I have this. I can't even tell you how much I NEEDED this. It IS THAT GOOD. It's like a world of listening power to switch between my Yamahas and Avantones. OMG...the mono button and A/B switch. Dude...it's like, you'll wonder why you waited so long.
You may want to learn about the REAL advantages of having a "MONO" and "DIM" function on a monitor controller. Listening to a MONO sum (L&R channels are mixed together) of your mix can aid you in discovering phase problems and frequency overlaps within different tracks of your mix. For example: Shared frequencies between tracks that are panned wide and in phase with each other will sound twice as loud when summing to mono. The same tracks, when out of phase will cancel each other out in mono. In both cases you'll instantly find out where you'll need to work on your mix. The DIM function allows you to instantly A/B your mix between your regular monitor volume, which may or may not create some frequency masking depending on the quality of your speakers and room treatment, and a much more intimate an detailed version of your mix. Regularly switching to a dimmed mix also helps relief listening fatigue. I would also like to add that keeping your equipment dirt and dust free really is the key to expand the lifespan of your gear. Try to keep everything with moving parts like knobs, faders, buttons, even mic diaphragms covered when not in use! When it comes to dust, your $5000,- piece of boutique equipment is equally "allergic" as your $50,- Behringer rip-off. Just saying... Now get out there and produce some great tracks y'all!!
Think this is a good replacement for a SM pro Audio MPatch 2? I bought one a long time ago and it just was not that great with components. Only thing is no XLR?
I thought of a question. I currently use an MBox 3, connected to a PreSonus BlueTube v2 preamp, which is connected to a PreSonus HP headphone amp. My JBL LSR 305 monitors are connected to the headphone amp. Shouldn't it be possible to route the Big Knob between the headphone amp and the monitors? (I plan to get a pair of small Genelecs 8010As, which is why I'm investigating the Big Knob.)
Thank you for the video!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for to control the volume of my Mackie XR624's powered studio Monitors with out having to manually go to the back of the monitors and lower the gain control. YES!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
I had the smaudio Mpatch 2 when it first came out. Same issues but even worse...it created unbalanced speaker levels at low volumes over time unless you crank it up and back down. Was gonna get this to replace it. Seems the knob on most these items can be hit or miss on each unit, unless you buy an expensive one. I still put my money on thus one for the cost for sure. It use to be you couldn’t get something like this without blowing $200 or so! I just dislike it’s not XLR cables and I’d have to buy adapters. My Studio grade cables cost way too much to ditch them for quarter inch ones.
Thanks for the nice demonstration. I wanted to get this 2X2 passive monitor controller. I have a question, Can I connect a pair of monitors and a subwoofer in 'A' output and a pair of monitors in 'B' output? Output 'A' = mon out- sub in- sub out -speakers in. Output 'B' = mon out- speakers in Please guide me regarding this method I have Adam audio t5v monitors and Adam audio T10S subwoofer.
@@billynolanjr2266 I am looking for something that can control both monitors and headphones. Are you saying that I CAN plug my headphones into these outputs? Or alternatively, could I hook my interface up as an input AND output and run my headphones through the interface?
@@LFCProductions you can control one set of monitors and a set of headphones, however this is not a headphone amp so you would have to feed your headphones though a headphone amp first.
Absolutely not. You'd damage your amplifier, speakers, or both. For that setup you should use whatever you send to the amplifier as the source for this, then send the output of this to the amplifier.
It's a "passive" device in that it doesn't require its own power supply...but it has the potential to weaken the integrity of the signal chain, because of the potentiometer and the components within the device. For most users, there will not be any discernible degradation in signal quality...but over time, after continued use, that will probably change, as the components wear down. Despite that, I still think this is a fantastic piece of gear for the money.
@@beanexmachina5833 sure it was turned up to max. I’ve contacted Maxkie and they confirm that volume loss is part of the passive circuitry itself. At low volumes the stereo image is compromised, but is usual by low cost potentiometers, unfortunately low volume listening is crucial when mixing.
