Speakers and audio interface for video

T

TwinCitiesShooter

Active member
I've done the research, my brain is hurtin', and I'm on unfamiliar ground -- time to call on the experts (cue hero music). I need some active nearfield monitors and an audio interface for them. Here are the facts, and I'd love your advice.

1. I'll be using these to edit mainly corporate videos and low-budget local cable shows. 95% of my projects are just dialogue and royalty-free music. I almost never mix music or touch the EQ. If I do a project that has greater audio demands, I'll hire someone for the sound mix.

2. I'll spend what I need to spend, but for the rather simple projects I'm doing, and especially since I don't do EQ work, I'm not seeing the need for $500 speakers. However, I need an accurate, neutral sound.

3. I edit with Final Cut Studio on an Intel Macbook Pro. My current edit room is untreated, but my upcoming edit room will be treated.

4. I'll probably use the audio interface solely to connect the speakers.

I'm reading good things about the KRK RoKit 8 (also reading that the RoKit 5 is missing too much in the bass), but is it accurate/neutral? I was also looking at the Yorkville YSMP2, but the frequency response starts at 70Hz so it looks like I'd have to get a sub woofer.

For an audio interface, I was looking at the Edirol UA-25EX for $239. Then I saw that I could get an Mbox and Pro Tools for $400 at B&H. Pro Tools may be good to grow into in the future.

Does anyone have an opinion on the KRK RoKit 8 vs. the Yorkville YSMP2 for my use? Comparisons of them are usually geared towards music, not video. Are they adequate? Inadequate? Overkill? Do you advise something else?

Would both the Edirol UA-25EX and Mbox give a clean sound for hooking up speakers?

This cameraman and video editor thanks you much for any opinions.
 
TwinCitiesShooter said:
2. I'll spend what I need to spend, but for the rather simple projects I'm doing, and especially since I don't do EQ work, I'm not seeing the need for $500 speakers. However, I need an accurate, neutral sound.
Click to expand...

There seems to be a direct contradiction in that statement. The reason for accurate monitors is two fold...
1. To remove any problems with the recorded tracks (generally EQ or noise reduction).
2. To make it sound as good as possible in all the places it'll be played back.

And to achieve both of those ends, whether you want to EQ things or not, you need to know what's going on in the tracks. And the general rule of thumb sadly, is that you'll want to spend a minimum of $500/monitor to get accurate enough sound to finish on.

And to say a room is "treated" means a lot of different things. I've seen people with $4k monitors complaining that they sound like junk, then I look at their "treated" room and their walls are covered floor to ceiling with 1" foam and they're sitting in the corner of the room. Needless to say the monitors weren't the problem.
 
Try Hifidiy.net converter/monitor (~$150)and B&W speakers. Unless you really need nearfield, you are better off with speakers, unless you are marketing to people who use nearfield speakers. I think the Focusrite Saffire and the EMU USB sound better than the M-Audio box if you want to go that way. The two channel Emu is like $99. The RCA output on the HiFiDiy is pretty darn good, run that into powered speakers or get a small, clean amp (I use Rega, but whatever) and some B&Ws. Audition the speakers, no one agrees on which speakers are best. One reason I use the B&Ws is a lot of people use them, but they use a lot of others as well.
 
TwinCitiesShooter said:
....
Does anyone have an opinion on the KRK RoKit 8 vs. the Yorkville YSMP2 for my use? Comparisons of them are usually geared towards music, not video. Are they adequate? Inadequate? Overkill? Do you advise something else?

...
This cameraman and video editor thanks you much for any opinions.
Click to expand...

When I was auditioning a few years ago I found the KRKs sounded harsh to my ears. I finally narrowed it down to a pair of JBL Pro LSR4328.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'll listen for harshness in the KRKs. The E-MU Tracker Pre is certainly affordable and has what I need. Being uneducated in audio I'm just concerned that such an inexpensive interface can have good pre amps. Are they really solid?

Gohanto, your posts here and in other threads have been a great primer. I understand what you're saying, however for the majority of my projects $500 speakers would be overkill. All I generally do for sound editing is set the dialogue and music levels and fix any obvious problems. When I have a project that calls for higher quality sound mixing, I'll hire someone with better skills and gear. Are there really no monitors under $500 that give a reliably accurate (if not dead-on) representation of the sound?

For room treatment, I'll be doing the research when the time comes and following professional advice or hire a pro to do it.
 
I have worked with the older KRK's and I thought they were "muddy", so that would be two votes no. I work with the Yorkville YSM1's every day and really like them. I don't know that you need a sub, your not doing bass management and there isn't much of use down there but boom. Most people (civilians ;~) ) hype up the bass levels and in a small room it can get out of control fast. But move up to the YSM1P-II's and your still under your $500 limit.

And these are all near field monitors and unless your in a VERY big room that is what your looking for.

And your not using the E-MU's pre your using it's D/A converter. E-MU was a really good company. They got bought by Creative so who knows where the quality has gone but it's probably pretty good, at least on a par with the M-Audio.
 
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