Looking to add a pair of studio monitors to my set up!

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 00:07

Hey guys,

So, I've finally updated from a PC to a MAC. On my PC I was using a VERY basic set up to do some home recording, just to mess about. I'm looking to make this set up a little more serious, now that I have the ability and the space to. Up until now my sound has come from an old 5.1 system, connected to the line out port in the back of the PC. Now I have updated however I'm looking to improve that. I can currently get a pretty good deal on various studio monitors for home use. I'm specifically looking at the KRK Rokit 5's at the moment, however I might not settle on these.

My question is now, what is the best way to connect these up? Obviously I won't be going direct into these.

My knowledge is quite slim, so please forgive me asking. I'm just trying to see what other areas I need to update to get everything smooth!

Thanks in advance!

m3csl2004 · 18 Jan 2012 at 18:10

Sounds like you want a pro audio interface. Something with mac support and the right amount of inputs and inputs for your requirment, probably firewire(?).
You will need balanced out's via 1/4" jack or XLR for your monitors and the appropriate cables.

You will need a decent DAW for any quality recording and music production. I have no real experience of these on mac however. Maybe best off asking the relevant forum.

Detroit_Waves · 18 Jan 2012 at 20:59

Thanks for the info. This certainly looks like the way I need to go. I think I need to start looking at getting hold of a good audio interface! Maybe a complete external mixing unit too! Good times

As for DAW, I'm going to stick with Logic I think!

hellarda · 18 Jan 2012 at 21:15

I have the KRK rokit 8's and can fully recommend, I would imagine that the 5's are as good as the 8's however you may want a separate sub as a few people i know who have them say they lack low end.

Anyway audio interface wise, depends how much you want to spend tbh... if you're not looking at spending much on one then have a look at the low end m-audio interfaces such as the Fast Track or the Fast Track Pro If you want to spend a bit more I have the Presonus Firestudio which can be had for just over £400-£450
And then if you want to spend even more you can get an external mixer which has an interface built in such as the M-Audio ProjectMix or the Avid 003 Factory

Also if you happen to have an ipad then you can use that as a midi controller using an app called AC7-Pro, it basically turns the screen into a mixer and you can use it to control your DAW.

Obviously if you want to spend ridiculous amounts of money go for a pro tools rig but I'll assume you don't so either cubase or logic will be your best bet. I use cubase, haven't used logic much but it does seem the logical (no pun intended

) choice for mac.

Hope that helps

mothermachine · 19 Jan 2012 at 11:36

Maybe consider Reaper as well. I use it (on PC) and it's superb value for money. OSX support.

hughythomas · 19 Jan 2012 at 12:13

I use Logic 9 everyday both in a pro studio and at work - it is full featured DAW capable of mixing to the same level of Pro Tools (non HD) in my opinion.

Definitely focus on grabbing a decent audio interface for your system as this will be the heart of your studio setup.

What music are you planning on producing? This will directly affect the type of interface you need.

As for speakers I have only heard the KRK Rokits when I was studying music production A-Level (quite a few years ago now!) and my ears were not as trained as they are now.

I will say this - See if you can grab Active speakers over Passive. The amplifier will be designed specifically to drive the cones in Active speakers resulting in arguably more accurate sonic response. Also, getting good speakers is only half the battle. Get some decent stands if you can or, at the very least, some Auralex MoPads to decouple the loudspeakers from any surface they would be mounted on otherwise. Also, just to make it even more complicated - your room will play a BIG part in messing with the frequency response of your speakers. Best advice I can give in this respect is to do some research into acoustics. Look at 'standing waves' and 'modes' of a room to get you started.

The Presonus Firestudio is a good recommendation but are you going to be recording a drum kit? The Firestudio is excellent value for money considering the amount of pres you get (8x) but if you are producing house or dance why would you ever need that many simultaneous?

Thus, we need to know what you are planning to produce!!!

Also, check out Genelec 8020A monitors - I know they're not cheap but if you want to mix accurately and TRUST your loudspeakers for producers on a budget...it doesn't get much better than these in my opinion!

Just my 2 cents...

Rhyswh · 19 Jan 2012 at 13:55

We need more info from you! What kind of music? Recording instruments? Using Midi controllers? What's your budget?

You don't need an extra sub with studio monitors!!! Usually people who don't know what they are talking about always say "the more bass the better!" This is definitely not the case when it comes to mixing! Studio monitors have a flat response so that you can mix your tracks equally across the frequency spectrum! Then when you come to playing your track on a sound system you can turn up the bass/mid/treble on the system if that system needs it! That's why everything has EQs on them, because every system sounds different!

Definitely get active ones, and if your planning on recording in your room then you definitely need to look into acoustics (Room reverberation times), you can buy foam panels to put on your walls that don't cost much.

