Help purchasing first pair of monitors.

[TheDewd]

My advise would be to my the best monitors you can realistically afford. Take into account the quality of the other gear you have and what you are trying to accomplish with your recording. There isn't much sense in spending $1000 a piece on monitors, if you're recording through a Tascam 4 track and making tapes to share with your friends. Remember that without proper room treatment, the monitors don't mean squat.

I agree with all you said, especially the room treatment (which is part of why I use headphones, the other being that I'm a night guy).

However, let's face it....who wants to be an amateur? Who wants to use his Tascam 4 track forever anyways? On here, it seems everyone is a pro and has the best opinions and blaaa blaaaa....especially talking about BlueBear and Ed Rei. Ed's mixes are quite good though, I attribute this to experience. I never heard any BlueBear mix, but I'd like to, just to see what this "pro" can do.

 

[grinder]

Many on this site like to come off like they're pros. I will never claim to be. Ed and Blue can both talk the talk and walk the walk.

 

[Reggie]

Yeah dude, headphones

Yeah dude, headphones. The well-kept secret of pro mix engineers.

This statement:

You get what you pay for, as always.
Under 1000$ per monitor, you won't go anywhere IMO.

is just a little silly. Maybe you don't like nearfields, but many people have gone many places with mixes done primarily on nearfields. Not so much with the headphone mixers........

 

[VSProductions]

you can't knock ns10m's. i work in a music store and i have had the opportunity to use them and compare them to others. i like them a lot, and they aren't 1000 bucks each... try about 500 for the pair, with all brand new factory replacement tweeters and woofers. best monitors for the money i think.

 

[blazingstrings]

Well people can talk all day long about how they spent 2000 million kagillian dollers on there monitors but I'm always of the thought it isnt the equipment its the user.

spending $300 on monitors is just fine you dont need thousands in gear to make a good mix.

-Blaze

 

[gummblefish]

I have a set of Event TR5's which i am very happy with, maybe a bit weak on the bass response but generally very good, i wanted a set of the new yamaha Hs 50m but the company selling them kept me waiting for ages and ages so i got the Events instead, im really glad i did. I have had some bad experiences with behringer, i know the truths seem like a great price, but then all their stuff does! so i would stay clear. There are alot better out there for not much more bones!

 

[TheDewd]

Well people can talk all day long about how they spent 2000 million kagillian dollers on there monitors but I'm always of the thought it isnt the equipment its the user.

Of course it is the user.
But why the heck does BlueBear, Randy Staub, Michael Brauer, etc, mix using fine fine top of the line monitors? Simply because they don't want to be limited by $300 monitors that are:

- NOT flat at all
- Innacurate
- Undynamic
- Made overseas

 

[Dogman]

Tone...when you get some monitors, let me know what you got. I am looking for some also, and want to hear your thoughts.

 

[bigj]

Im not a PRO, as a matter of fact, i'm super new at this. Monitors are to be the most important thing in anybody that has common sense. The most important part about mixing is the human ear and experience. Experience - you will have to wait for. You train your ears and those $500 or even less crappy ass monitors that MR go out and take a loan you can't pay back trasher will get you a long way.

Yeah you have to spend time mixing different stuff and putting your mix in different equipment to see how is all panning out, but you will get used to what your monitors are bad at and compensate. not too much bass? after time of mixing and checking it in headphones, home theaters, car stereos and others you will learn to compensate and it happens just like that with anything your speakers are exagerating or don't have enough.

It's a matter of your ears. Don't get me wrong, good monitors will help, but if you don't have the ears needed for mixing, how good are $2 g's of monitors?

JMHO

 

[tone_aot]

I believe this is the longest thread i've ever started!! I've read some interesting stuff. I'm looking at new headphones too, Sennheiser HD600s. I would like to buy the event monitors to start with, whenever i have enough cash. I wish i knew how to make some quick cash to get what i wanted but life doesn't work that way. I could probably find my current hourly wage on the ground($6.25). Need a real job. Sorry about chasin the rabbit, but i've heard some interesting suggestions and i think i'll go with the event 20/20.

 

[blazingstrings]

Dewd,
what diference does it make if they were made overseas!?!?!?!?
Thats fricking moronic! So if its made by an Asian its a bad monitor!?!?!?!?
Your unreal man!

Second of all how the hell would you know a good monitor you mix on headPHONES!!!!!!!

tone_aot,
getting a good set of phones is a good idea but you will want a nice set of monitors. I like my M-Audio's. they make bigger sets of them as well.

