Could somebody tell me if this is correct?

[sk8a123]

My question is, If you mix/master on very good studio monitors, will the playback sound good on most speakers? Heres what I mean, When bands let out cd's, (generally) pretty much on anything you listen to it on, the sound quality is decent. So back to my question
My question is, If you mix/master on very good studio monitors, will the playback sound good on most speakers?

 

[hicksynet]

Well good studio monitors do help you get a better sound but you really should listen to your mixes on a few different sound systems, I take all my mixes to work (Audio Visual Sales) that way on the way to work i try it in the car and when im at work i try it on some home theater speakers. I always find faults with my mixes no matter how good i think they are on my studio monitors.

Hope that helps.

 

[mjbphotos]

You can use the best monitors possible, but still mix and master like an amateur!

 

[Jeff_D]

This is a common challenge faced by anyone getting serious about home recording. How to get you mix to sound good to the rest of the world...

There's a process, which really can only be shortened by extensive experience... Monitors are only part of the equation. So, you'll want to mix on monitors you know in an acoustically treated space (see Studio Building Forum). This will give you the most accurate reproduction of the sound you're hearing and let you make good mix decisions. This also involves learning to listen. I know what you're thinking, I already *know* how to listen, but if you're just starting, them I can assure you you'll have a thing or two to learn about listening (and don't worry, you have plenty of time to practice, because...). The next step would be taking the mix that you've created onto a cd and putting it in the car, your boom box, you're home stereo, and whatever else you're used to listening on... and listen. Take notes on what needs to be tweaked and what works. go back to your studio and remix. Expect to do this several times (it took me 8 mixes on my last cd before i was happy).

Summary- you need a) good monitors b) an acoustically treated space and c) listening skills. If you lack ANY of those things, I can assure you you'll have trouble getting a mix that translates well outside of your studio.

Good luck...

 

[RAMI]

My question is, If you mix/master on very good studio monitors, will the playback sound good on most speakers?

The answer is maybe. Having good speakers doesn't mean you can make a good mix. Just like having a good guitar doesn't guarantee playing well.

Like others have mentioned, many other things come into the equation. Like your room, your ears, your ability, etc...

So, does having good monitors mean your mix will sound good anywhere? No. Does it increase the chance that it will sound good anywhere. Yes.

 

[Washburn100]

As others mentioned, the room acoustics are just as big a part of it. Think of having the best monitors money can buy, then listen to them in a regular gymnasium. The sound is going to echo and bounce and sound like crap no matter what you do.

Most home studios typically have certain acoustic problems that get picked up while mixing. My particular room has a huge problem at around 120hz. If I mix a song until it sounds great in my room, when I play it somewhere else, that 120hz problem translates into muddy low end heavy mixes. I am learning to compensate for it, but it is a skill.

 

[sk8a123]

Thank you all for the reply's! I learned some new stuff. I was so focused that if i bought decent monitors to start out with ( KRK Rockit 5) then my mixes would sound decent, but I thought id ask before i bought them.... Which was a very smart choice.. Thanks!

 

[Massive Master]

You can use the best monitors possible, but still mix and master like an amateur!

Word (to the peeps). Gear is important, sure. But you can put someone in a freakishly accurate and consistent room with freakishly accurate and consistent monitoring - And if he doesn't have the listening skills necessary for the task, there you go.

You can put me in the kitchen at the Chez Paul and it's not going to make me a professional chef...

Now on to your monitoring -- KRK 5's are [SELF-CENSORED]. I'm sorry, it's just the case. I'd very highly suggest just saving until you can afford something considerably more substantial. This is the most important purchase you will ever make as far as your recording rig is concerned. You can cut corners anywhere you want - But not your monitoring or your room treatment.

 

[WhiteStrat]

The answer is maybe. Having good speakers doesn't mean you can make a good mix. Just like having a good guitar doesn't guarantee playing well.

Like others have mentioned, many other things come into the equation. Like your room, your ears, your ability, etc...

So, does having good monitors mean your mix will sound good anywhere? No. Does it increase the chance that it will sound good anywhere. Yes.

Well said...

 

[gecko zzed]

My question is, If you mix/master on very good studio monitors, will the playback sound good on most speakers?

When your CD is played by other people, it will be played on a wide range of speakers in a wide range of listening environments, from very bad to very good.

It's not possible for any one mix to sound awesome on every single combination of these.

But it is possible to create a mix that is an accurate and listenable representation of your music if you yourself have very good speakers and monitoring environment (and assuming you have the listening and mixing skills to do this). And this mix will translate reasonably well on the myriad of systems out there.

It is not possible to create a mix for your potential audience, because there is no way you can know what each person is going to play the music on. Therefore your aim is to create a mix that is as close as possible to how you would like it sound, and to do that you need a system that is capable of delivering the sound accurately.

 

[sk8a123]

When your CD is played by other people, it will be played on a wide range of speakers in a wide range of listening environments, from very bad to very good.

It's not possible for any one mix to sound awesome on every single combination of these.

But it is possible to create a mix that is an accurate and listenable representation of your music if you yourself have very good speakers and monitoring environment (and assuming you have the listening and mixing skills to do this). And this mix will translate reasonably well on the myriad of systems out there.

It is not possible to create a mix for your potential audience, because there is no way you can know what each person is going to play the music on. Therefore your aim is to create a mix that is as close as possible to how you would like it sound, and to do that you need a system that is capable of delivering the sound accurately.

There we go