why "studio" monitors?

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david42

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Hi, I'm new, first post. I've been reading for a year though...

I have been home recording for several years. I have just been using home stereo systems and speakers to monitor, and using cheap computer speakers. As I continually upgrade my gear, I am considering buying some specific "monitor" speakers. But then I got to wondering--why?

Currently I am able to get good sounding mixes and masters that don't just sound good in the room they were made in. I check it through three different stereo systems/speaker sets, and through the computer monitors. My recordings sound good in other rooms and on car stereos.

Can someone explain to me why I need studio monitors? What I've got is working for me just fine.

Perhaps I just have a good room (I have a used book store, so there's a fair amount of books on shelves in the room) and might find myself in a difficult situation if I change rooms?

I'm thinking that I could improve my sound quality more by spending 5-800 bucks adding to my microphone collection or buying other processors.
 
You've answered your own question. If you're happy with what you have then you don't need anything else.
 
The reason people use "studio" moitors is because they are generally more revealing and more transparent...therefore mixes will translate better to other systems.
Home stereo systems tend to be hyped for a specifc sound...and computer speakers don't have very good response at the low end and high end.
Also....it's not just the monitors, it's the room they are in. Room acoustics will play a big part in what you are hearing

That said...if you feel that you've found a working SOP with the gear you have...then you're good to go.
 
Thx for the answers guys.

In both cases just what I was thinking. I was just wondering if there was something I was missing.

I'm still interested in hearing from anyone who can tell me there still is something I'm missing.

Thanks again
 
Both, but far more paperbacks. I thought about that a while back and turned all tthe hardbacks backwards so the paper edges are the surface. But there's plenty of wall space, too (plaster_ though I have a fair number of cloth wall hangings up too.
 
studio monitors at the prices we homerecorders pay are not any more flat than good home stereo speakers.

The key word is 'good' .... that truism about stereo speakers being hyped is simply not true except for cheapie mass market crap like Bose.
My Paradigm stereo speakers are far flatter than any of the 500 dollar monitors out there.
Audiophiles are, if anything , more concerned about speakers being flat than home recordists and we don't use Bose Acuostimass garbage.

All the 500 buck monitors are just bookshelf speakers with the word 'monitor' added to them as a marketing term and none of them are flat at all.

The key is to learn whatever monitors you have and how it translates. Like some people get good mixes on Yamaha NS10's which are far from flat and, actually, sound pretty crappy. So learning the monitors is the biggest thing and it sounds like you've done that so I would call spending on monitors a waste of your money until you get into 1500 bucks a pair and up.
 
david42 said:
Both, but far more paperbacks. I thought about that a while back and turned all tthe hardbacks backwards so the paper edges are the surface. But there's plenty of wall space, too (plaster_ though I have a fair number of cloth wall hangings up too.
Click to expand...

:)

Like I said, if it works....

When you said "studio monitors"...I thought you were really asking about higher end *studio* monitors, and not just the typical cheap home rec monitors that lots of folks buy.
When you do get into better studio monitors, the difference is noticable, but then, they also sit in decent studios with proper acoustic treatment etc.
I dropped over $1200 on my Mackies, and they are still considered kinda' the lower end of the better studio monitor choices.

For a home rec environment...go with what works in your space. If you are happy with your mixes, that's all that counts.
 
LT, what Paradigms do you have? Years ago I had a pair of Titans and I just couldn't mix on them. I couldn't get bass right.
 
some studio 20's .......... I had some floor standers but they were too much .... the Studio 20's sounded great.
This was in Baton Rouge and truthfully they don't couple to this room like they did back in BR so they're a little light sounding. I don't use them for recording though ..... they're my vinyl listening speakers. I will check mixes on them but they're for sitting and doing critical listening.
 
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