakers to mix your songs?

[Bckwds Traveller]

Hi all!

I'm thinking on maybe getting a good pair of monitor speakers to use them when mixing songs; as some of the mixes I've made sound good using my home sound system speakers, but not that good when I play them in the car, for example. I know it's not good to use a sound stereo speakers 'cause they have filters and are made to actually sound good; but I have no other way right now...

So, what do you all use?

Ben [img]images/smilies/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[VB]

Sony Home speakers. if you mix with cool edit .under filters. dynamic eq. theres a setting for car stereo.
hope that helps.
VGB

[VHF]

I basically start with a pair of small JBL monitors. I use these 99% of the time if I am just putting guitars over a BT. On other occasions, I then take a 2nd step and fine tune with a pair of large Cerwin Vega home stereo speakers, which have more midrange and low end. I usually stop there, but if it's something I want to put a lot of effort into, I burn the recording onto a CDR and move to another room where I play several mixes over a very large home theater system consisting of a Carver 1200W main amp connected to a pair of Legacy Focus reference speakers (which are some of the best home speakers I have ever heard at any price IMO). These speakers have been used by many sound engineers to do final mastering i.e. Bob Rock or Quincy Jones.

If I still feel the need to fine tune the bass, I throw the CDR into my SUV that has 5 Rockford Fosgate amps with over 2700Watts of thump.....it works fine for that.


Sorry for the long response.....but you asked.

[coolez]

Ben,

Getting some good monitors will definately help out, but you may go out and buy really nice monitors, mix a song, and then realize it still sounds bad in the car. My post doesn't really have much of a point other than once you get your monitors, realize that it won't be an instant solution.

Eric

[Riff Addict]

I paid $250 for my Yamaha MSP-3 monitors and am very happy with them. Here's the write up on the new MSP-5:

Ultra-compact enclosures allow easy placement. Small face print makes them very accurate for "point source" listening. Hookup is quick and easy with both XLR and 1/4" phone jacks available. Plus you'll get 67 combined watts of biamped monitor power. The custom designed 5" woofer and 1" titanium tweeter offer excellent response, separation and durability. The MSP5's dome tweeter, surrounded by a wave guide horn offers a broad coverage area of 120 degrees. Two separate amplifiers powering the woofer and tweeter means incredibly low distortion levels. A total of 67 watts, 40 to the woofer and 27 to the tweeter, generates a much larger sound field than would normally be expected from a system of this size.

Flat frequency response out to 40kHz makes the MSP5 great for mastering, where high sample and bit rates are the norm. The smooth circular horn surrounding the tweeter delivers uniform dispersion without distortion or coloration. Complete magnetic shielding and compact size permits easy placement near all types of audio, video and computer equipment. The MSP5's 4 position EQ switch for low frequency and 3 position switch for high frequency match the system's response to the acoustic environment.

Features:
Compact 2-way, biamped, bass-reflex monitor system
Built-in 67-watt amplifier
5" woofer and 1" titanium tweeter
Two line inputs
Balanced XLR, balanced 1/4" and unbalanced RCA jack inputs
4-position EQ switch for low frequencies; 3-position for high frequencies
Magnetic shielding
Frequency response: 50Hz-40kHz
Size: 6-5/8"w x 11"h x 8-3/4"d. Wt. 16.5 lbs. ea.

[JoyBasu]

I use Mackie HR 824s. My mixes got way more accurate after getting those. I still had to learn its charecteristics compared to other systems. I still check every mix in about 3-4 systems and rooms. Real studio monitors will help.

[wahwah]

I'm just about to get my studio up and running and I'm going to try out a pair of Mordaunt Short speakers as close monitoring and my Dad has an ancient pair of real wooden Sony speakers that I'm gonna give a try going thru an ancient valve Teac amplifier. None of this stuff is maybe pro audio but I'm hoping it'll add some warmth. The Mordaunt Shorts are excellent speakers but I'd probably look at an old pair of Alesis Monitor 1's if it doesn't work out.

[wahwah]

[ QUOTE ]
coolez said:
Ben,

Getting some good monitors will definately help out, but you may go out and buy really nice monitors, mix a song, and then realize it still sounds bad in the car. My post doesn't really have much of a point other than once you get your monitors, realize that it won't be an instant solution.

