how important is stereo imaging in a pair of monitors?

[jugalo180]

what is the importance of stereo imaging?

if a pair of monitors have a narrow imaging field how would that hurt in the seperation of your music?

is a narrow or small imaging field good for a small room(12x10)feet. all controll room?

[Chris Shaeffer]

Hmmm....

If I read this right, a "narrow" stereo image means that you will need to be sitting in exactly the right spot for the stereo image to be presented accurately. Commercial stereo speakers are like that.

My Event PS-6's have a wider stereo image than my commercial setup. I can move my head around in it and get a sense for where things are falling in the mix. I can lean back, forward, to the sides, and move around to get a sense for how the instruments are interacting with each other in the stereo field. Its kinda fun.

Take care,
Chris

P.S. I'm no expert, here. I could be completely wrong.

[Axis]

whats a good distance for the monitors to be at from each other and from you?

[jugalo180]

hey, thanx for the feed back chris. i'm trying to go with the mackies hr824's

[c9-2001]

a partner of mine sets his 3-4feet away fromhim with him sitting in the middle of them.. they sound great... but they should they're Blue skys..

Originally posted by jugalo180
hey, thanx for the feed back chris. i'm trying to go with the mackies hr824's

they're decent monitors, 1 think i don't like about the 824, they get muddy at high volumes with songs that have a lot have a lot of bass. the blue skys don't... check them out.. same price as the mackies.... every enginner i've talked to that got to use blue skys love them.. i haven't seen or read 1 bad thing about them.. soon as i get the extra money my blue sky 2.1's will be on the way..

[Chris Shaeffer]

My guess for how far apart and away to set the monitors:

Well, every pic of a "real" studio I have seen has the near fields sitting on the corners of the console, or there abouts, angled in towards the engineer/mixer. That puts them 3-4 feet away and fairly wide apart- 6 to 8 feet?

Your space will dictate what works for you, though. Before I moved, mine were about 3 feet away and 5 feet apart. I was in a corner and that was where they pointed right about at my ears when I sat at the DAW. Not ideal, I suppose, but it worked well enough for the limited space and options that I had.

Have fun!
Chris

[littledog]

Originally posted by Axis
whats a good distance for the monitors to be at from each other and from you?

There is no one answer. it depends on the individual monitor. Some monitors are designed to be set up in a 4 foot equilateral triangle with the listener, others at 5 feet or 6 feet. The simplest answer is to go with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Getting back to the first question, I'm not sure how a monitor can have a "narrow" stereo field. Chris is guessing that what they really were referring to was a narrow "sweet spot". But I'd like to hear the original questioner explain in more detail.

[TexRoadkill]

More detail is needed.

Remember that the point of monitors is to give you a reference. If your reference is skewed in any way then you are at a disadvantage.

[jugalo180]

you were on the money. my engineering vocabulary is limited so i try to get as close to what i mean as i can. but (sweet spot)is right on the money. i was wondering if the mackies were the type of speaker that you didn't have to sit down like you had a neck brace on or else you would not get the true reference. from reading everyone's helpful post, the mackies seem to be good to go. although i am now curious about the blue sky's. i never heard of them, but hey, 4 mos. ago i didn't know what a condencer mic was either.