I think the only point Glen is making is that NS10's were/are nothing *special* AFA monitors go...and that there could have been some other monitor that was accepted by engineers as a "reference"...thus becoming somewhat of a "standard" for a period of time.
And I'm telling you it's irrelevant. It's the NS10s that made their way into every studio for decades, and what made them a popular mix monitor was their
midrange. It doesn't matter if there were a hundred other monitors that could have easily taken that position. You guys are talking history of lemmings, and all I'm saying is, regardless of HOW NS10s became popular, they're actually great for mixing. Yes! I don't want to listen to midrange speakers at home. But I DO in the studio. Simple.
I've tried out dozens of monitors on my meter bridge. Some are great, some are usable, most aren't close to usable. NS10s fall into the "great" category where mixing is concerned. Period. And as Glen pointed out, every engineer worth their salt has made great records on NS10s. There's a reason for that, and that reason is they have great translation properties unless you're in a fucked up space, or have managed to make a poor amp choice.
I use HD1s now for the same reason I used NS10s. They both expose the midrange. And all I know is whenever I go out of town (which I do often), I'm okay to work so long as there are NS10s available. This is critical for someone in my position who must make music, and not have to spend his entire session second guessing how the monitors are going to translate.
Glen is right when he says "it's about the music." It's always about the music. But when your monitoring is in the way, it's in the way of the music. He's got it backwards. Monitors that translate well make it so that this problem is off the table, allowing the mixer, engineer, producer, artist, whoever, to concentrate purely on the music and how it's affecting them on an emotional level. No one can do that if they're confused or lacking confidence in their monitors.
Further, because NS10s were so prevalent for so long, I can play back mixes on NS10s and the artist usually knows what they're listening to.
Enjoy,
Mixerman
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