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critter Offline OP
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First, I am using a Yamaha stereo receiver and polk audio speakers, when I am done making not the same, should I get some kind of studio amp where there is only raw audio, and monitors?

Second, I need a new usb interface, I am using a ART dual tube pre, (which is now off the market) and is very noisy on the vocals. I have seen focusrite on here but the reviews over the net seem to say stay away. I am thinking of getting a Steinberg UR22, any thoughts on that?

Third, thinking about BBE Sonic Sweet for VST, any thoughts and does this plug-in work in Realband?


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First:
Depending on the circumstance, I'd consider powered monitors. Takes the matching out of the equation as the work is done for you. Lots to choose from. I currently use BX8a-Deluxe at home and Blue Sky Media Desk at second location. Other will recommend different brands like Rocket, Tannoy, etc
Hard to say which would be the best fit for you. Room size, proximity, etc, all come into play.

Second:
I been eying the UR 44, but can't comment on actual use yet. Those Yamaha pre's are tempting.

Third:
Dunno about Sonic Sweet, but their Sonic Maximizer worked in RB and PT without issue here.
I no longer have it installed, but when I did it worked.


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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Here's my 2 cents:

If you have nothing else, yeah it's OK to use stereo gear. But like you pointed out, the mixes are not consistent nor do they translate well to other systems. Stereo amps and speakers are built to get a certain "biased" sound..... more bass is the usual culprit.
Same deal goes for using headphones to mix and master with. You gotta be really careful using that kind of gear.

The best bet is to get a good interface and some quality studio reference speakers.

Interface: I love my Focusrite Saffire interface. It is a firewire box but now, I would replace it with a USB Focusrite if it dies. Focusrite has some well known and respected crystal clean mic preamps built in to their interfaces. Be sure whatever you buy has mic pre's, phantom power, and uses ASIO drivers. Input numbers and outputs depends on what your needs are. I have 2 in 8 out.

Speakers: 5" minimum cones preferably 8" with built in power and bi-amped for the highs. For this purchase, I suggest going to the store with some music on a CD. Your music and genre works best. Compare the various models side by side as I did. Note: even though the studio monitors are all supposed to be FLAT in their response, and they will have graphs to show how flat they are, trust me when I tell you that they will all sound slightly different. So that is why you need the CD in your genre. Listen and compare then you can buy the ones that you like the best. Just know that when you get them to your studio, they will sound different in your room than they sounded in the store.

I mix with Mackie MR-5's in the studio and I have added a 10" 100w sub as well. It was a bit of trial & error to get the sub properly balanced to give consistent mixes, but it is well worth having a sub so I can actually hear what's happening at the lower end of my mix. I would not use stereo speakers for mixing, however, I have no problems whatsoever using a Polk Audio sub in combination with the studio speakers. The lower end handled by the sub is narrow and well defined and as a result, the sub choice is not as critical to listening as the studio speakers covering the entire frequency spectrum tend to be. My sub is handling the part of the spectrum under 150hz. Kick and lower bass.

BBE Sonic: for the price.... it sounds good. If it's VST, it should work in BB. However, I never use any plugs in BB.... or RB. I use them all in Sonar because that's where I mix and polish the music. Mostly what I use is the cakewalk defaults. EQ, Reverb, Comp.


Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/06/14 05:33 AM.

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critter Offline OP
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I am leaning towards the JBL LSR305 monitors which are on sale for 119.00 each at most stores, I pretty much use Sweetwater.

As for the interface I am still leaning towards the Steinberg UR22 interface. I had checked out the Focusrite 2i2 at Best Buy and was told they had a lot of returns because of noise problems, etc.

As for the BBE Sonic Sweet, for my mixing and mastering I use Mixcraft 6 Pro, I do use real band for the rough mixes.

P.S. check out Sweetwater and Guitar Center for reviews on the Focusrite 2i2, and also the Steinberg UR22. No bias here, I just hate sending stuff back and forth if I don't have luck with the product.

Any other feedback is always welcome, Thanks


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Looking at the interface on it's mfg's website.... it looks good. I had to look into the user manual but yes.. it does support ASIO so that interface should be a good one.

