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Terra
Scholarly Gentleman
Just wondering if i should invest in one or not, seeing if it was worthwhile.
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Ephi82
New member
I have JBK LSR 4328 Monitors (8" drivers)
They are excellent, and have an accurate low end BUTthey do not translate low frequency mud and rumble very well. (If i was a better engineer, I wouldn't be tracking with that kind of problem!)
As a consquence when recordings are played back on my home entertainment system, or in my car, both of which have subs, I have been surprised by nasty levels of mud and rumble that I didnt hear at mix.
SO
Long answer: I have a sub, and since I started using it, I avoid getting mud and rumble when tracking, and it lets me hear exactly what the "good" parts of the low , low end of my mix are going to sound like! (I do mixes with it, and without it depending what part of the mix I am trying to nail)
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NYMorningstar
Recording Modus Operandi
Before you invest in a sub check out bi-amping here:
http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm#common-question
http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm#common-question
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Ephi82
New member
It is my understanding that most active monitors are bi amped today? (I know the JBL's are)
Perhaps you consider this a newbie question, but what does Bi Amp do to eliminate the value of a sub?
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moresound
Loud Sun Studios
Yes ! I always mix with a meatball sub and a cola. 
zazz
hmmmm
if you have decent monitors then they would cover sub.
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NYMorningstar
Recording Modus Operandi
Why would I be considering this a newbie question? I don't mean to say it eliminates the value of a sub and not everyone use active monitors. I'm just thinking it's a step to take to clean up your sound(mud) before investing in a sub.
Ethan Winer
Acoustics Expert
What speakers do you have now? I much prefer a single pair of full-range speakers that can get down to 50 Hz or lower, rather than lesser speakers with a sub. But regardless of which speakers you have, unless you have bass traps you're not getting their full potential anyway.
--Ethan
Audio Mastering
Master Of Mastering
I treat the Sub just like I do Headphones. I do not mix with them, but I do check my mixes on them.
Cj
Cj
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+100000000000000000000000000000000000
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
I prefer to save mixing with subs for when I'm mixing specifically for 5.1 surround or gaming systems or live dance mixes - basically only when I am mixing for specific playback through a subwoofer channel (which honestly isn't that often).
But if the question comes down to whether to spend money on a subwoofer to make up for anemic main channel speakers or to spend the money instead on upgrading the main channel speakers to something I can trust to handle the bass OK on a stereo program on their own, I'll go for the upgrade on the main channel.
One can always add a sub if the really need or want to regardless of their main channel speakers, but I'd prefer to make sure the main channel speakers are up to snuff first.
Frankly, these days there no reason why one can't find a pair of new or used main channel speakers that are good down to 35-40Hz for a pretty reasonable price as compared to spending the money on a good subwoofer.
G.
But if the question comes down to whether to spend money on a subwoofer to make up for anemic main channel speakers or to spend the money instead on upgrading the main channel speakers to something I can trust to handle the bass OK on a stereo program on their own, I'll go for the upgrade on the main channel.
One can always add a sub if the really need or want to regardless of their main channel speakers, but I'd prefer to make sure the main channel speakers are up to snuff first.
Frankly, these days there no reason why one can't find a pair of new or used main channel speakers that are good down to 35-40Hz for a pretty reasonable price as compared to spending the money on a good subwoofer.
G.
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Ephi82
New member
Understand now and agree with you.
1) get the room treated as best you can
2) get as "good" Bi Amped monitors as you can afford
3) a sub helps you check your mixes for low end crap
E
Ephi82
New member
Understand now and agree with you.
1) get the room treated as best you can
2) get as "good" Bi Amped monitors as you can afford
3) a sub helps you check your mixes for low end crap
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
B
Buhzie2
New member
i use a sub. I've had much less mud in my mixes...
but either way, sub or not, High pass everything but bass and kick. 60hz and below... makes the biggest difference in the world
but either way, sub or not, High pass everything but bass and kick. 60hz and below... makes the biggest difference in the world
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
Or low end rumble.
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
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Terra
Scholarly Gentleman
first of all, thanks y'all for all the replies. I use Alesis m1 active 520's...just a $200 pair of monitors...I think instead of investing in a sub, I'm going to invest in some better monitors, probably with larger speakers in them, mine have a 6" driver, puts out some bass but 0 sub frequencies (~20-70hz). I was looking at the Yamaha HS80M's. (what do y'all think of those?)
I do check my mixes on my cans as well, I use Sennheiser HD280's, I like them a lot, I just want to avoid using my headphones for anything other than tracking.
Tyler
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
I mix with a sub, but whether you need to or not has a lot to do with the satellites. My mains are M-Audio SP5B's, which are notoriously bass-deficient. When I spoke with the M-Audio regional rep (a lucky chance meeting), he told me that the bass ports were placed in the back of the SP5B's on purpose, as they were always intended to work with a matching sub. If I had some nice Genelecs or whatever with 8" or 10" drivers, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't need the sub. As it is, the SP5B's and the SBX work together very well, and I've learned to mix with them. What the hell?-Richie
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Terra
Scholarly Gentleman
yeah genelecs are nice, I use them at the studio I intern at...along with Quested Mains!!!!! *creams his pants just thinking about them*