Speakers - what are you using for home studio?
I don't want to spend much. I've always liked older Boston Acoustics for my home stereo and was thinking of getting some used BA bookshelf speakers for the little home studio I'm putting together. But I haven't made a move yet and I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks!
|
You probably don't want to hear this, but studio monitoring is one of those things that the professionals say, "Don't scrimp on your monitoring." Still, there are dozens and dozens of studio nearfield monitors that are inexpensive and seem to get good reviews from users.
Most studio cats use monitors to listen to full mixes, including bass, keyboards, vocals, drums, etc. Not surprisingly, most home studio user and pro reviews are from this perspective. Some of us are only interested in acoustic guitar, which does not reach into the low frequencies like a bass guitar or keyboard does. If you are in this camp, then you don't need flat bass response down into the bass range. A monitor that provides -3dB at 60 Hz is quite adequate for acoustic guitar and vocal recording. As to brands and models, I don't have much experience with that many different monitors in my own space - only 6 different pairs over the years - so I can't help much there. I currently use Quested monitors. |
Thanks! This is just a little Zoom H4 based home studio for recording my acoustic guitar compositions. I'll also sometimes record some vocals and sometimes a little percussion. I might invest in some nicer mics than what are built into the Zoom H4 at some point.
|
I agree with sdelsolray, you get what you pay for. I use Adam Audio reference monitors and sub, love the ribbon tweeters.
|
Quote:
That said, I often do a lot of my mixing using headphones, which, I know is far from ideal. The headphones I use (Sennheiser HD280) are pretty true, but it's just not the best way to mix. Unfortunately, with a houseful of people, it's often my only option. I do agree, though, with sdelsolray - if you're doing just acoustic guitar or acoustic guitar/vox, it's not as critical as if you were mixing a full band. |
Well I made up my mind fast on this one and found some almost new JBL LSR2325P speakers for under $200. shipped. I read a bunch of reviews and all raved about these little guys. These seem like a good deal and they're within my price range for the very modest home studio I'm putting together. Thanks for steering me away from a set of home stereo speakers.
|
I have my recording deck patched into my main audiophile system in my listening room......speakers are Athena ASF1.2's. I do close field listening so it works out well, it's all setup already;)
|
Howzit Goldenbird
Aloha Goldenboid,
I totally agree wtih Sdelsolray regarding monitors. I'm using Adam A7 monitors (near-fields), Daedalus 803's (mid-fields), AKG K-240 mkII Studio headphones & my car stereo speakers for mastering. The key to near-field monitors for recording is accuracy. You want them as un-colored sounding & flat as possible - which are not necessarily what you want in stereo speakers, for example. You also want speakers that don't give you ear fatigue & which are room adjustable. You move fast, dude. JBL's on the way. Write a review when they arrive. Happy Sunday. alohachris |
Quote:
Even after having my ear drums lanced and drained on Friday, I still can't hear a lick, but I want to think positively and continue composing. It's interesting how the isolation of being deaf makes composing easier - I'm hearing more music in my head than usual. Lyrics too. Putting this little studio of mine together cheers me up. Here's just some of the reviews I read of the JBL's: http://www.google.com/products/catal...681&os=reviews |
David Eden EM5
I found a pair of Eden EM5's for around 120.00 on Ebay. They don't make them anymore and I think folks were dumping their inventory. Sound great. Handles electric bass well, as it should coming from Eden.
|
I currently use a pair KRK V8s At some point I would like to move up to
either PCM K&H or Focal but that's a bit into the future |
Quote:
My problem with selecting monitors was there is no place left around my area that carries pro audio any more. GC has a small selection to hear, but finding a time to audition monitors there w/o heavy background noise is impossible. Good luck with your selection and post back how they work for you. |
I mix everything at home through a pair of AKG K240 headphones. Love them.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Beep Pete |
Quote:
Not sure what manufacturer Honda is using for their car electronics now, but they sure are well engineered systems. |
Quote:
The JBL speakers I bought are powered Bi-Amp speakers, BTW. |
I too have been looking for some decent monitors and the JBLs sound like a good value. Here's my dilemma.....I'd like to plug them into the back of my Mac which I use as my DAW but I only have USB and a 1/8" speaker jack. From what I can tell the JBLs use XLR balanced or 1/4". Any suggestions?
|
The mac output and the 1/4" sockets should both be line level so all you need is an adapter cable.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
I did recently upgrade to a focusrite interface with TRS balanced outs and that sounds just fine as well. It may be a tick louder now but difference may be in the two units themselves not the balanced vs unbalanced outs. |
Unfortunately I don't have an RCA output on my Mac. Looks like I'll need an adapter.
|
Glad Im not the only guy that does a final test in the car. Lol. Of course ky problem os with cheap headphones.My stuff doesn't sound to good in those.
|
I use Alesis Monitor One Mk2 monitors with an Alesis RA150 Power Amp. I've been using these for as long as I can remember. Not the best out there, but I know them well, and I think knowing your speakers is more important than which ones you get. You need to learn whatever speakers you have in your studios.
|
Well I got my JBL LSP2325P speakers. Got my ZoomH4. Got my Oktava MK-012 mic modded for Neumann KM-84 tone and plan to get another for stereo recording. Got a couple of Shure SM-57's and a couple of SM-58's. Got a computer. Got a nice quiet room to record in and have started putting together baffles and go-bo's and sound deadening stuff.
And I've got a jillion or two solo guitar pieces that I've composed over the last twenty years. ;) What else do I need? I'm only interested in recording acoustic guitar, some percussion and some vocals. |
Quote:
noledog |
Quote:
You can make some new music or keep tinkering. It's hard for me to do both at the some time. I suggest keeping your best energy focused on music and let your recording setup evolve naturally over time. |
Quote:
In analog recording, the standard level was called "0 dBVU" and every part of the chain was optimized to work with that level. It was possible to go over that level with transients, so "hitting the red" on the meter was a good thing, you were optimizing signal to noise without adding substantial distortion. Digital recording is scaled to "0 dBFS" and FS means Full Scale or all bits on. This is an absolute limit in digital recording and it's roughly 18 dB hotter than the old 0 dBVU. Trying to hit 0 dBFS is equivalent to pinning the old VU meter deep in the red and keeping it there, and the result is not good. The analog electronics in the chain are being driven beyond their sweet spot, and any overs result in nasty digital clipping. A much more accurate and pleasant recording results from aiming for an average (RMS) level down around -18 dBFS, with peaks never exceeding -6 dBFS or so. This will sound very quiet compared to a commercial recording, but that's fine. The overall level is set in the mastering stage, just before the final output is produced. Fran |
I may be the only left using Event 20/20s. Do they even still make them?
Just like the others, I also listen to the mix using my home audio (Denon and B&W speakers), Klipsch 2.1 computer monitors (the same model fitness is selling) and car stereo. |
Well once again thanks guys! And Fran I had no idea about the recording levels thing. I haven't done any recording of myself since the days when I had a Teac 3340 4 track and a little Teac/Tascam board and home studio in my garage. Reel to Reel.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:49 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum