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Joined: Apr 2004
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Hi friends,
I wonder what is the best way to set up a cheapish set of powered speakers to use as monitor speakers for my music?
I don't want to use my computer speakers as they have a subwoofer as well and it sounds too bassy.
The creative monitor speakers that I intend to use for music recording have got volume bass and treble controls, and it is the bass and treble that I want to set right so that I will get a fair idea of what needs to be tweaked when recording.
Should I just play a few cd’s through them and adjust accordingly?
Many Thanks
Jan
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Jan,
Not sure about recording monitors but I use the Roland Cube for live gigs and it is indeed a little work-horse. Maybe can be used for a recording setup as well, not sure.
Later,
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Thanks for reply Danny. I think I didn't state my question correctly. I will be mainly using them for playback when working with realband, and then adding effects and eq so I’d just like the playback sound to be a good representation of how it actually sounds.
Regards,
Jan
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Set your Treble and Bass controls at the 12'oclock mark. That is usually the "design point" and should be flat enough for all intents and purposes.
At very low volume levels, which is what I recommend for mixing because the ears don't fatigue as quickly and it is also easier to hear things in a mix at "conversational" levels, it is generally okay to move both Bass and Treble to the 1 o'clock point, which compensates for the Fletcher-Munson curve a bit better at those levels.
Most important aspect of *any* monitors is to get to know them well. Spend a lot of time listening to them at those same levels, using professionally mixed and mastered "reference recordings" of the same basic genre and style in which you intend to mix. Get to know them well and you'll get to know when they don't sound right on your own mixes. When it sounds "right" -- meaning pretty much like your reference recordings do, your mixes will translate well to other systems.
--Mac
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Thank you very much Mac for your good advice,Will set controls to what you say.
Regards
Jan
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Placement of your monitors is also quite crucial. For best performance, they should be at ear-level for your normal seating position when doing your monitoring work. This might be a big of a trick for creative speakers, as they probably don't have any kind of a mounting mechanism to get them at your ear level. You might want to build some brackets for them if they do. You will notice a marked difference, particularly in the treble side of things if you have them so that they present sound at ear level. They should also be placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle with the center of your head at it's monitoring position. Some folks will point them at the head location, some do not. I'm in the former camp, but I don't have strong feelings either way. I do feel strongly about laying monitors on their side or on the console bridge - neither should be done - plain and simple. Since you don't have a console, don't worry about this point - but you should worry about placing the speakers at the intended vertical position. What is funny, is that you'll see all kinds of 'pro' studios with Yamaha NS-10 monitors laying on their sides, on the console bridge! Some of the argument is that if you can make that situation sound nice, then a more ideal situation will sound even better - I have my doubts. Sweetwater has a great guide for monitor placement and why/why not you should place speakers in different ways. http://www.sweetwater.com/NearField/-Scott
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Books.
Stack 'em up under the speakers until both speakers are at the height of your earholes when placed on either side of the monitor screen and you are seated comfortably at your workstation.
My wife's book collection, I often drive her crazy. "What are you looking for?"
"Oh, something about 4 and half inches thick..."
I've alsso noticed that books make fantastic acoustic isolators for those speakers.
--Mac
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Quote:
My wife's book collection, I often drive her crazy. "What are you looking for?"
"Oh, something about 4 and half inches thick..."
That's funny Mac! My wife and I are the same ... She measures it in chapters, I measure it in inches. No then, I guess I would not tend to label myself a literary genius.
Ike
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Quote:
Most important aspect of *any* monitors is to get to know them well. Spend a lot of time listening to them at those same levels, using professionally mixed and mastered "reference recordings" of the same basic genre and style in which you intend to mix. Get to know them well and you'll get to know when they don't sound right on your own mixes. When it sounds "right" -- meaning pretty much like your reference recordings do, your mixes will translate well to other systems.
I have used this advice to excellent advantage. Thankyou, Mac.
No matter what you monitor on, use those reference recordings.
Very accurate mixing and mastering can be accomplished on the most whacked-out array of speakers or headphones if the listener makes liberal use of this tool. Duplicate the tonal qualities of the reference recording that most closely matches the sound you're aiming for. Done deal... 
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