Monitor Isolation Pads

[FoulPhil]

"Provide sonic isolation between your monitors and whatever they're resting on. No matter how good the rest of your studio gear, you won't get accurate monitoring if the direct transfer of vibrations from your monitors to your furniture is coloring your sound."

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Auralex-MoPad-Monitor-Isolation-Pads?sku=422603

If I'm going to have them sitting on metal stands do I really need something like that? And if so, whats a cheap alternative for something to use as a isolation pad?

Can I use styrofoam?

 

[philbagg]

"Provide sonic isolation between your monitors and whatever they're resting on. No matter how good the rest of your studio gear, you won't get accurate monitoring if the direct transfer of vibrations from your monitors to your furniture is coloring your sound."

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Auralex-MoPad-Monitor-Isolation-Pads?sku=422603

If I'm going to have them sitting on metal stands do I really need something like that? And if so, whats a cheap alternative for something to use as a isolation pad?

Can I use styrofoam?

I got ones from thomann with my krk's, and they're sitting in the corner
collecting dust because I have mine on metal stands, which are absorbing
all the low-end vibrations.

It's also because for some reason, the pads smell like fish

If you're going to be putting them on a table or desk, get the pads. If they're
going on stands, try to make sure that the stands absorb the low end, they
should do.

And I don't think styrofoam would work

 

[FoulPhil]

I got the cheapest stands I could find, the Musician's Gear SMS-6000 Monitor Stand. They have a very thin pad on them. I could hear a real difference when I set them up in my room today.

I just have to make a little drive in the morning to pick up my OC703 and finishing building my bass traps and sound absorbers. Then I'm done

 

[Kingofpain678]

I got some of those auralex iso pads for free.

Came with my desk.

Gotta be honest, I don't really think it makes too terribly much of a difference.

 

[zed32]

i have my subwoofer sitting on a foam pad, and i've noticed a rather significant difference in sound between placing it on the foam, or placing it on the ground. you don't want your stand to absorb the low-end of the speaker, you want the speaker to be able to deliver all the information right to your ears.

 

[dintymoore]

For 25 years I've had my NS-10M's sitting on cement cinder block caps. I think they are something like 2"x8"x16". These are the caps you put on top of cinder blocks when you make a wall.

 

[Xdrummer]

Mouse pads!!!!!

 

[pathdoc]

I have my monitors and my sub on Auralex pads and I can not tell the difference. I guess I feel it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[philbagg]

you don't want your stand to absorb the low-end of the speaker, you want the speaker to be able to deliver all the information right to your ears.

The pads/stand won't absorb it from your speaker, it will absorb it from resonating
throughout the other materials and building up, giving you a more false impression
of the bass response in your mix.

 

[Bristol Posse]

I use pink erasers one at each corner of each monitor. Whole set up cost about $1.50, Useful for rewrites to always have an eraser handy too

 

[Mixteco]

I had a few left over pieces of 1in foam and just lad the monitors on them...can't really tell the difference...but then again Ive got this stuff in my bedroom.