I would just go try a few out at a store and make sure they have a good return policy and just use your ears and go with what speaks to you.
You will get into a good groove after a few days/weeks and know those monitors and know your room, which will mean you know your mix.

And try not to listen to all the hype and guys who think they know everything.

Later

-Blaze

 

[TheDewd]

Dewd,
what diference does it make if they were made overseas!?!?!?!?
Thats fricking moronic! So if its made by an Asian its a bad monitor!?!?!?!?
Your unreal man!

Second of all how the hell would you know a good monitor you mix on headPHONES!!!!!!!

And try not to listen to all the hype and guys who think they know everything.
-Blaze

First, oversea stuff (especially chineese, korean, indian and taiwaneese) stuff is much less reliable, of much less quality and have much less quality control, service, etc. Buying AMERICAN (USA/CANADA) is the way to go. Europe is not bad, but they are weird people, I don't trust them as much as americans. Indeed, it's not silly at all to encourage your own country dude!

How the hell would I know a good monitor? I have good ears DUH!

YOU think you know everything, because you hate me for going against the grain. Most people here think you can't mix with headphones, but obvioulsy, they don't know better. BlueBear comes to mind with his stupid article.

Also, I always double check my mixes on a good monitor system, in my car, on a boombox and on an MP3 player....one should never overlook multi-monitoring. I just happen to find headphones are MUCH MORE flat than ANY speaker. Except if you have $100000000 of room treatment and giga dollar monitor systems with class A amps.

 

[blazingstrings]

Uh Dewd Most things are made overseas! There is very very few things that arent farmed out to china or korea.

So that TV you have must just be unreliable! Try and find one made in the US!

I never said "dont encourage your own country". You put words in my mouth there son!

"I MIX ON HEADPHONES! I HAVE GOOD EARS! MY NAME IS THEDEWD!"
More like the DUD!

You called bluebear stupid!?!?! My GOD! UNREAL UNREAL!

I'm sorry but your shooting holes in the air here!
I'm know people from M-audio personaly, I know people who work for Cakewalk. I know people form Creamware and folks who build boutique gear.
I worked in a huge studio with more gear that you will ever see or touch.

Our monitors! M-AUDIO BX5's. I'm sorry but your contradicting decades of proven gear.

Lame!

-Blaze

 

[TheDewd]

Uh Dewd Most things are made overseas! There is very very few things that arent farmed out to china or korea.

So that TV you have must just be unreliable! Try and find one made in the US!

I never said "dont encourage your own country". You put words in my mouth there son!

"I MIX ON HEADPHONES! I HAVE GOOD EARS! MY NAME IS THEDEWD!"
More like the DUD!

You called bluebear stupid!?!?! My GOD! UNREAL UNREAL!

I'm sorry but your shooting holes in the air here!
I'm know people from M-audio personaly, I know people who work for Cakewalk. I know people form Creamware and folks who build boutique gear.
I worked in a huge studio with more gear that you will ever see or touch.

Our monitors! M-AUDIO BX5's. I'm sorry but your contradicting decades of proven gear.

-Blaze

1) My TVs are made in JAPAN, which build products at about 80% of US quality. No one can argue that a product coming from Japan is much much better than a product that comes from China or Korea. Just look at Kia and Toyota, etc. Chineese products are by far the worst of the bunch, and they rob our jobs here.

2) I never said Bear is stupid. You are the one putting words in my mouth now. He is just close-minded and thinks his way of doing things is the only one possible. There is so much "old thinking" on this board....like "you can't mix with headphones cause no one does it and no one never did it" now that shows your intelligence level dude. You have to be creative and open minded in this business. If the mix is right and you check on other systems, where is the problem?

3) Wow, you know a lot of people. That doesn't impress me, since you seem to rely on them and their opinions more than your own opinion. That again. shows a lot about the weight you give to your own convictions.

4) M-Audio products are passable at best. They're beginners products and are cheap and made in china. That says a lot about the level of quality you are used to.

 

[blazingstrings]

1) ???? UH ok!? RUN OH GOD ITS MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!! So your saying the Toyota my uncle has driven since the early 80's is shit? It runs better than the "american made" Pontiac my aunt drives. Same guy(my uncle) works on both cars and the Pontiac is newer.

2)You said and I quote "BlueBear comes to mind with his stupid article" When you say his artical is stupid your calling his thoughts stupid.
I have mixed with phones. What takes hours unpon days to do with phones takes only a couple of hours to get better results..... Hmmm. WHo wants to spend months on a simple mix checking and re-checking it?

