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monitors / monitoring

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:06 pm
by clarkycatdealer
Hello all


Have been thinking of getting some monitors - however sadly i can't use them at a decent voulme as my neighbours keep hassling me as it is... so i was wondering whats the best way to eq things at low volumes , in particular bass... i find if i a/b on headphones it isnt too bad but headphones at volume are proper bad on the ears......

Did a bit of research and it seems near field monitors might be the solution - but again a lack of bass may be an issue...Genelec 8030As ?

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:55 pm
by el cubist
only need your monitors to be as loud as your normal speakers.
so why not get a pair. mix as loud as you would put your telly on.

way of seeing if you've got a reasonable level mix is to turn the volume control/amp down slowly until you hit silence, if theres something thats dominant as the last sound you hear, then its usually too loud.
of course they'll be personal preference, and unless your speakers have the dodgiest frequency curve ever you'll be on the right track. then all you'll need is a few minor tweaks here and there.

this way you can balance levels at a normal volume.
but yeah, of course, if you get the chance, listen to your mix as loud as you can. just dont mix at that volume.


ps. krk's are nice monitors. relatively flat response, sound great, cheap and are sturdy bastards.

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:42 am
by excision
genelec 8030A's are shit for bass and definatly not good for dubstep.

With monitors you really do get what you pay for.

Also, the dynamic range of the speakers depends on the size of speakers. For dubstep you will want AT LEAST 6". 8's would be even better.

Check out mackie 824's or 624's if ur short on cash.

If you really want to go all out get dynaudio bm6a's. I bought them and WOW they sound awesome and you can work at ANY volume level and still get a perfectly flat response.

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:04 pm
by luke.envoy
Excision wrote:genelec 8030A's are shit for bass and definatly not good for dubstep.
yeh they aint that good, but i got genelec 1031As and it sounds like a club in here believe :o

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:31 pm
by aircooled
Spend as much money as you can on monitors. The Mackies and Dynaudios mentioned above are good choices. Regarding monitoring levels, you can easily knock things into shape at moderate volumes but you will have to check everything now and again at a higher volume. Best wait till your neighbours have gone to Tesco.

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:44 pm
by shonky
As above, try and work out a time with your neighbours when they wouldn't mind the noise so much as you definitely need to hear things louder to check your mixes. Luckily (?) I've got a guitarist downstairs and a drummer upstairs so luckily they can't complain too much. Maybe encourage them next door to take up flugelhorn or somthing?

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:25 am
by lucky_strike
mackie all the way

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:07 pm
by clarkycatdealer
well i'll deffo try and get a pair of mackies.. . i've never owned a pair before , but i assume considering i have a little mixing disk and a proper amp theres nothing to worry about connection wise?

my scumbag neighbours... they are fucking lunatics that throw plates around and scream at eachother perpetually yet whenever i turn up some bassy music or my own stuff they run up straight away and threaten me.,. im tempted to leave DJ scud or some harsh bizzy b on repeat for a week when i go on holiday. or a horrible dutch gabba record .. does putting pillows under the speakers help in anyway?

! i swear there should be a reverse noise pollution law , its my human right to be able to make music properly, fookin pests. :evil: :evil: :evil:

also my laptop's HD was corrupted yesterday and i lost two years of synth patches, tunes , midi files , samples...... not really going to well really ha.


cheers everyone

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:42 pm
by el cubist
clarkycatDealer wrote:
also my laptop's HD was corrupted yesterday and i lost two years of synth patches, tunes , midi files , samples...... not really going to well really ha.

ouch.


as for buying expensive monitors, theres not that much point unless you got some decent acoustics (or treatment) in yer room.

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:27 am
by doomstep
If you are buying nearfields, then as long as you dont stick em straight in the corners, room acoustics dont really come into play, cept for bass at volume, esp if youve got old floorboards like me argh . . . anyway.

Nearfields are designed for monitering at low - medium volume direct in front of them, so yr catching the sound 1st hand before it hits the walls . . . & you'd be amazed at what u can do for fuck all t clean a rooms acoustics, all about carpet wholesalers bins :wink:

I use Tannoy Reveals, which are awesome, eso for low end, but they vibrate half my house wif bass :|

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:17 am
by je:5
clarkycatDealer wrote: also my laptop's HD was corrupted yesterday and i lost two years of synth patches, tunes , midi files , samples...... not really going to well really ha.


cheers everyone
Harsh as fuck mate, you have my sympathies. It's happened to me a few times.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:24 am
by nozl
without a doubt go for the Mackie 824's
I got the 624's which are extra clear but the 824's have got a much better bass response.

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:32 pm
by subeena
if you don´t want to spend much money the best solution would be fostex pm 0.5...if you do have much money get yourself the dynaudio...they´re much better the the genelec...sound clearer and with more bass