Studio Monitors

silicon, which sub do you have? would any sub made for monitors work? the genelec one is really expensive

I will look into those other suggestions, thanks!
 
It doesn't matter what you use...

It doesn't matter what you use...

Don't like Rockits or Bluesky. Bullet proof cones = poor bullistics (transients) Mixing with a sub is not a good practice as your mix should sound good without one and better with one. That's why most engineers stay clear of 2.1 for recording but, love playback on them.

That said it doesn't matter what speakers you use as long as your the only one using them. The truth is you can use the crappyest speakers in the world as long as you learn how to work with them and the best way to do that is to have one or two comparision systems like a home stereo/theater or car. When you get consistent results on three dramatically different systems, you know you have a true mix. Like others have mentioned it's the room that matters. While you don't want excessive foam deadening, the one place it is acceptable is behind the monitors. The greatest error in any front firing monitor system is rear reflextion. This can kill the response of the mix. That is why pro studios are 100% soffit (in wall) mounted. In smaller studios it is important to keep some space between the front wall and the back of the monitors.

p.s. Genelec makes a great product an is the high end choice, but there are many cheaper models that are every bit as good. But, only you can decide that after working with them.
 
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Thanks!

I found a pair for the Genelec 8020s locally for $750 and it seems like a great deal.

I will get some acoustic treament to go on the wall behind my monitors.
 
Make sure you get the right speakers for your space.

I do not agree that you can mix on crappy speakers. Cheap or crappy speakers or good speakers not set up properly can leave you missing all sorts of stuff. For example, I worked with an editor who was using some Truths on his FCP setup and there was a ton of noise in the 200-300Hz range that he absolutely could not hear on his setup but was definately there.

If your monitors aren't accurate it's like shooting with a tape over part of your viewfinder. Maybe you will get lucky and nothing is there but you won't know and will get burned from time to time.

Cheers
 
Sound Chaser said:
That said it doesn't matter what speakers you use as long as your the only one using them. The truth is you can use the crappyest speakers in the world as long as you learn how to work with them and the best way to do that is to have one or two comparision systems like a home stereo/theater or car. When you get consistent results on three dramatically different systems, you know you have a true mix.
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That would have to be the WORST piece of sound advice I've ever heard. If you have the crappiest speakers and compare your mix on a home stereo and a car stereo, yeah you may have a consistant true mix but more than likely a truely crappy mix!
 
saneproductions said:
or am I still not spendng enough? I am not in a big (or good) room
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Genelec's website has a chart for determining the right size speakers for your particular space. The brand is fine, top end really, just make sure it fits your room.

Cheers
 
Just so you know, the Genelec 1032's are what most people think of as "the" Genelec nearfields. They are considerably most expensive of course. You might also want to check out the Mackie HR824, and the HR624. I mix on the HR824 and they are great, but you really need a well treated room for either the big Mackies or the 1032's because they put out a lot of low end. I have not heard the 624's, so no opinion on them. The Genelec 1032's are really nice and very common.

I had a lot of problems with my mixes translating until I treated my room, and corrected my speaker placement.

There is nothing wrong with using a set of crap speakers either, as long as you have a solid set of monitors. In fact, it is a GOOD idea. At least a few mixers carry around basically a set of crappy $50 computer speakers they use as a reference. This also makes it easy to listen in mono if you don't have a simple way to do that ( you can just stick them next to each other, pretty close to mono). Recently I have probably been doing about 50% of my listening in mono, and it helps a great deal.

My next purchase is gonna be a set of these: http://www.avantelectronics.com/AVANTONE_mixcubes.htm

These are basically the second coming of the now impossible to obtain Auratone (aka Horrortone) speaker.
 