3)Um Dewd I stated that I know them because...... I want to know the exact specs of a product not because I was name dropping or sheepishly following them like a drone. I tried pretty much every monitor made our studio has true flat sound treatment. By far the BX5's were the best for montiors from $300 and up. It goes to show you dont need a 2000 plus budget just for monitors.
Your the last person on earth I ever wish to impress.

4)Passable?!?!?!? What is your issue with foren made products may I ask? Is it the people you hate? Because thats just wrong.
Frankly, Overseas products are just fine.
My BX5a's are well built sound good and never fail. The BX5's at the big studio have been on litteraly for three years. We never turn them off. they never fail......... I fail though in seeing your logic that all things China or korea are crap! Thats "close-minded" and "old thinking".

God damnit I said I was done with ya and here I am.

Well I'll take the high road and call this my last statement to you Dewd Enjoy your Headphone mixes. They may be right for you but not for most.
I have better things to do than bicker with you.
Enjoy, As far as I'm concered I'm done with you and this argument.

Later

-Blaze

 

[TheDewd]

What is your issue with foren made products may I ask? Is it the people you hate? Because thats just wrong.

My issue ? Foreign products are overly mass produced by underpayed people that are starving to live. Do I really want a product made with despair and without considerations about the future user? The answer is no. I prefer a product built with high quality standards and encourage people over here to get jobs and pay taxes.

Is it that hard to understand, that a product made in the USA is much more reliable and has much more to offer quality/assembly wize ?

Look dude....you get what you pay for! There is no deny about this rule.
When you buy $300 M-Audio monitors, you get $300 worth of monitors. Nothing more.

 

[RAMI]

Europe is not bad, but they are weird people, I don't trust them as much as americans.

Dud, that's just one quote out of many I could have chosen, but I wonder what rock you crawled out from under to find a computer to type on. (BTW, I'm not from Europe). You're embarring yourself, man. Not only your totally ignorant statements on other nationalities, but you're totally contradicting yourself on the whole monitor/headphone thing every time you post. It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.You should just quit it before your foot end up coming out your ass.

 

[TheDewd]

Dud, that's just one quote out of many I could have chosen, but I wonder what rock you crawled out from under to find a computer to type on. (BTW, I'm not from Europe). You're embarring yourself, man. Not only your totally ignorant statements on other nationalities, but you're totally contradicting yourself on the whole monitor/headphone thing every time you post. It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.You should just quit it before your foot end up coming out your ass.

I like to be provocative at times, so people like you can get something nice like this to say

 

[stevetat]

My issue ? Foreign products are overly mass produced by underpayed people that are starving to live.

Wow...so much BS crammed into a single sentence.

What exactly is OVERLY MASS PRODUCED? Are you implying that mass produced loudspeakers are inferior? Modern automated loudspeaker production equipment is capable of turning out very high quality, consistent product. Probably more consistent than anything assembled by hand. Doesn't matter if the production line is in Shanghai, or Los Angeles...the product coming off the line is going to be identical.

Chinese workers may be underpaid by our standards but most of them have traveled thousands of miles from the outer provinces seeking work and are living a better life than from where they came. They're earning a regular wage, have a roof over their head, have food in their bellies and lead happy and productive lives.

I've visited China over 20 times and visited dozens of loudspeaker factories around the country. Never saw any "starving to live" workers in any of them.

 

[studiomaster]

Wow...so much BS crammed into a single sentence.

What exactly is OVERLY MASS PRODUCED? Are you implying that mass produced loudspeakers are inferior? Modern automated loudspeaker production equipment is capable of turning out very high quality, consistent product. Probably more consistent than anything assembled by hand. Doesn't matter if the production line is in Shanghai, or Los Angeles...the product coming off the line is going to be identical.

Chinese workers may be underpaid by our standards but most of them have traveled thousands of miles from the outer provinces seeking work and are living a better life than from where they came. They're earning a regular wage, have a roof over their head, have food in their bellies and lead happy and productive lives.

I've visited China over 20 times and visited dozens of loudspeaker factories around the country. Never saw any "starving to live" workers in any of them.

Hey guys! whats up with the fight. TheDewd, stop being illogical from your point of views. about the whole monitor situation, blazingstrings is absolutely right. thedewd, no one's perfect like u. your the role-model man...and why the hell are u talking about bluebear? he is 100 times smarter than u..atleast he could develop several articles, but you cant even make up what u want to say.