How to Pick the Right Studio Monitors
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
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There's no such thing as a pair of studio monitors that are absolutely perfect. So, choosing the right speakers for your studio requires that you know your own biases inside and out, and that you pick a set that complements your strengths and weaknesses. Justin Colletti discusses in this episode of the podcast.
Thanks to Eventide, Soundtoys and Mixing Breakthroughs for sponsoring this episode.
Amazing video bro. So profound vision. Loved the inverted situation. And the Creativity scenario
Thank you
One of the most underrated podcasts when it comes to audio!
Thank you SonicScoop as always, excellent information thumbs up! :)
Your videos are very helpful. Thank you Justin. Happy New Year!
Your way of talking is so relaxing man (in a good way)
This was a really interesting perspective. Thanks Justin!
Perfect video on the matter. You explained it really well. I loved your speaker betrayal analogy.
again, you're speaking out of my mind and mention things I usually talk about in my music-related environment! Just now I have ordered a pair of HS8's (long time Yamaha user who switched for a few years) because they have what I need to create smoothed out mixes, My JBL's were way too forgiving and mixes could end up "hard" and unpleasant (too pokey kicks, too hard hihats in 3-6k area etc.) Yamahas have a slight clinical touch with stronger upper mids and a bit edge, which IMO is the right ticket if you're aiming for more musical, smooth results and work a lot with 909 hihats or similar for electronic audio.
*I wanted to buy monitors for mixing techno. I was considering the Yamaha HS8 and the Presonus Eris E8 and ended up buying the E8s. But now I'm doubting my decision because everyone seems to be using the HS8s. What do you think? Are the HS8s better for mixing techno?*
*I thought the E8s go a few Hz lower so they'd be better without a subwoofer. Also the HS8s emphasize the highs and my ears often hurt from too loud highs when listening to music. I didn't have proper listening speakers either, and wanted to buy monitors that I can also listen to music on. My reasoning was that I need to listen to a lot of music on the monitors so that my ears need to get to know them very well, so that I can mix on them. But maybe my mixes will have too loud highs, compared to if I was mixing on HS8s?*
*Btw, I also use 909 hihats and don't want the highs to sound fatiguing on a PA system.*
Alex Becker I havent heard the Eris but I‘m sure they‘re good. people often say HS series have lots of highs, while to me its more upper mid range (or lowest highs) and a bit forward sounding transient response. To me its a good thing for reasons I already mentioned. Its true that ear fatigue might kick in faster than on smoother speakers and the only way to overcome that is to take more frequent small breaks. My experience is that results are great with Yamahas (also worked with NS10s for over a decade and HS7 for about 2 years) especially regarding to aggressive 909 HH and also too dominant bass drums. Mix translation is excellent with them at least for me. Others might tell you it‘s not that way. But if you listen to the main topic of this video, it all makes sense: HS= kind of hard in upper range will result in a bit smoothed out result (without sounding dull!! because its NOT affecting the super high airy region) Hope that helps ;)
Alex Becker P.S. HS8 go low enough! Its totally overrated to be able to listen to 35Hz esp for „real techno“ most of it is between 50-100Hz what matters in the low region!
@@DrAudioBot *What about the sub bass though? It's below 50 Hz..*
Sonar works reference was a game changer for me and acoustic treatment
Thank you so much Justin.
Finally such a good explanation on Yamaha 10's and studio monitors. I really understand now👍👍
Well said. It’s so true to get a speaker to provokes you to give the mic what it is you naturally don’t do such as a brighter approach to eq when you lean on a darker overall tone. Such simple truth I have learned myself recently.
Prob the best insight on buying monitors I've heard yet, thanks!
So great to hear. Glad it was helpful!
@Justin. I really enjoy the content you are putting together. Keep it up!
2:58 is the master tip.
You're welcome.
Very well put. Was considering changing my 5inches for 7inches because i feel the bass is a little low. Now i wont, thanks! :)
Makes a lot of sense I have a pair of krk ROK it 5's and my mixes end up bass heavy. Definitely going to upgrade to the rokit 8's.
This makes so much sense. Mixes tend to be sound scooped in the midrange and I can see it it on the analyzer. My monitors are too mid heavy. I need some mid scooped monitors. Any recommendations?
Great advice Justin. I am going to add a pair of Focal Evo 65s for near field monitoring along with a KRK 10 inch sub. I produce and mix on Beyerdynamic DT880 Pros and check on my mains and iLouds. Room is 15 x 22 with 8 ft acoustic ceiling. Very good sounding room. BTW. I produce smooth jazz and funk.
Thanks, Justin. But I already have the right monitor. How about the left one?
You will have to wait for next video
We only give that super-secret information to premium subscribers, mwhahahaha. That's how we get ya!
Great advices! I had never though of it in that way, but makes a lot of sense!
Wow! I use my computer A/V system for enjoyment not for mixing and that is why I use enjoyable Polkaudio Bookshelf speakers and not monitors. I've always thought some guys (you tubers) are really missing out listening only to monitors. Nice to hear someone say it. I could never not have a 'fun' pair of speakers even if I mixed (I don't) on NS 10's..
Thank you i like your thinking.
Thank you Justin, this video is just in time for me right now!
