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Hey guys just a quick question,

I'm trying to decide how to go about getting some monitors. Right now I'm stripped for cash and can only spend around $300. My question is, can I get away with buying one (krk6) and using that instead of buying two (and just producing in mono?) or should I just get some Alesis Monitor 1 Active MKII Powered Monitors? Bear in mind I'm not a serious producer. I do this as a hobby and I just want to get something to help improve my mixes. Plus I can always upgrade later. Thanks the the advice

Everyone will prob tell you to wait till you have enough for two. I have two monitors, one is on the other side of the room, the other is behind me not even pointing at me I move them around and I get up and walk about a lot. I do this because my speakers are shit and my 'studio' is my bedroom.

Get use to the sound and know the flaws with your setup.

btw, I have those Alesis, pile of shite.

therook wrote:Hey guys just a quick question,

I'm trying to decide how to go about getting some monitors. Right now I'm stripped for cash and can only spend around $300. My question is, can I get away with buying one (krk6) and using that instead of buying two (and just producing in mono?) or should I just get some Alesis Monitor 1 Active MKII Powered Monitors? Bear in mind I'm not a serious producer. I do this as a hobby and I just want to get something to help improve my mixes. Plus I can always upgrade later. Thanks the the advice

If it's just a hobby, then $300 should be able to get you a lot.

I found pair of Behringer MS40s on eBay for £30 (about $45-ish). It's just a case of shopping around.

I don't believe that monitors improve your mixing - I still mix on 13 pound headphones even though I got NS10s sitting here, its just what you prefer to mix on, like Serox says knowing the flaws of your setup.

legend4ry wrote:I don't believe that monitors improve your mixing - I still mix on 13 pound headphones even though I got NS10s sitting here, its just what you prefer to mix on, like Serox says knowing the flaws of your setup.

I would disagree with that. Knowing the flaws of your can setup helps, but it can't make up for the stuff you are not hearing. I don't know why anyone with NS10s would do their mix downs on 13 pound headphones.

@ OP if I was you save up, and get two decent monitors. It's a one of payment, and they should last you for ever.So get the best you can get.

3za wrote:

legend4ry wrote:I don't believe that monitors improve your mixing - I still mix on 13 pound headphones even though I got NS10s sitting here, its just what you prefer to mix on, like Serox says knowing the flaws of your setup.

I would disagree with that. Knowing the flaws of your can setup helps, but it can't make up for the stuff you are not hearing. I don't know why anyone with NS10s would do their mix downs on 13 pound headphones. .

Cause I mix better on what I am used to?

legend4ry wrote:

3za wrote:

legend4ry wrote:I don't believe that monitors improve your mixing - I still mix on 13 pound headphones even though I got NS10s sitting here, its just what you prefer to mix on, like Serox says knowing the flaws of your setup.

I would disagree with that. Knowing the flaws of your can setup helps, but it can't make up for the stuff you are not hearing. I don't know why anyone with NS10s would do their mix downs on 13 pound headphones. .

Cause I mix better on what I am used to?

I'm with Legend4ry. When I move away from my £5 speakers and hi-fi to a proper system (Genelecs) My mixes sound shit

legend4ry wrote:

3za wrote:

legend4ry wrote:I don't believe that monitors improve your mixing - I still mix on 13 pound headphones even though I got NS10s sitting here, its just what you prefer to mix on, like Serox says knowing the flaws of your setup.

I would disagree with that. Knowing the flaws of your can setup helps, but it can't make up for the stuff you are not hearing. I don't know why anyone with NS10s would do their mix downs on 13 pound headphones. .

Cause I mix better on what I am used to?

When I first got my monitors, My mix downs went down considerable when listening on other systems, but after spending sometime getting use to them I would say I can do better mixs now. I konow you hear of some producers using Hi-Fi's, and doing good mix downs, but I bet after spending sometime with a decent set of monitors they would get better mix downs.

IMO It's like if you only ever drive a Nissan Micra, then you got in a f1 car. At first you would suck, but once you got use to it you will be going much faster.

Ive had my monitors for 3 years and used them, a lot - I just prefer the music being ultra close to my ears for initial mixing then reference on my monitors and anything harsh whats picked up, I find the balance.

If it works, then it works.

But if I was you, I would cop a good set of cans (AKG).

you could just buy the one you can afford now and then get the other wen u can afford it - if you cant wait! ive heard of quite a lot of people producing on only one monitor so it can be done. I seriously +1 what everyones been saying about knowing your setup... i think you can learn it better by keeping checking out your music on as many systems as you can good or shite, then you kind of know exactly what your speaker/headphones add or subtract from sound.

yeah, can be very helpful mixing down in mono, plus far less phase interference from your room.

Id get one good one, rather than a pair of crappy ones, then get another later.

If you can get something sounding good on one mono speaker, youre laughing.

paradigm x wrote:yeah, can be very helpful mixing down in mono, plus far less phase interference from your room.

Id get one good one, rather than a pair of crappy ones, then get another later.

If you can get something sounding good on one mono speaker, youre laughing.

there was a quote about some engineer saying he'd rather mix on one good monitor than try and mix on hi-fi speakers or whatever. found it interesting.

Yeah like I would rather get a 1 nice sony ms5/8, krk 6/8, or a mackie and then build from there. The only decent pair of headphones I have are the hd280's and they do a fairly good job (I think). I'm probably going to get flamed for this but when I was watching the funtcase masterclass video he only uses one sony, produces in mono, and then uses a stereo separator or whatever lol.

to the op i was in the same situation a while back, i ended up buying 1 krk and then i never got round to buying another i always had to much shit to pay out for, at 1 point the krk broke i had to send it back to get repaired and i cudnt be without speakers for 2-3 months so i ended up buying some alesis 140 quid jobbies which were shite. finally got the krk back and sold that and sold the alesis monitors and got some tapcos off my mate.

i wish i just shelled out for 2 decent mointors in the 1st place

I'd advise against settling for a pair of substandard monitors, either wait till you can afford 2, or if your the kinda person (like me) that can't hold on to money to save your life then just buy one now and one later. You *can* do good mixes on almost any setup if your used to it and learn your way around it's flaws but personally I think monitors are just so much nicer to work with and will give you consistently good results much quicker than trying to learn your way around a flawed system.

funtcase did it
personally. i'm finally about to get a set of monitors. and i'm fucking stoked. if i only had the money for one, i'd be more than okay with that. then fuck it, you'll have the money for the next within months (hopefully).

Crap guys I'm still in a dilemma over what to choose. A nice pair of cans or 1 monitor or truths or the alesis mII active's... ugh

therook wrote:Crap guys I'm still in a dilemma over what to choose. A nice pair of cans or 1 monitor or truths or the alesis mII active's... ugh

I'd go for a nice pair of cans first, then a nice set of monitors :p

but for real I use headphones/+ a hi-fi stereo system, and it's doing fine for now! I think I read somewhere that hi-fi speakers kinda improve the sound (so it sounds good on that system - I think?), so your mixes can get fucked with but thats what the headphones are for?

I'm no expert or anything though so don't take my word for it haha

Nice pair of cans