monitoring on the cheap

[sathyan]

If you couldn't afford even the cheapest active monitor ($200) , how would you do monitoring:

1. Grado headphones (freq. response 20Hz-20kHz)

or

2. home stereo (Onkyo amplification, speakers freq. response 28Hz to 20kHz)


The two performers need to be monitoring the mix, so if headphones are used, how do I get both connected to the single headphone output on the mixer, just use a splitter (RS #274-313) or something else? Or for speakers, how to minimize feedback?

Sathyan

 

[Gidge]

for mixing, home stereo.....

headphones suck for getting a stereo image and setting time based effects.....

set the EQ flat if possible....


as for recording, headphones are ideal for the very reason of leakage if you are recording with microphones....if going direct, speakers are ok to and may be more comfortable for the performers....

 

[mshilarious]

You are really asking two different questions. For monitoring during tracking, use headphones, get a headphone amp. Rolls makes a cheap one with four headphone outputs.

For mixing, you need to use speakers. Use whatever you have for now, but be aware that frequency response range does not necessarily coincide with a flat frequency response. Thus your stereo speakers will probably not be flat. Be aware of that bias and try to quantify it by listening to albums that you are familiar with on them. Adjust your mixes accordingly.

While you work on that, save your money for better monitors. While you are saving your money, read these boards religiously to learn what better monitors are and what advantages they will bring you.

 

[Hawking]

If you are tracking, you can use the Radio Shack splitter and run 2 sets of headphones. Don't worry about their quality. More important is that they are of the 'closed' variety. You don't want the sound from the headphones leaking (bleeding) into the signal you're trying to record.

As for monitors... You can use your home stereo speakers under the following condition. Promise yourself you'll buy a good set of monitors very soon, and make sure you are very familiar with how your speakers sound. The point of monitors (near feild monitors) is to let you know what was actually recorded. They shouldn't try to make your music sound good. If they did that, your music would only sound good on your monitors and not your next door neighbors, or the guy down the street. Listen to some professionally recorded music through your speakers at a decent volume and try to make your mixes sound like that. Then, when you have something mixed, hop in your car and try it there. Then go to you buddy's house and try it on his stereo. The idea is to get an idea of what happens on different systems.