 Best Monitors For A Powerbook Set Up, What kind of speakers are you using? |
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Replies
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 Sat 13 Mar 2004, 14:22
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Newbie
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From: Rome - IT
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check ESI, and his nEAr 05 active monitors... good q, and price...
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Thu 24 Jun 2004, 13:08
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Newbie
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From: Blaydon - UK
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Hi, I am new to this forum and also relatively new to music production. I am looking to purchase some studio monitors to go with my powerbook and oxygen ozone set up. I have heard great things about the Alesis monitors however I was wondering how suitable they would be for a very small space. My 'music room' is approx 3metres by 5metres. Can anyone recommend some monitors for this sized space? I can't really afford to pay anymore than £400.
Thanks,
Simon
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Thu 24 Jun 2004, 18:28
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Newbie
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From: Blaydon - UK
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Thanks for your help, I will give them a listen once I have the ££ together
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Fri 25 Jun 2004, 23:18
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Newbie
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From: Blaydon - UK
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QUOTE (Jaysee @ Jun 25 2004, 20:53) Hi there, re choice of monitors.I've read good things about the Tapco S.8's and S.5's, Tapco is the original name of the company Mackie before it became er.......Mackie, something like that anyway! So they have a good quality pedigree. The S.8 would probably be a better choice than the S.5 if you produce hip hop and dance music as they're meant to be very loud and reputedly have a great bass end, but they're pretty large imposing weighty objects to qualify as 'nearfields'! I've got a similar budget to lay out on monitors myself soon and I'm probably going for a pair of the Tapco S.5's.Their strongest competition for my hard earned is the M-Audio studiophile SP Bx8 or SP Bx5, again an 8" and a 5" version but a tad cheaper. They've had great reviews but do offer some degree of being able to "adapt" their performance to suit the room shape of your studio space; which as you point out isnt always a good thing unless you really know your stuff.
You might try downloading the owners manuals from various manufacturers to get some idea of the specs. regards John I'll be sure to check them out also....
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Mon 26 Jul 2004, 20:16
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From: Sheffield - UK
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I would put a word in for the Genelec 1029's. You should find second hand for less than £400. You can add the Subwoofer when you can afford it, and when you get a bigger room...
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Thu 4 Nov 2004, 17:35
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Newbie
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From: Arlington - US
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Rookie - are those the Alesis Monitor One MK2 Studio monitors that you just upgraded to? If it makes any difference - I'm recording with MBox and doing vocal over recorded CD (karaoke) for my demo cd and trying to buy a set of studio monitors to work with my powerbook. Also, stupid question - do I have to buy some sort of sound card to hook the monitors up to the recording system/Powerbook? Or do they get hooked up to the MBox?
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Thu 4 Nov 2004, 21:38
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Newbie
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From: Arlington - US
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oops that last post was for Riverdog. I'm new to this forum and saw the word Rookie on the left. Hence the goofoff. Please forgive.
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Tue 9 Nov 2004, 18:31
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Newbie
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From: Arlington - US
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Well, after reading a posting on another forum about a guy who loved Mackie's HR 824 and went in search of monitors that sounded like them, I bought the Event TR8's. ZZounds had them for $450/pair or something like that. Then I went to Sam Ash where I got 12 months same as cash and they met the price. They're on backorder. I'll let you know what I think when I get them.
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Tue 9 Nov 2004, 21:00
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Member
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From: Grand Rapids - US
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Sorry Scout! I didn't realize you'd asked me a question!  I think the model of PB you have does not allow you to output directly to your speakers... I am using the FW410 with a 32 Channel mixer... And i have the outs of the console going to the MKII's... Hope this helps... Riverdg
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Sun 28 Nov 2004, 12:24
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Newbie
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From: Hove - UK
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I get a very clean sound, really good response from an old ROTEL Amp and a pair of "Sprit Absolute - 2"s
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Fri 10 Dec 2004, 20:47
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Newbie
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From: Christiansted - US
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I'm using a pair of Legacy Audio "Studio." They were originally designed for a recording studio but the home audio reviews loved them so now most of the units are used in hi-end home audio setups. They aren't powered, but these little guys sure are accurate. Nice clear highs without being bright and tight bass that isn't too loose (slow), so when you're done working on your tracks you can connect them to your stereo and enjoy them. You must have high-mass stands for these as they won't perform if they are just mounted on shelves or on top of a mixing console. They are pretty efficient so any high quality amp will drive them, I was using a Carver CM1090 with good results. Here's the link to the site: http://www.legacy-audio.com/2003/studio.html
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Wave Creative Services
Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
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Sat 11 Dec 2004, 02:00
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Newbie
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Joined: 27-Sep 04
From: Arlington - US
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Update on buying monitors. The event tr8s were on back order for so long, I gave up. I ordered a pair of Rokit RP8s but I just didn't feel right about them so I cancelled the order. After more listening and research I fell across a pair of Hafler trm6.1 for like $600 for the pair - I am so psyched. I should get them in the mail I'll let you all know what I think.
