Are studio monitors necessary?

[♫♪♫]

I currently have some altec lansing computer speakers (2.1 system) and I am using them. However, are these decent? I don't need any super professional recording, just some amateur stuff.

[testing1two]

Studio monitors are designed to give an honest portrayal of your mixes so they will sound the way you want regardless of the playback system. If that's not an issue for your recordings, then use whatever makes your ears happy. Also, consider that a decent set of headphones can help you get the job done in conjunction with your desktop speakers.

[GuitarsFromMars]

yes.

[elambo]

I currently have some altec lansing computer speakers (2.1 system) and I am using them. However, are these decent? I don't need any super professional recording, just some amateur stuff.

Studio monitors are completely necessary for important audio work. Those Altec Lansings are not appropriate for serious sessions, but no one can tell you how important audio is to you, so we can't say how important studios monitors would be.

[jcground]

I would recommend getting some better monitors. However, on a budget you could probably get by with some headphones and your Altec Lansings if you aren't doing anything you'd want to shop around to get gigs or as a demo.

If it's for fun, whatever makes you happy is the right gear to have. :)

[jtees4]

I've heard a lot of good stuff done only with headphones and/or fairly cheap monitors. Of course having better monitors will help at some point...but not necessarily necessary to get good results.

[topbrent]

Yes you should invest in some great monitors, but don't let your ears be tricked by the clear, balanced sound. It isn't always a proper representative of how the music will usually be heard.

I have heard local band make recordings where it sounds great on the expensive monitors, but horrid in a car or on a regular stereo.

Test your mixes and recordings on a crappy boombox setup or play it in your car to see how it sounds in the real world.

Sometimes you will need to adjust for the lowest common denominator.

[JamminJeff]

Simple question, big answers and yes, you need an appropriate set of monitors depending on your budget. A subwoofer is optional and probably not required but is useful at times. Invest your $ in the primary pair.

Basically there are two type of listening requirements in the audio world. One is for enjoyment and the other is for honest playback, e.g. studio monitors. Sometimes the best studio monitors are NOT flattering at all, just honest. Listening fatigue is a whole different story.

There is a huge range available today and YOUR ears, stlye and budget dictate what is best for you. Your monitoring location is likely miles away from being good so maybe some Yamaha HS series would work. They have room adjustment features at a low cost and are fairly honest with a nice stereo spread and don't blow up like the old NS10's. The KRK stuff is okay but still in the low cost bracket and the Yams might be a better investent. There are many up and down the cost chart, etc.

External computer speakers are useful to "check your mixes" with (post mixing) but if you only mix on such a set-up, your music will not translate to car stereos, iPods, home systmes, etc.

Monitoring is serious stuff when it comes down to it.

[tedzepplin]

When I started using studio monitors, my recordings got better. My mixes started sound better. You still need to check you mixes on different speaker systems, but but usually when I get a good sound with my monitors it sounds good on most other systems. Before I had the monitors, I was constantly remixing and adjusting trying to get a mix that sounded good on different systems. Yes. Monitors are a big help.

[♫♪♫]

thanks for the info guys, guess I will have to invest in some soon. :)

[Randaddy]

I sold some "good" computer speakers and bought some "real" monitors. I got the KRK V6s. They do work very well and I can hear details that I could not hear before. I can listen very quietly a still hear great detail, or crank them a bit with no distortion problems.

Having said that, I discovered that my mixes have too much bass content. I realized this while listening to my mixes on a friends stereo system. I started using my Fostex headphones (they sound surprisingly good and have great bass extension) in addition to the KRKs and now my mixes are balanced.

The moral of the story is...

we must listen to our mixes on a few different speakers, even if we have great monitors. I learned that many professionals do this even though they work on very expensive monitors. But having good monitors as the primary source of sound is important.

[the_Chris]

I'm saving up for some highend monitors right now, but I'll tell you something that's affordable that's been working really well for me in the meantime: Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones. The headphones don't seem to be hyped and I get a really good sense of space with them (like when I'm panning instruments, the depth is really there). Since I don't have highend monitors or a really well acoustically treated room, these have been working miracles for me. I can lay down tracks with them, bounce them down to mp3/m4a/wav and my end result is what I've been mixing. Playing my material in the car and through my stereo and even my computer speakers, the balance still seems there and the mixes I've been doing seem to translate well. For $150 it has to be the best investment I think I've ever made. I've heard some budget studios with lowend monitors and the budget monitors I've heard have been pretty lousy, they just don't give an accurate representation of the true source you're recording. I'm just an amateur home recording guy, but when I looked for a good pair of headphones, I found quite a few rave reviews for the ATH-M50 and after doing a few mixes, I think they deserve them.

[Sunbreak Music]

I sold some "good" computer speakers and bought some "real" monitors. I got the KRK V6s. They do work very well and I can hear details that I could not hear before. I can listen very quietly a still hear great detail, or crank them a bit with no distortion problems.

Having said that, I discovered that my mixes have too much bass content. I realized this while listening to my mixes on a friends stereo system. I started using my Fostex headphones (they sound surprisingly good and have great bass extension) in addition to the KRKs and now my mixes are balanced.

The moral of the story is...

we must listen to our mixes on a few different speakers, even if we have great monitors. I learned that many professionals do this even though they work on very expensive monitors. But having good monitors as the primary source of sound is important.

That's one moral. The other is that room treatment is necessary to get a flat response. ;)

[StevieC]

I recently went through a similar decision making process. My intent was to actually use a mid-level audio system (Rotel/JM Lab) to do my mixes. After getting some great advice on this forum, I ended up "jumping into the shallow end of the pool" by picking up an inexpensive pair of monitors. They really did make a big difference.

I don't want to violate the forum guidelines, but you can pick up a pair of M-Audio Bx5a's (last year's model) for only 200 at a well known online source. They even have a scratch n dent pair at under 150 right now.

I'm just recording for my own displeasure, but these have really made the process more enjoyable and I've gotten better results as well.

These don't go real deep, so depending on what kind of music you are mixing, you may still want to add a sub.

The other "best money I spent" was for two sheets of acoustic foam. I realize it is probably over priced, but on a whim I picked up two panels today at the local GC for about 50 and in my setting it made a *world* of difference.

Good luck!

[kludge]

Well, do you plan to have anyone other than yourself listen to your recordings? If so, you probably want to invest in the best monitors you can afford.

[JamminJeff]

I can't believe this thread is still brewing. If you don't want to purchase decent monitors then a $100.00 pair of headphone will get you by. Remember, I said "get you by" but there is no substitution for proper monitoring.

It's a compromise until you reach a certain level and even then it's still an issue.

[elambo]

we must listen to our mixes on a few different speakers, even if we have great monitors. I learned that many professionals do this even though they work on very expensive monitors. But having good monitors as the primary source of sound is important.

Not necessarily. I use three different monitors for every mix I do, but only at the end, and only to make sure that the mix translates to a) TV/Car Radio, b) decent home A/V systems. We don't do this because our mains need the help or are deficient in some way - they are pretty damn close to flat, and the room is well-treated. The use of multiple monitors is by no means "necessary" and especially not for home studios where you'd have to take from the budget of one to afford the other. Buy the BEST monitors you can afford, but don't sweat the 2nd pair.

[elambo]

If you don't want to purchase decent monitors then a $100.00 pair of headphone will get you by.

The OP was sold on good monitors a while ago.