Monitoring through a home stereo????

[branded]

Hey! everyone

I've been monitoring my mixes through my stereo, I have my
recorder connected to the auxillary. When I mix a song I turn
all the pre sets off. I can get the mix to sound pretty good through the stereo but when I play it in a different stereo it sounds different like the bass is not so defined and the guitars
sound sharp. Could monitoring through a stereo cause this to
happen???????

 

[Cyrokk]

The problem is you are monitoring through stereo speakers. Stereo speakers are intended to sound good, not necessarily accurate. And since most stereo speakers do not carry the same frequency response, your mixes will sound different on different speakers.

What you need to monitor through is studio monitors, which have a flat, or near flat frequency response. Learning to mix using studio monitors will make your mixes sound similar on most stereo systems.

As this topic is covered extensively on this bbs, do a search on monitors as to the benefits of their use, and suggestions of what monitors to buy.

Cy

 

[branded]

I have acces to a pair of JBL 15 inch amplified pa speakers, would this be good?

 

[Cyrokk]

Although I have never heard JBL, I am inclined to say no. The monitors I am referring to are called nearfield monitors. Some popular brands of nearfields are Event, Tannoy, KRK, and Yorkville.

It wouldnt hurt to try the pa speakers though (when in doubt, experiment). There have been instances when unconventional monitors have provided excellent results.

Cy

 

[jake-owa]

I have acces to a pair of JBL 15 inch amplified pa speakers, would this be good?

No, those PA speakers will be a horrible way to mix accurately. JBL makes some decent old school studio and reference monitors though.

 

[jmproductions]

I can get the mix to sound pretty good through the stereo but when I play it in a different stereo it sounds different like the bass is not so defined and the guitars
sound sharp.

Another approach that may be a little less expensive is to buy a Dual 15 or 31 band EQ and level your home sound system to something a little more neutral. Flattening the response by ear is something that may take a long time to refine but is definitely worth the education. By playing with the faders on a large mutli-band EQ you will begin to familiarize yourself with the different frequencies which is an essential skill development for recording.

Joel