@@MarcoVialeBakmaind Damn that sucks. I'm looking for something exactly like this to swap between my monitors and headphones, but I've heard too much of this complaint. I wish I could find something exactly like this but without a knob! Did you manage to find an alternative you were happy with?
@@beanexmachina5833 first f all big knob is back to dealer. Unfortunately you’ll not find a budget solution. I’m now pretty sure to buy an Audient Nero, so far the best monitor controller in that price range. Check this video: ruclips.net/video/0P0DiZaMpYI/видео.html
I have this. I can't even tell you how much I NEEDED this. It IS THAT GOOD. It's like a world of listening power to switch between my Yamahas and Avantones. OMG...the mono button and A/B switch. Dude...it's like, you'll wonder why you waited so long.
Yep, it‘s great!
I’m looking into this device for my HS8 and Avantone monitors as well. Is the passive big knob different from the studio big knob?
The studio has more features like headphone outs, more inputs, talkback mic and an USB Audio Interface.
You may want to learn about the REAL advantages of having a "MONO" and "DIM" function on a monitor controller. Listening to a MONO sum (L&R channels are mixed together) of your mix can aid you in discovering phase problems and frequency overlaps within different tracks of your mix. For example: Shared frequencies between tracks that are panned wide and in phase with each other will sound twice as loud when summing to mono. The same tracks, when out of phase will cancel each other out in mono. In both cases you'll instantly find out where you'll need to work on your mix. The DIM function allows you to instantly A/B your mix between your regular monitor volume, which may or may not create some frequency masking depending on the quality of your speakers and room treatment, and a much more intimate an detailed version of your mix. Regularly switching to a dimmed mix also helps relief listening fatigue.
I would also like to add that keeping your equipment dirt and dust free really is the key to expand the lifespan of your gear. Try to keep everything with moving parts like knobs, faders, buttons, even mic diaphragms covered when not in use! When it comes to dust, your $5000,- piece of boutique equipment is equally "allergic" as your $50,- Behringer rip-off. Just saying... Now get out there and produce some great tracks y'all!!
Great review! Thank you for taking the time to review the Mackie Big Knob Passive!
Thanks! Great Monitor Controller :)
Think this is a good replacement for a SM pro Audio MPatch 2? I bought one a long time ago and it just was not that great with components. Only thing is no XLR?
Thank you--very informative. I've been searching for something like this that's clean and simple.
I thought of a question. I currently use an MBox 3, connected to a PreSonus BlueTube v2 preamp, which is connected to a PreSonus HP headphone amp. My JBL LSR 305 monitors are connected to the headphone amp. Shouldn't it be possible to route the Big Knob between the headphone amp and the monitors? (I plan to get a pair of small Genelecs 8010As, which is why I'm investigating the Big Knob.)
Exactly what I'm looking for... Thanks for the concise review!
You‘re welcome!
Thank you for the video!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for to control the volume of my Mackie XR624's powered studio Monitors with out having to manually go to the back of the monitors and lower the gain control. YES!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
don't really get how you connect it to the computer?
easy a 3.5 to 3.5 like a headphone out to the big knob simple
If you’re using an interface, you connect outputs from interface into Big Knob input and output from the Big Knob to the speakers.
6 months into owning the knob and it starts to make a static noise when turning up/down the volume. Not very good in terms of durability
I had the smaudio Mpatch 2 when it first came out. Same issues but even worse...it created unbalanced speaker levels at low volumes over time unless you crank it up and back down. Was gonna get this to replace it. Seems the knob on most these items can be hit or miss on each unit, unless you buy an expensive one. I still put my money on thus one for the cost for sure. It use to be you couldn’t get something like this without blowing $200 or so! I just dislike it’s not XLR cables and I’d have to buy adapters. My Studio grade cables cost way too much to ditch them for quarter inch ones.
Hi Zed , do you notice any bad coloration, noise or audio degration with this unit ?
Hi! No, can‘t hear any noise or coloration - it is very clean!
@@ZedMartyProduction appreciate the reply! :)
Mine has and I hate it.