P.s. On listening to the Event TR8s - at Guitar Center, they just didn't seem to have a clean sound to them. There was like a constant subtle hiss. I'm a newbie to this. the salespersn didn't say anything - does anyone know if that's how they are or if maybe there was something wrong with them? It was very very subtle. But compared to the Rokit's, the latter seemed much cleaner.
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Sat 11 Dec 2004, 02:02
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Newbie
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From: Arlington - US
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Oops, missed your reply to me Riverdog. I have the MBOX to get the wires out to the speakers. Am waiting on my second monitor to finish setting up. I still need a couple of incidentals - monitor stands, mic stand oh and maybe sooner than later a vocal condenser mic. If anyone has any suggestions on these for price and usability, let me know!
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 Sat 11 Dec 2004, 16:03
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Moderator In Chief (MIC)
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From: Paris - FR
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The coming ADAM Artists should be worth listening A similiar thread has been held in the French forum a few days ago and the winners were Yamaha MSP5 and the Event TR series. Note that Alesis is badly distributed here and people are focused on the HR824 flagship (I own them too) for Mackie/Tapco so it's difficult to hear about the Tapco's or the HR626. The new Genelec 80XX are really good, the smallest one are ok by themselves, but to get the most of them you need the sub. The 2 bigger models are ok alone. Lot's of good stuff in the middle range ! There are other low price options sill but I don't remember the names on the spot. Also, there's really a question of portablilty. So you'll have to cut some corners anyway.
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Sat 11 Dec 2004, 23:14
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Rookie
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From: Liberty - US
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I'm looking for the same sort of setup for my powebook as well, but I'll be dealing with mostly live jazz recordings and other combo setups, is there a specific that you'd recommend, passive or active?
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-Shawn
Powerbook 1.5GHz G4 512RAM
Presonus Firepod | Logic Express 7.1 | Keystation 49e | 10.4.2 OS X
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Sun 12 Dec 2004, 18:01
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Moderator In Chief (MIC)
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You want to hear "real life" audio out (like a consumer system, be it good or bad = flattering) or a truly analytic one, pinpointing every single transient all other the spectrum, or something in between? The whole thread is oriented to portable systems so as I said, there won't be absolute contenders in the real flat and analytic ones (i mean real flat: mesured, not audibly flat which is something changing of meaning according to the person talking about it) If you know already monitors you like/dislike to listen/work with it's worth mentioning.
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Tue 28 Dec 2004, 18:38
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Newbie
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From: Guarda - PT
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No Monitors for me!!!
I'll stick to my B&W's DM303. I bet they beat any monitor in their price range (300 Euros the pair) and even above.
I think mixing it's in your ears, nothing more than that. If you know how a sound that you mix in some louzy speakers will transpose to another kind of speakers, your in the way...
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Wed 29 Dec 2004, 01:30
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Rookie
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From: Killingworth, CT - US
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I have a pair of M-Audio BX-5s. They're pretty good. If I had a bigger control room I would have gone for BX-8s, but they're overkill for the room I'm in.
Botaferro I'd have to disagree with you! That sounds like having someone cover your eyes while you're driving, and then having them tell you when to brake and which way to turn. Even if you're good at it, you're bound to run into a guardrail or two! There will probably be frequencies in there that will be completely buried or nonexistant in other speakers. Since every system is different, your mix is bound to sound way off on some sets. (hence the point of monitors - you hear exactly what you mix) But if it works for you, more power to you!