Bucko89 · 19 Jan 2012 at 14:48

Get the HS80. Absolutly amazing my friend.

I went to audition them, tried the KRK's and the yam's are much more neutral and clearer, without a doubt.

Also have the sub. All going strong 3 years later.

Highly recommended.

Rhyswh · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:14

I can't stress enough how much a sub is not needed when mixing in a studio environment!

Bucko89 · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:19

It's absolutly not! You need neutral sound. Absolutly.

It's just I mix a lot of techno/house, and the extra bass is lovely. I turn the bass to 120hz cut off on the monitors, so it sounds even cleaner.

Bucko89 · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:22

Ignore the image quality:

Rhyswh · 19 Jan 2012 at 15:31

I didn't mean mixing as in DJ mixing! For that purpose definitely get a sub! But in a recording studio environment you don't need an extra sub.

Edit: BTW, that set-up looks sexy as!

hellarda · 19 Jan 2012 at 17:40

Rhyswh said:
I didn't mean mixing as in DJ mixing! For that purpose definitely get a sub! But in a recording studio environment you don't need an extra sub.

Edit: BTW, that set-up looks sexy as!

I disagree entirely. Taking the rokits (the 5's and 8's) as an example, The low end is DEFINITELY lacking on the 5's. I was not ever implying that 'more bass is better' because its not and I do know that. But if you have a smaller set of monitors with smaller drivers you will tend (not always, I know) a seperate sub to give you that low end. Obviously it all depends on the size of the room you're mixing in and what else is in the room.

No, you do not need a sub, but it may help you to get a flatter frequency response. And obviously you need to not fall into the trap of turning it up too loud.

EDIT: looking at the 5's they are only rated down to 52Hz, which means they will lack the low end.

Rhyswh · 19 Jan 2012 at 17:58

Fair enough, I hadn't looked at the spec. But I will stick to my guns and say you would be better off getting a set that will produce the 20Hz-20khz range and not getting a sub. Saying that no one would play notes that low because they sound horrible! Unless you want to rattle windows, frequencies below 52Hz are pointless (in reasonable mixing volumes NOT in music).

mattyfez · 19 Jan 2012 at 18:02

If you're using small monitors and cutting off the low end at 120hz, I can't see how that would be good for recording, as your essentially ignoring a significant portion of the sound... surely in terms of monitors you would want the most transtparent and fullest range possible?

hellarda · 19 Jan 2012 at 18:07

Rhyswh said:
Fair enough, I hadn't looked at the spec. But I will stick to my guns and say you would be better off getting a set that will produce the 20Hz-20khz range and not getting a sub. Saying that no one would play notes that low because they sound horrible! Unless you want to rattle windows, frequencies below 52Hz are pointless.

again it all depends on what he is recording! if its dubstep then you definitely want to produce frequencies below 52Hz ha.

mattyfez said:
If you're using small monitors and cutting off the low end at 120hz, I can't see how that would be good for recording, as your essentially ignoring a significant portion of the sound... surely in terms of monitors you would want the most transtparent and fullest range possible?

Yeh this is true, but companies who make smaller monitors do make subs that 'go' with those monitors and should integrate seamlessly... whether they actually do is another matter. Could also be some people can't fit big monitors on their desk and one way around that would be to use smaller monitors and a sub.

mattyfez · 19 Jan 2012 at 18:08

Rhyswh said:
Fair enough, I hadn't looked at the spec. But I will stick to my guns and say you would be better off getting a set that will produce the 20Hz-20khz range and not getting a sub. Saying that no one would play notes that low because they sound horrible! Unless you want to rattle windows, frequencies below 52Hz are pointless.

I dissagree, sub-bass, in this example less than 52khz, is not about breaking windows, its about re-inforcing ambience and depth in the subtleties of various instuments, reverbarations etc... unless you are wanting to make a clinically tight clean techno track, it will just sound compressed and fake.

hellarda · 19 Jan 2012 at 18:13

mattyfez said:
I dissagree, sub-bass, in this example less than 52khz, is not about breaking windows, its about re-inforcing ambience and depth in the subtleties of various instuments, reverbarations etc... unless you are wanting to make a clinically tight clean techno track, it will just sound compressed and fake.

+1

Rhyswh · 19 Jan 2012 at 18:15

Not sure who mentioned cutting off at 120Hz but that's not a good idea!

I have a set of monitors that have a low frequency response of 56Hz and I can tell you they are amazing for recording. Not the best for listening to music but very good for mixing. At low volumes you won't hear under 50hz, turning it up will give you the rumble that's more appropriate for listening rather than mixing.

Anyway, the way this is going isn't good for Detroit_Waves original question!

Edit: When I said frequencies below 52hz are pointless, I meant for mixing at a reasonable volume not in music in general!