Are those TRS cable imports 🤔
Any alternatives like this with a headphone output??
Thanks for the nice demonstration. I wanted to get this 2X2 passive monitor controller. I have a question,
Can I connect a pair of monitors and a subwoofer in 'A' output and a pair of monitors in 'B' output?
Output 'A' = mon out- sub in- sub out -speakers in.
Output 'B' = mon out- speakers in
Please guide me regarding this method
I have Adam audio t5v monitors and Adam audio T10S subwoofer.
Yes, this should work!
@@ZedMartyProduction Thank you very much for your support. I will go with the plan.
So you can’t play both pairs of monitors simultaneously??
no, the A/B switch selects only one pair.
this or esi moco??
Can I change between multiple sets of monitors with this ??
You can use 2 sets of monitors with it.
Can I use this to create a surround sound with two different pairs of monitors?
No, that is not possible. It only accepts Stereo sources and you can only select one speaker pair at a time.
Hi! I'm wondering exactly what a Monitor controller does, is it a way to switch between headphones and monitors?
You can switch between 2 different sources and 2 sets of monitors. It also has a dim, mute and mono check button.
Good review, I am looking at this but the only thing I think is missing is a headphone port
Thanks! I think the bigger version has one!
@@ZedMartyProduction you could use one of the trs outputs as a headphone out
@@billynolanjr2266 I am looking for something that can control both monitors and headphones. Are you saying that I CAN plug my headphones into these outputs? Or alternatively, could I hook my interface up as an input AND output and run my headphones through the interface?
@@LFCProductions you can control one set of monitors and a set of headphones, however this is not a headphone amp so you would have to feed your headphones though a headphone amp first.
I've two sets of passive speakers....so I use an amplifier ...can an amplifer output be used as a source ?
Absolutely not. You'd damage your amplifier, speakers, or both. For that setup you should use whatever you send to the amplifier as the source for this, then send the output of this to the amplifier.
There is small pin given with it what is it for ?
I‘m not quite sure but I think it might be a replacement screw for the volume knob.
I heard that certain monitor controllers add colour to your speaker sound, does this controller add any colour?
Xolotl it’s passive so it shouldn’t.
It's a "passive" device in that it doesn't require its own power supply...but it has the potential to weaken the integrity of the signal chain, because of the potentiometer and the components within the device. For most users, there will not be any discernible degradation in signal quality...but over time, after continued use, that will probably change, as the components wear down. Despite that, I still think this is a fantastic piece of gear for the money.
Yes, it adds color. That’s why I took it back completely changed the sound on my monitors that I know extremely well.
My left channel out stopped working in just 3 months
Unfortunately that thing has quite a noticeable loss of volume of about 6db. I was very disappointed.
Is this with the knob turned up to max? As in, the knob doesn't go up to ~0 impedance at the top?
@@beanexmachina5833 sure it was turned up to max. I’ve contacted Maxkie and they confirm that volume loss is part of the passive circuitry itself. At low volumes the stereo image is compromised, but is usual by low cost potentiometers, unfortunately low volume listening is crucial when mixing.
@@MarcoVialeBakmaind Damn that sucks. I'm looking for something exactly like this to swap between my monitors and headphones, but I've heard too much of this complaint. I wish I could find something exactly like this but without a knob! Did you manage to find an alternative you were happy with?
@@beanexmachina5833 first f all big knob is back to dealer. Unfortunately you’ll not find a budget solution. I’m now pretty sure to buy an Audient Nero, so far the best monitor controller in that price range. Check this video:
ruclips.net/video/0P0DiZaMpYI/видео.html
@Zed Marty, what are these 3-way, dome-mid speakers you have there?
Old Grundig 660A HiFi speakers. I swapped both speaker pairs meanwhile for Adam Audio T7V.
VERY GOOD REVIEW! :D ... Just ordered this on Thomann.de ... Tnx!
thank you! Great, have fun!
so if i have 2 soundcard so can i use this ?
Yes, you can hook 'em both into this and switch between the sources.
You didn’t show how you hooked it up. For those who do not know