#510778 - 03/20/04 12:20 PM
project studio monitors
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Funkwave
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Registered: 04/12/03
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I'm looking for monitors for my project studio in the $500 range. Any suggestions???
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#510779 - 03/21/04 12:12 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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Matt.Hepworth
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Registered: 03/13/01
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Loc: Riverdale, UT
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$500 each or for the pair? If each your options are pretty wide. If pair, I'd suggest the M-Audio BX8's. Do some "studio monitor" searches and you'll have a load of opinions on everything.
_________________________
No matter how good something is, there will always be someone blasting away on a forum somewhere about how much they hate it.
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#510780 - 03/21/04 12:38 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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3D Audio
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Registered: 01/19/00
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Loc: Franklin, TN, US
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Originally posted by funkwave:
I'm looking for monitors for my project studio in the $500 range. Any suggestions???
He ended up with a used pair of Genelec 1030 somethings (1031?). They were originally $1800 or more and he picked them up for about $1200.
_________________________
Lynn Fuston 3D Audio Inc Home of 3dB
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#510781 - 03/21/04 04:59 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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Curve Dominant
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posted by Lynn Fuston:
I have a friend who just did extensive listening tests to speakers in the $600 and under range. His final conclusion? Don't bother trying to buy studio monitors for under $1200. You're wasting your time.
You are one of the very few people on these forums I am extremely reluctant to disagree with.
That having been said, I'm going to take a very big deep breath, and totally disagree with that statement.
I've heard the Alesis M1 Active mk2 Biamp Monitors (a collaborator of mine got them in his studio recently), and if a project studio cannot get excellent mixes with those, the problem is in the mix, or the ears, not the monitors.
For my part, I monitor with a pair of Technics SB-LX50's I bought for $120 (pair). Not that I would encourage anyone to use those in a pro room to impress Clive Davis-level clients, but for a "project studio" they actually have served us quite well. Refer to the mixes on my website in that regard.
Cheap monitors, in my estimation, are like cheap gear in general: A test of the aspiring engineer/producer's skills, and ears. That's what a "project studio" is all about. It's a proving ground. If you can get a good sound on the cheap stuff, you deserve to spend more on upgrades (and the budgets will come in to justify those expenditures).
I say: Let the brother save his $$$, and learn how to get a marketable mix on $500 speakers. Because if he can't do that, the ADAM's et al will not "give him ears" that he doesn't already have.
And lord knows we've seen (and heard) plenty of examples of that.
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#510782 - 03/21/04 09:37 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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3D Audio
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Originally posted by Curve Dominant: posted by Lynn Fuston:
I have a friend who just did extensive listening tests to speakers in the $600 and under range. His final conclusion? Don't bother trying to buy studio monitors for under $1200. You're wasting your time.
You are one of the very few people on these forums I am extremely reluctant to disagree with.
While I'm honored to be held in such high regard, my statements and opinions are based on my own experience and I don't consider them any more valid than yours or anyone elses. They're just mine, no more no less.
That having been said, it was his conclusion not mine. I haven't shopped for monitors in 10 years. Though I do have my eye on those ADAM S-5s. When I come up with $14K, they're here in a heartbeat.
I started out mixing on BIC Venturis, a 12" three way model. Then graduated to JBL 4311s. Neither of those are anywhere near flat, but they served me well.
I have seen Tannoy 10s, like the ones I use, selling used on Ebay for under $500 and I would strongly recommend them.
I just haven't taken the time to listen to any of the new lower-priced monitors in years. I don't even know what's out there.
Actually you can mix on just about anything. It's just a matter of figuring out how they translate. In that regard, some speakers are easier to figure out than others.
And don't hesitate to disagree with me. That's how I learn.
_________________________
Lynn Fuston 3D Audio Inc Home of 3dB
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#510783 - 03/21/04 12:53 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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hollywood
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Registered: 09/29/01
Posts: 336
Loc: ,,UNITED STATES
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Check out some of the Event monitors. I have a pair of PS6s. Not too bad. I bought them new about 3 years ago for a little under $500. You can probably find them on closeout much cheaper now.
They have Tuned Reference series now, also. I've never tried those.
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#510784 - 03/21/04 01:54 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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where02190
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Registered: 11/06/01
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Loc: Weymouth, Ma. USA
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Originally posted by 3D Audio: Originally posted by funkwave:
I'm looking for monitors for my project studio in the $500 range. Any suggestions???