I actually rely on Sonarworks correction software lately to neutralize the speakers in my room a bit, so that I can focus a bit more on getting the best price/performance ratio from the speakers.
What I'm looking for right now is low THD, fairly flat (but true to the source) sounding speaker with good dynamic range, and lots of details, probably 3-way (not a requirement).
Last but not least speaker that would fit to my medium sized, treated, but less than idealy acousticaly treated room.
Right now I'm deciding whether or not to get Kali Audio IN-8s mainly for mixing (ocasional listening to music and production), but I would like to use them as my main nearfield monitor that would be sitting approximately 1 meter away from me.
I don't have the opportunity to listen to them right now, I live in Europe and they are not around close enough yet...
I already asked similar question in the recent past, so sorry for that, but do you think they will meet those requirements like low thd,...? ;)
New speakers should be step up from my JBL LSR305 speakers and should cost no more than 1000 bucks.
Thanks again, great stuff!
I would add fatigue to the list
NS-10 hurt my head. I have Adam anf-10 which are similar in function but a lot less fatigue.
Even HS series can cause ear fatigue more than others, but it's worth it to me. Only solution is to take more regular breaks, which isn't a bad thing in general.
*I wanted to buy monitors for mixing techno. I was considering the Yamaha HS8 and the Presonus Eris E8 and ended up buying the E8s. But now I'm doubting my decision because everyone seems to be using the HS8s. What do you think? Are the HS8s better for mixing techno?*
*I thought the E8s go a few Hz lower so they'd be better without a subwoofer. Also the HS8s emphasize the highs and my ears often hurt from too loud highs when listening to music. I didn't have proper listening speakers either, and wanted to buy monitors that I can also listen to music on. My reasoning was that I need to listen to a lot of music on the monitors so that my ears need to get to know them very well, so that I can mix on them. But maybe my mixes will have too loud highs, compared to if I was mixing on HS8s?*
*And I heard the E8s have a bump in the lower mids (?)*
@@alexbecker4149 alex, I'm a mixing engineer. Spend money on bass trapping your room, read into room acoustics. This is THE limiting factor, not speaker choose. Don't get speaker envy, its incurable. I have mixed house tracks that get played in Panorama Bar / Robert johnson on a hifi system in a good sounding room.
@@alexbecker4149 also, if your ears hurt you are simply listening too loudly, make sure you look after your hearing most importantly. Best, L
You’re saying it’s the inverse of my taste when it comes to Frequency.. but what about dynamics?
So damn true about the Yamaha 10,
He is correct in making the points. You can base your mixes and sound based on a speaker that is stronger or better in making sound that is good. In general, the speakers that will ultimately play the sound will be more generic and not so top end so the mix speakers being used will have to be also, but good enough to be reproduced and enhanced by good speakers. It is a total compromise.
Hi Justin //I know this is not a Q&A session...// but I will ask a question hoping you will read it someday and maybe share your views, experience, wisdom on it. How is money more well spent? One pair of more expensive monitors versus 2-3 pairs of cheaper monitors (that complement eachother) ...what would give me a better picture of the mix I am working on? Thank you!
good vid informative
👍
great advice ,,, thx
Coming up next week:
How to find a wide open door and how to focus effort to kick it in really hard.
Just kidding, good advice, great video. 🙂
HEY!
What if i buy Kali LP8 and make frequency response calibration for them in my room? Also it's possible to tilt the frequency output to compensate for my biases if i have them.
Will my mixes sound balanced provided i learn how songs sound on these speakers?
I'm currently mixing in headphones and my mixed aren't too dark or too bright, so i probably don't have biases in this field, BUT i need monitors to hear more. I want to hear all details in my sound.
BIG THANK YOU for all you're doing here, you're being very helpful!
Good stuff.
*Which one is better for mixing techno, Yamaha HS8 or Presonus Eris E8? And why?*
*I just bought the E8s but everyone seems to be using HS8s :(*
Alex Becker lol i got the HS8 🤣 just the brand thing i guess. Not that preSonus is bad, i actually power my HS8 with the AudioBox 1818VSL and i think the DA conversion is super great but for their speakers ... 🔊 I’m really not sure if they are experienced enough
I've seen a couple comments from you here asking the same thing. You seem to be fixated on a certain brand because that's what everyone else is using. There's not a massive sound difference between those two speakers. If you dont like how your reference music sounds coming out of them, then you need to work on treating your room and tuning with some dsp to get them sounding they way you want them to.
Room biases :)
Yes. Acoustic treatment can help reduce room biases.
I mix on a pair of QSC 12 inch powered floor monitors. I use them cause I owned them already. I used to use them live but switched to in ears, so the monitors found there way into my studio :) I've been shocked how good the results are that I've been getting.
Almost flat frequency response & tolerance 😌 simple
3:09 is when he gets to the point. Olympic-caliber water treading.
It isn't that complicated.
Any if not all audio engineers already knew that before being born.
Simple? Yes! Widely understood? Not from what I have seen.
The studio world is full of people who want to hear the mixes brighter, so bought brighter speakers, and ended up with darker mixes.
Sometimes, the simple things are the ones most likely to be missed.
-Justin
@@SonicScoop
I know!