The one downside to it for me is that it only has one pair of stereo outs. Although, for the most part, one stereo out is sufficient and workable in most home studios. I found the headphone output on the Focusrite to be seriously underpowered. I added a Behringer Mini-Amp 4 ch headphone amp and picked it's input off of one of the 4 stereo pairs on the back of the Sapphire. I believe the Mini-Amp could also be used to supply signal to other devices, should that be necessary, complete with a volume control.

The JBL's are a good choice for speakers. I've used JBL in my PA and guitar amps in the past with great results. As I mentioned earlier, you may want to consider adding a sub to the studio speaker configuration at some later point because 5" cones only move so much air. Get to know the JBL's first.

I like to buy from the local stores because both SA & GC offer a 30 day minimum (might be 45 days INS) 100% no questions return guarantee. It's a 45 minute ride to them. I've never had problems where I needed to return anything but it's nice to know that option exists.

As far as the gear and the software you have chosen, I think it's a real fine start. I started with my Focusrite Saffire and Mackie MR-5's and still, after close to 9 years now, they are still working flawlessly and on the second DAW computer which itself is now 5+ yrs in service.










Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/08/14 06:19 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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critter Offline OP
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I had a thought that I never used before, when hooking up powered monitors to the usb interface will I get an uncolored output or is there other things I need to do from the computer side of things?


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Hey Critter, I just got JBL Powered Monitors and a Focusrite card during the past month and enjoy them both immensely.

I went with the USB interface (PC doesn't have Firewire): Scarlett-6i6

For JBL, I went with the LSR4328s: LSR 4328

I just plug the JBLs directly to the output of the Focusrite card and it sounds a lot better than the old JVC Receiver/80's passive JBLs I was using. Another cool thing with the Focusrite is I can pass an external source (keyboard, TV, CD, etc) through the box to the speakers without even being connected to the PC.

I did a lot of research on sound cards before I went with Focusrite. I saw the naysayers about those cards but I wanted good ASIO drivers and preamps which they are known for. Let me know if you have any more questions.




Steve

BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
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It seems that my idea of the Steinberg ur22 doesn't catch any ones fancy, I guess I will have to check more into the Focusrite. The speakers I am thinking of is the JBL LSR305 I know I would be better off with the 308 but money is always key to decisions. The room I'm using is a den which is about 10ft by 12ft with the stuff in it not much room. I do have an older Klipch powered sub from my old surround setup, if need be I suppose I could hook that up, not quite sure of where the plug in for that would be, but I'm sure someone here would know......Thanks


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I don't have experience with the UR22 but looking on Steinberg's site, it does look very similar to the Focusrite 2x2 and you get Cubase AI. I guess whichever one you can score the best deal on. Sweetwater.com offers both for the same price, $149.



P.S. - Found another post in which someone just purchased the UR22 and liked it.

needs help with new computer config.




Steve

BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Originally Posted By: critter
...when hooking up powered monitors to the usb interface will I get an uncolored output or is there other things I need to do from the computer side of things?


Theoretically..... there should be no coloration of the sound in coming from the interface to the monitors. You want to hear the truth of the mix. that's the purpose of the "flat reference monitors" in the first place.


Ideally, what you want is a fairly flat response system that gives as little or no coloration from the DAW/source tracks, to the interface, and to the speakers so that mixing can be done from an unbiased POV.

In reality, while they all claim to be "flat response" there are differences in how one brand sounds setting side by side in a direct A/B comparison. So, the best advice is go to the store and listen to them side by side. Choose the ones you like, take them home and learn their strengths and weaknesses. Any coloration you get in the sound would, and should only be coming from the speakers, the room, and the EQ settings in the mix. The purpose of using flat response speakers is that what you hear is actually what is happening. So if the bass is booming or weak, it's not a result of the speakers, it's a problem in the mix.

Neither the computer nor the interface should add or subtract any color to the sound. Most will not. I say that with the full understanding that some interfaces, including my own have DSP in their software control panels. I can set EQ and verb and compression at the interface level if I desire to do so. So be aware that many interfaces do have DSP but.... you have the option to set it to OFF. I advise that you do.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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critter Offline OP
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I was talking to a fellow musician about usb interfaces, he mentioned that the roland Quad Capture would be a better solution. I checked on stats etc. and you tube videos and I am thinking this may be a better interface although a little more money. Anybody use this interface in PG land? Thanks


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