He ended up with a used pair of Genelec 1030 somethings (1031?). They were originally $1800 or more and he picked them up for about $1200.
While yes we all agreee NS-10's sound like #@%!!, they are still seen in most studios and used for mixing more music than anything else out there.
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Hope this is helpful. NP Recording Studios Analog approach to digital recording.
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#510785 - 03/21/04 02:38 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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ustah
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Registered: 02/25/01
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Loc: woodhaven,NY,UNITED STATES
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I would give a vote for tannoy reveal series[If you can spend $200 more than get powered series they sound better than passive ones]
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#510786 - 03/21/04 07:25 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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gtrguru
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Registered: 02/26/02
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Loc: Warren,MI,UNITED STATES
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I have grown to love the Event 20/20. With a good amp, you can bang the hell out of them. Plus the bass sounds good without getting too muddy. I have the Event Tuned Reference 8 at home, they're good, clear, loud, and under $500.
_________________________
-gtrguru
"Music is only heard by those that listen"
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#510787 - 03/22/04 06:33 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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spherop
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Registered: 09/13/03
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dynaudio bm6a's completely raised my mixing ability and knowledge in the very first week of use. i thing having some great monitors can hep an engineer pass some critical hurdles by enabling them to really hear certain things that before were hard to pinpoint - like exactly what parts of an electric bass add punch and fullness simultaneously and what part add mud. sometimes thse things are rea
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#510788 - 03/22/04 10:27 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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Bubbajazz
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Registered: 12/30/00
Posts: 268
Loc: CT,UNITED STATES
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Second vote for the Tannoy Reveals.
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#510789 - 03/23/04 12:43 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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natpub
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Registered: 11/25/03
Posts: 96
Loc: Austin, TX
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Agree with the Tannoy reveals (the self powered ones) and the Event 20/20, though I like the powered (BAS) of those also. They are a bit over $500 though, new, but look on ebay.
Otherwise, sure, the Genelecs or higher Tanny would be great if you can find them used and have some extra cash.
But, why not some used NS-10's :-) They have a long history of translating, lol.
KT
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#510790 - 03/26/04 04:03 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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Reverend Rhythm
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Registered: 01/10/03
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Loc: Woodstock, GA
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I have an old pair of Alesis Monitor Ones with the Alesis amp from the same time period. I love 'em.
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David
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#510791 - 03/26/04 05:21 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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smk
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Registered: 02/29/04
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I got to ditto for the Alesis monitors. I have the M1 Actives and they've served me well over the last four years. I do think it's important to listen to your recordings on various sources before final mixdown anyway, but it all starts and ends with the monitors in your studio.
_________________________
--------------------
Scott
"You only live once..."
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#510793 - 03/27/04 12:18 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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Matt.Hepworth
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Registered: 03/13/01
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Loc: Riverdale, UT
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Originally posted by smk:
I got to ditto for the Alesis monitors. I have the M1 Actives and they've served me well over the last four years. I do think it's important to listen to your recordings on various sources before final mixdown anyway, but it all starts and ends with the monitors in your studio.
_________________________
No matter how good something is, there will always be someone blasting away on a forum somewhere about how much they hate it.
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#510794 - 03/28/04 08:03 PM
Re: project studio monitors
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Norm
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Registered: 02/17/01
Posts: 17
Loc: Richmond,VA,UNITED STATES
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I recently spent an afternoon Guitar Center and Sam Ash listening to cheap monitors. I ended up getting the Alesis M1 Active mk2 and have been relatively happy with them. My only complaint (other than that one of the power supplies died in the first month) is that they seem mid range deficient. Plenty of low end (I actually plugged one of the ports on each with a rubber stopper from the random fastener section at Lowes), plenty of high, but not much in the middle. I just don't hear EQ sweeps unless they are extremely exaggerated. The M-Audios and Events seemed to have way more mid-range presence, but both seemed kind of "barky" to me. The Alesis work well for now as I am just doing demos and not anything critical.
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#510795 - 03/29/04 02:40 AM
Re: project studio monitors
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kylen
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Registered: 05/06/03
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hehe - I've got those powered Alesis M1s and have socks in both ports so I can hear the lomids better (the current project needs surgery down there) also i noticed they need to be at a certain SPL before the himids sound correct.
Anyway I'm looking primarily at some Dynaudio BM6As for an upgrade after I stand at the crossroads and wait for the devil to show up... 
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