I would be interested to know what system you listen to Soundcloud on. Computer speakers? Home stereo system? Phone? Bluetooth? Earbuds?
We all spend hours with Ozone, Normalization, LUFS, etc. to make a song sound good on streaming, and it would be beneficial to know what media we're actually mixing/mastering for.
I usually listen to Soundcloud (and I don't listen much) on my computer, but my computer runs a Focusrite 2i4 interface and KRK Rokit5 monitors as speakers. I rarely listen to music unless I have to learn something.
We listen to SC almost exclusively on our KRK monitors as that is when we are at the Mac commenting at the User Showcase Forum.
To answer broadly:
- Polk Audio Towers w/ Yamaha sub (living room) - Apple HomePod - Apple AirPods - Subaru w/ Harmon Kardon system including a sub
Music of multiple genres is a HUGE part of our life and is playing in the house or in the vehicle nearly all the time. In the evenings we typically watch a series episode and then head to YouTube to watch our fav musicians and search for interesting new artists. But to protect what remains of my hearing I monitor our listening environments to keep it at <80 DB's. My Apple Watch is configured to warn me if that level is exceeded.
Bud
PS I'm an old phart but I love all of the aforementioned tech.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
RE....MONITORS. (NOTE...dont slam me for my views. they come from spending many many frustrating years on the question of best monitors to use....and monitors drive me nuts...you name it...ive tried it over the years from big soffit monsters in big studios down to junk.)
i use allsorts. good hphones/bad hphones/good spkrs/bad spkrs/home type speakers. i'm currently useing some thonet/vader spkrs plus sennheiser higher end in ear buds.... until i decide whether to buy say the adams which i really like, but then when i feel like spending the money on adams...i think back to lots of discussions i once had with good engineers in big studios re monitors...viz. 1. why do the "classic hits" of the past that didnt use any of todays speaker tech sound so good even on my baby tv speakers ? 2. are we fooling ourselves spending lots of moolah on monitors ? 3. why do mixes done on big studio monsters sometimes not translate ? happened more than once to me. 4. given that lots of people in the world listen on junk, and given that a musician is lucky to make even a few buks monthly off of streaming...is the spend on hi end spkrs worth it ?
imho...in summary...the topic doesnt have a perfect solution....much as i like the adams. (i also like the tannoy dual concentric speakers, but for some reason i cant put my finger on...not the krk's. if really pushed for buks i always suggest demoing 100 buk edifiers.).
best/peace out. om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Phone with cheap tiny Panasonic headphones (can't stand earbuds). If I'm in the "studio" room - Motu interface with Audio Technica headphones Motu interface with JBL LSR308 monitors.
For Soundcloud, a half-decent external powered stereo speaker system with separate bass module connected to the computer audio. Not terrible. Probably not fantastic either, but it does the job adequately.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
A pair of Samson Near Field Monitors or the headphone.... but none of that really matters because the Lively Hearing Aids do all the sound coloring. Is it just me??
RE....MONITORS. (NOTE...dont slam me for my views. they come from spending many many frustrating years on the question of best monitors to use....and monitors drive me nuts...you name it...ive tried it over the years from big soffit monsters in big studios down to junk.)
........................ om
No I am not going to slam you on your views and in fact I agree with most of them.
When I purchased my SP-5B monitors they were around $200 USD for the pair. At that time they were low end cost wise. I use them for listening and composing because they are all I need.
I have a close friend whom uses his inexpensive home stereo system for everything, listening, composing, and as an amp for his keyboards. He knows how to adjust his system for each of the above. His songs rival anyone with expensive audio monitors IMHO.
I have another friend whom spent a fortune on an audiophile stereo system, everything was top shelf. All he listens to is metal, hard rock, and grunge!
Those classic hits are so great because they were done live and recorded via tape. A lot of today's music that is recorded one track at a time, this includes my music, looses that live feeling, as most all of the songs energy is lost. YMMV
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I don't live out in the country any longer so I can not get away with loud anything. In my first post I did not even think about headphones.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 OHM. I have a Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 OHM also but do not like the sound. I am sure there must be better headsets now days but I have spent thousands of hours with 770 on my head to the extent there are depressions in my head where they push on my glasses...lol
I have semi junk speakers on the stereo system down stairs which I used mostly for the TV audio. I have had in mind to build some arcane type of speakers but more as a fun electronics project that a audiophile issue. I have built dozens of tube guitar amps but never got around to building a high end tube stereo amp.
I have hundreds of CDs and cassette tapes but listen to stuff on youtube more often than not. Unlike many or even most musically inclined people I do not listen to music in my car or while I work. It is too distracting because I am always analyzing what I hear. What key was that in? What is the chord progression? What did the lyrics mean?
Some of what I do is just like Pavlovs's dog. The bell rings and....
I am like many musicians and jet pilots, hearing loss at certain frequency which has something to do with the choice of speakers and headphones.
For me, it's either one or the other..... Altec Lansing computer speakers.... they're cheap ones.... OR.... my decent quality noise canceling ear buds.
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.
For me, there are a few places and systems I listen to music:
My home stereo, consisting of a nice pair of mid 70's Technics "Linear phase" speakers driven by an Onkyo receiver. Often with a Polk sub, and occasionally with the full surround system that adds a nice Yamaha centre and Paradigm rears (this was set up on a budget hence the mishmash of brands, but they blend together ok).
My studio, with a pair of Mackie HR824mk1's running from an RME Fireface, OR a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50x, OR the built-in speaker in my old Mac Pro or my even older iMac.
My shower, with a 4-dollar bluetooth speaker.
My desk at work, with a Focusrite 2i2 and a pair of mediocre Labtec speakers.
My girlfriends house, with a cheap Panasonic shelf system.
My car, with the worst possible stereo system (the deck sounds ok despite glitchiness, but original Pontiac speakers are terrible).
At the lake, through every teenagers and twenty-somethings Bluetooth speakers all cranked to eleven.
Everywhere else, with the speaker built into my phone.
Apart from that, I don't really listen to music much.
Originally Posted By: justanoldmuso
1. why do the "classic hits" of the past that didnt use any of todays speaker tech sound so good even on my baby tv speakers ? 2. are we fooling ourselves spending lots of moolah on monitors ? 3. why do mixes done on big studio monsters sometimes not translate ? happened more than once to me. 4. given that lots of people in the world listen on junk, and given that a musician is lucky to make even a few buks monthly off of streaming...is the spend on hi end spkrs worth it ?
1: Nostalgia. Also because analog equipment adds distortion, noise, and nonlinearity, and the human brain likes those, but not too much of those (unless you're me). 2: Maybe. Monitors are simply supposed to be accurate rather than sounding "good" - the idea being to find faults that need correcting. 3: As with #2, but also maybe due to a bad reference track. Hard to say. 4: Are hobbies worth spending money on? I think so. If your only goal with making music is to profit, you're in the wrong business.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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