#1003025 - 07/20/05 05:35 PM
need advice please
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mbross
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Registered: 07/20/05
Posts: 2
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Hi All,
I need to set up my monitoring system so that I can mix/listen to 5.1 mixes and stereo mixes on the same audio monitors.
So...
I'm looking into a setup that will allow me to do what I need. The two things I plan to purchase are:
-5.1 surround monitoring system.
-bass management system.
Does anyone have any recommendations on these two pieces of equipment? I don't have the budget to purchase something that is at the high end but need something that that will be a good value solution (while still being pro level).
-mb
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#1003026 - 07/20/05 11:58 PM
Re: need advice please
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Eric Day
Senior Member
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 65
Loc: Austin, TX
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mb,
I'm putting together a project studio on a budget myself, and it's almost finished. Here's what I picked out:
5 x KRK Rokit RP-5 Monitors (5 x $149= $750)
1 x KRK RP-10S Subwoofer ($299)
SPL SMC 2489 (Surround Monitor Controller, $799)
StudioComm Model 65 Bass Manager ($899)
This isn't the cheapest setup, but it isn't the most expensive either. In a year I plan to get some better monitors with slightly larger drivers. My space is 10' x 16'. I particularly like the SPL SMC 2489 because it lets you listen to two different 5.1 systems, for A/B comparisons, and there's a stereo button. I will have my RME Multiface hooked up to the A Inputs on the 2489, and my Denon receiver and universal player hooked up to the RCA inputs of the 2489. It's like having the 5.1 section from a Pro-Control or similar mixing board/controller. This setup is good for desktop 5.1 mixing. For bass management there's quite a few choices. I've compiled a list below. Others will have to chime in on the technical differences between them, as I'm still new at this. There's some good posts in the archives here on bass managers.
Bass Managers
Martin Sound ManagerMAX
TMH Bass Manager
StudioComm Model 65 (Studio Tech)
Outlaw ICBM
Blue Sky BMC
M&K LFE-4, LFE-5, BMC 5.1 Mini
Did I miss any? I'm sure I did.
There's also this new software bass manager by Voxengo. I Don't know much about it, but it's called the BMS. It's a VST Plugin for $49, PC only. They said an OSX version should be out at the end of the year. Kelly Industries makes a bass manager VST plugin for PC too. I think it's free. I've always wondered just what the real difference is between hardware bass managers and software ones is. Anybody? Good luck man.
Eric Day
A Day's Production
Austin, TX
GO LANCE!
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#1003027 - 07/21/05 08:58 AM
Re: need advice please
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m2_dup1
Platinum Member
Registered: 02/04/04
Posts: 1331
Loc: New York
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Eric and Lance,
Since you're on a budget, why not check out a sub that does bass management for you?
I seem to recall that Event has a sub (s250 ?) that will accept six channels, the five 'regular' channels plus the LFE. It'll filter the fronts/surrounds and sum the lows with the LFE and send the highs out to the monitors.
I'm just thinking that since the KRK rokits are such a low-budget solution, substituting them for an all out bass managed Event system would probably save you about $800 and you'd have the same quality anyways.
just my .02.....
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I wish you were ron jeremy....
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#1003028 - 07/21/05 12:05 PM
Re: need advice please
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Eric Day
Senior Member
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 65
Loc: Austin, TX
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m2,
Thanks for the input. It does save money, but I think the Event S250 sub is just too big for my small room setup. It has a 15" driver with 250 watts. That's a sub for a much larger room, and as far as I can tell it's designed to compliment Event's 8" driver monitors, or other large monitors. I can't think of any other subs with 5.1 bass management built in for under $500 or $600 dollars. If anybody can think of one, let me know. I'm gonna stick with my KRk RP-5's for now and see how the mixing translates.
Thanks,
Eric
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#1003029 - 07/21/05 12:58 PM
Re: need advice please
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doug osborne
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/15/00
Posts: 2638
Loc: Culver City, CA, US
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IMO you can not assume that the Event sub would be too big for your room - it is easy to run out of headroom or low-frequency extension in even small rooms.
I wouldn't use the Voxengo plugin for this (although I love Voxengo stuff in general) - hardware is the way to go. I haven't experienced a software bass manager that precisly represented what hardware bass management sounds like, so I can't recommend them. Hardware bass management is essentially a system crossover, and should remain as hardware.
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#1003030 - 07/21/05 04:00 PM
Re: need advice please
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mbross
Member
Registered: 07/20/05
Posts: 2
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Thanks for the feedback. This info helps.
I've been looking at the Studiocomm Model 78 (which has bass management built in) and it also does 7.1 should I need to support that (though right now my main interest is 5.1 and stereo for now). I already have audio monitors but I just need to have something that does the monitoring/bass management work. I think it runs about $2800 and I wanted to look around and see if I could find a less expensive solution.
If anyone else wants to chime in, feel free to do so. The more info, the better.
-mb
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#1003031 - 07/22/05 09:51 AM
Re: need advice please
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m2_dup1
Platinum Member
Registered: 02/04/04
Posts: 1331
Loc: New York
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Once you're set up I'd really like to hear how it worked out.
m2
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I wish you were ron jeremy....
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