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Powerbook 15" 1Ghz 768MB :: MOTU 828 ::
Logic Platinum 6 :: Propellerhead Reason 2.5 ::
Ableton Live 3.0.1 :: Peak 4 :: Midiman Oxygen8 ::
M-Audio BX-5 Monitors :: Firewire drive
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Thu 30 Dec 2004, 17:17
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Newbie
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From: Guarda - PT
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QUOTE (nate d @ Dec 29 2004, 00:30) Botaferro I'd have to disagree with you! That sounds like having someone cover your eyes while you're driving, and then having them tell you when to brake and which way to turn. Even if you're good at it, you're bound to run into a guardrail or two! There will probably be frequencies in there that will be completely buried or nonexistant in other speakers. Since every system is different, your mix is bound to sound way off on some sets. (hence the point of monitors - you hear exactly what you mix) But if it works for you, more power to you! So, could you tell me why in "Abbey Road Studios" they use B&W's Nautilus? Or are they wrong too? It seems to me that one of the world's top studios should know what to use... I advise you to see some articles on the net about mixing with the B&W. I think you will be surprised about what you will read. And if i am an amateur, i want them to listen to my music too (i think that listening to Bethoven in monitors wouldn't be very nice). For the money i get some good "monitors" (not perfect) and two great loudspeakers. If you wan't to spend more money because someone told you that if you don't have monitors you can't mix, go ahead, but at least let the people know the different oppinions, test them and then decide. In the past (when i was a pro in radiostations - i don't know what'ts the technical name in english for the job - making spots and jingles) i used many monitors. After i tested the B&Ws i want no more monitors. Respect my choice, and i'll respect yours.
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Fri 31 Dec 2004, 12:24
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Newbie
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From: Glasgow - UK
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With reference as to what monitors to use for mixing I would like to add a bit of advice that may be useful. In my career I have had the pleasure of working with Mark (Spike) Stent in his studio based in Olympic studios in London. While there I noticed that he had the main output of his desk patchable to several different types of monitors and hi-fi systems. The monitors he had are out of reach to most of us mere mortals on account of cost, but the hi-fi he seemed to trust was a run-of-the-mill-all-in-one sony system.
My point being that I trust no one set of monitors to tell me everything I need to know about a mix and I have created a cut down version of what I observed. I would urge anyone to try it.
My studio is setup in a very small room but I have taken the time to link my desk to every other hi-fi and boom box in the house. Apart from allowing quick access to different systems it has the added benefit of helping you to change your listening environment, (small rooms get to you after a few hours).
I'm not saying that you can't create a good mix without doing this, only that it has improved the quality and consistency of my work far beyond what I would have thought possible.
All the best and a happy new year to all.
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Sun 2 Jan 2005, 11:24
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Moderator
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From: Umeå - SE
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The Mackie HR-824 or the smaller HR624 are very good powered studiomonitors.
They both have wide flat frequency responses, with a very detailed sound reproduction.
Especially the bigger monitor HR-824 have been given very good reviews.
Cheers: Dixiechicken
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Oh my god it's full of stars…
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Mac-G5-2x.2.0, OS-X 10.5.1, 250/200Gb HD - 7.0Gb ram
DP-5.13, Motu 828 MK-II, MTP AV Usb, ltst drvs,
Kurzweil-2000, EPS-16, Proteus-2000, Yamaha 01V
Emes Kobalt monitors
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Sun 9 Jan 2005, 16:16
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Moderator In Chief (MIC)
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From: Paris - FR
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I have 824, but in the same league you have the Dynaudio BM6A, the Genelec 8040… all close but different. And I have a soft spot for ADAM speakers (monitoring and mastering) but they have a stratospheric high that is not suited for everyone (you are not used to hear what's going on that fast on transients up to 37 KHz). M-audios sound really hi-fi , they are rather computer/hifi speakers sold as monitors. the Samson resolv, or the Tannoy reveal A for example are more serious. If abbey road have Nautilus, it's because they are common on high end mastering if I remember correctly. But here we are a little over the edge don't we   Note there are lot of cool monitors, the point is to find one not too flattering you relate to and KNOW it (and compatible with your wallet Check the Event or the Yamaha for example too…
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Wed 12 Jan 2005, 05:16
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Newbie
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From: Guarda - PT
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Let me show you I'm not the only one... http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul02/arti...b2388148a0ef337And btw, I'm not against monitors (i also have Samsons), I'm only saying that i prefer to mix in the B&Ws. It's everything about knowing how the sound will transpose to other systems, and also a matter of taste... What i can't understand is why there are people against Hi-Fi speakers. Obviously not every speaker will do the job, but there are some that will.
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