Eric

[/ QUOTE ]

BTW, a good engineering trick is to put your mix down onto a tape or cd and go and play it in the car to see if you're getting all the frequencies coming thru. Digital radio is helping the sound get bigger but it's still a good way to check your stuff out. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[Bckwds Traveller]

[ QUOTE ]
wahwah said:

BTW, a good engineering trick is to put your mix down onto a tape or cd and go and play it in the car to see if you're getting all the frequencies coming thru. Digital radio is helping the sound get bigger but it's still a good way to check your stuff out. [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Wahwah,

Yeah... that's what I've been doing now (since I currently don't have monitors)... I have a minidisc player that I can play in my car stereo, so I use it to test the mix.....

Thanks all for your help!

Ben [img]images/smilies/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[m4rk0]

I have the Edirol MA-10d Digital Stereo Micro Monitors!
They are good value for money for just over 100 dollars!
http://www.edirol.com/products/speakers.html

[stingx]

How do you cover the mids and lows with such small speakers?

[Goport]

I bought a cheap and cheerful pair of Behringer MS16's. They are definately good for the price http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-BEH-MS16.html.

[Danny Danzi]

Originally Posted by Bckwds Traveller

Hi all!

I'm thinking on maybe getting a good pair of monitor speakers to use them when mixing songs; as some of the mixes I've made sound good using my home sound system speakers, but not that good when I play them in the car, for example. I know it's not good to use a sound stereo speakers 'cause they have filters and are made to actually sound good; but I have no other way right now...

So, what do you all use?

Ben [img]images/smilies/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Bc, what the others told you is all good. Just remember it's still not a sure thing. Here's why. Even though a monitor will give flat response, (which is what you want in the studio) it all depends on the room, and where the speakers are placed. The best bet...if you are serious about this....is to get a set of flat response monitors, a 31 band stereo EQ and have a room equalization done.

A guy will come out to your house with a machine that will tell you all the frequencies your room is missing, or adding too much of. He does this by cranking up your system to where it hisses or blows out "pink noise". This is monitored through his machine, and it will give a print out. Once he see's what you need, or what needs to be taken care of, you hook that 31 band Eq in line, and he will set it so the frequencies are all perfect. Once this is done, you never touch that EQ or the placement of those monitors again. If you do, you have to get this process redone.

They usually come to your house/studio and perform this service for about $75. This is one of the most important investments you can make in ANY studio...whether it be a basic home studio, or a professional one. I get this done once a year just to keep things flat. Anything played through my speakers in my studio, sounds the way I mixed it on ANY system...and this is what you want.

You will drive yourself insane making great mixes in your room, only to bring them out to your car or a buds house....and cringe at your results. This is due to the room sucking up, or not having the right EQ curve. Most rooms suck up bass from 160k on down. Thhis makes us add more bass to our mixes because we think we are lacking bass. We listen to the tune somewhere else, and want to throw up. This room EQ I talked about will solve 95% of your mixing problems, and don't let anyone tell you any different. This is the industry standard and something you should have done. A good pair of flat monitors, a Rane stereo 31 band EQ and the room EQ should cost a total of $1000 or less. A very cheap price to pay for something you love doing, are struggling with due to room limitations and because of all the time we can put into mixing one freakin' song. I know that pain very well....I've been there myself.

But I sincerely promise you....the above will improve your mixes. Once you get this done, it is upto you to train your ear for the room. Good headphones are also essential for stereo field placement. AKG 240 DF's are the most incredible, flat response phones I've ever used. It's very important to have at least one killer set of them. Stay away from the industry standard Sony MDR 7506. People swear by them, but they actually add bass, and are extremely loud. Very good for drummers that need to have things in their phones extremely loud. But terrible for mixing. Just a few tips for you to consider. Best of luck!

[Goport]

Originally Posted by Danny Danzi

Good headphones are also essential for stereo field placement. AKG 240 DF's are the most incredible, flat response phones I've ever used. It's very important to have at least one killer set of them.

Now I know what I want for Christmas

[HamerPrototype]

I'd be more apt to run into a decent amplifier as opposed to counting on monitors (powered or not).
I find I get a lot less discoloration running into a quality amplifier !