MONITORS for Keyboards

[layer7]

I was wondering if monitors one would buy for a keyboard are the same as monitors one would buy for mixing.

I'm about to buy an S90 and was thinking about getting a pair of Behringer Truths Monitors ($400/pair) to go with it. Is this a good idea?

[alfalfa]

Are you planning on gigging with these speakers or are they solely for your home studio?

[Badger]

Generally, for home studio anything will work.

[alexspetty]

i like truths a lot...

they are the best around for the money!

i say go for it!

-alex

[layer7]

Yea ... I will be using the keyboard in my home studio (when I build it!). I doubt I will be playing live for a long while.

Nice to hear positive feedback on the Truths. Any other opinions out there?

Question about hooking up the monitors. Stupid question but ... do they connect to the keyboard or do I connect them to my interface (either a digi 002 or motu 2408 mkIII)? If I am connecting the monitors to the interface, can I practice and hear everything without latency?

I guess another option is to set up a patch bay.

Any suggestions?

[Logo]

I'm not explicitly familiar with those two interfaces, but many (most?) of the reasonably modern multi i/o cards can directly mix an input with the output from the computer. That let's you have zero-latency monitoring (really - the live signal is going to the computer, where it can be recorded, but not passing through, instead it's routed/mixed by the i/o card straight into the output ports). That means you can't run your live/new signal through any DAW effects - but at least you really do get zero latency. If you need effects in the monitors/cans, you need an external fx unit and a small 2-bus mixer (or a cheapie combo, ie. Behr UBxxxFX), so you can still record a dry signal. You can also use more of the direct/through of the soundcard to accomplish the same thing, but you'll lose two input channels. (return from the fx box).

The Truths are a very good bang for buck proposition. But I would try to set up your order or your shopping, to receive them on a Wednesday or Thursday. Then immediately hook them up and let them run 24x7 on a looped CD. Start evaluating them critically on Saturday through Sunday. Monday, box them up and ship 'em back if you decide you don't like them, or you run into a QC issue (Behr is infamous for this). Some will argue (validly) that you need an even longer break-in than 2 days, before you start critically evaluating. Same with new headphones. I just usually have problems getting equipment sent back within the "no-restocking-fee" period...

Cheers,
Zo

[ambi]

see if you can find a pair of Yorkville YSMip's.

[boose44]

Both the Yorkies and Truths are a lot of bang for the buck.

I've had a set of Truths for almost two years now, and they have been great. I used my Truths with a Yamaha CS6x and MicroQ and they were just kicking.

I've also had some Yorkville products (their larger PA speakers) and they were also excellent. They have a two year ask-no-questions warranty that is hard to beat.

Second the suggestion on a small mixer. I used a small Behringer 1604A mixer. Sound card hooked up through it's own loop and speakers through the mixer.

-bruce

[layer7]

Well, I ended up getting a pair of Event TR8's. They sound amazing hooked up to the S90 but it might be more than I need.

Thanks for everyone's feedback.