I second the Mackie's. They'll run you about 900 bones new and they sound great. Nearfield is for small rooms....they are intended to cut down the dependency of a perfectly tuned room, which without building it from scratch it really hard to accomplish. I also would like to suggest the Event 20/20's. they are comparable to the Mackie's but you can find them for 3/4 of the price. I've been mixing on them for years and love them! I also second having some other cheap speakers on hand. You could have a great sounding mix on your perfectly flat studio monitors, but have crazy inconsistency on other speakers. It is really important to bounce from difference sound sources until you can get a mix that is universal on all types of speakers. I mix for radio and often times am bouncing from monitors, to cheapy speakers, to two sets of headphones, to car speakers. So anyway there's my 2 cents. good luck
 
saneproductions said:
Hi,

I just got Jay Rose's book "Audio Postproduction for Digital Video" and so I am looking for new monitors. Any suggestions? I have thought of the Genelec 8020a ($800) or the blue sky media desk ($500). I don't know what to do. My editing room is not a great acoustic space (it is an apartment, so modification is going to be very minor). I know this is not ideal. Right now I am using krk rp5s.
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Blue Sky is great for their price range, probably one of the best in that category. You are living in an apartment and I would definitely steer clear from any subs in your setup. It's not going to sound great even if you have the best monitoring system. As stated by almost everyone in this thread, your room acoustics and environment plays the most in this game. The KRK's that you have should already suit your needs. Do you know why you want or need to upgrade to better monitor systems?

Also, have a set of high shelves for secondary sound checks besides your main monitors. If you want, you can ask around your work or friends about what hi-fi systems they are using to listen to music. Majority will probably say something like a portable device such as Ipods and Zunes and others will say home speakers. Do some A/B tests at your friend's place and hear how they sound in comparison to your setup. Mostlikely, your setup will sound incredible compared to theirs. Are these audio going to be theatrically released or going to be played in a public location with a good sound system? Meet your end's goal and you won't have to go through the trouble, time, and money. Monitors are very subjective. Before you go buy them, see if your local music center or a studio has a pair you are looking forward to purchase. Ask them if they can let you rent or borrow the pair to test them at home. If you don't do this, you wouldn't know how good the monitors will sound until you get home dissatisfied.
 
Thanks everyone! I think that I may be jumping the gun here in getting monitors. It sounds to me like I need to wait until I have the $$ for mackie hr824s ($1400) (or better) and/or a better room before I make the upgrade. I think that I won't be happy with smaller incrimental upgrades or 2.1 systems.

This place is great, I will keep this info and look into it more~
 
What you really need to do, is take a little time and actually learn the monitors you do have. Unless you're buying super expensive monitors (I'm talking $1000+ per speaker) and are setting them up in a professionally designed, accoustically sound room, you are ALWAYS going to have issues with what you're hearing. The best way to learn your monitors is through the car test. Bounce your mix to disc, and listen to it in the car. Mix sounding too muddy? Your speakers may have poor bass response, and you're boosting frequencies that you shouldn't (my KRK's are notorious for this) The more time you invest into your speakers, the more you can get out of them.
 
Mackies sound dreadful, I'm sorry. Flabby, tubby things. They don't translate.

Dynaudios, all the way. Not as sweet sounding as Genelecs, to my ears. Raw sounding and give the absolute best translation I've ever had.

These combined with an Apogee (Or similar) card, even the 'cheap' Ensemble sounds remarkable. As fleaguit said, if you are serious about audio, get some room treatment, too. Doesn't matter what you have in your monitor chain if your room rings.
 
Just for the record, I plan to add some treatment to the room, thanks all of you for saying that. I can't build a real "pro" room though. Someday......
 
BM5As, or BM6As are good, unless you need bigger low end. Then you could go up to BM15As, but they're maybe overkill, unless you like bombast. Best thing to do is go and listen to a pair and compare them. I can guarantee even the 5As would kick any Mackie to the ground. Frightening clarity, but not sweet and pretty like the Genelecs tend to sound. Zero fatique from these things, too. Mackies are smeary slop, but don't take my word for it. Compare and contrast.

Even a bit of foam on the wall can start to make a difference. Keep the rear wall reflective, but put something on the back and sides. Even a cheap foam kit can stop the ringing by quite a large degree.
 
I am going to look at monitors with my uncle who is a sound engineer for Benaroya Hall on tuesday afternoon. I have it narrowed down to:

Genelec 8020 ($375 each) Great but need a sub.

Genelec 8030 ($600 each) Great but need a sub.

Dynaudio BM5A ($500 each) I am leaning to these from reviews.

Adam A7 ($500 each) Ribbon tweeters.

Mackie 824 ($630 each) Uncle Ron says to get these.

JBL LSR-4326P ($500 each) They adjust themselves to your room.

 
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