recording with no monitors? can i use a reciever and center speaker or.......

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videodrone

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Im recording with no monitors for playback, Can I use a normal center speaker (from a home stereo) for play back? I also have the left/right speakers too. The big tall ones that go with a stereo system, should I use all 3 or just 2 or what for the best play back? should I make all the EQ leveled? Or should I listen to a CD on there and tweak teh CD till when it sounds perfect and then use those levels and EQ to monitor my mix?

I know I wont get a accurate mix or even close to accurate mis with this but I want to get as close as possible.

any other suggestions would be appreciated!!!

thanks ahead of time
 
I was in the same situation as you for a while. I was a victim of economics and had to do the best I could. I used a set of decent stereo speakers as reference monitors, although they are not REAL reference monitors. I played cd`s and lp`s and tried to adjust the system so it wasn`t enhancing the sound of the music in the bass area or high frequency area, or as closely as I could by ear. A set of headphones is a good backup and can be used as a second opinion as well. Since you got "big tall speakers" you might want to keep them at least 4 to 6 ft away from you and at least 6 ft apart at ear level. Don`t use a center speaker, you wont be able to discern the stereo field. If you are serious about recording, Id read as much information as I could in the MIXING/MASTERING forum, ask more questions, and look into buying a set of monitors that you can afford ASAP, that are recommended by experienced users.
 
thanks man!

I think Ill go with your suggestions, as for the listening to a Cd on the stereo and trying to adjust the EQ, what should I adjust to?

Should I tweak the EQ so the Cd sounds the best? or would I EQ it so it the bass is low or other certain EQs are flatter than others?
 
Your stereo speakers are designed to sound good, which usually means that the midrange is deemphasized. If you track using these speakers your music will sound fine, but will probably sound too midrangey on other systems. That's one example of why studio monitors are so important.

However, if you must do without them, what you can do is take your favorite, well produced CD and record a representative sample of it to cassette (or another CD if you have a bunch of blank ones) using EQ to get the best sound possible. Then, play that tape on other systems (other stereos, car, boombox, pc, etc) and note the difference in sound quality. Go back to your original EQ settings and make adjustments and re-record the CD sample. Do this over and over until your EQ'd sample sounds best on all systems.

Now you have EQ settings that make the sound coming out of your stereo speakers a little closer to flat. Use this as a filter for getting good sounds to tape and playback monitoring.

This method is a real pain in the ass, and you still won't get as good results as with nearfield studio monitors (what you hear will also be tainted by the audio going through the eq), but this is an improvement over just using stereo speakers alone. Only use the left and right speakers too as Toki said.

Once you have the sound you want to track with, then you can shut off the speakers and record using headphones.

Cy
 
so would you suggest setting the EQs on my reciever ALL FLAT???
 
I guess I must've misread your question. I assumed you had a separate eq unit as opposed to just having eq levels on your stereo receiver.

Try the settings all flat. Record a sample of the song you are recording, and listen to it on other playback systems. If the recording sounds like it has too much midrange, then you will want to boost the midrange level on your eq settings to compensate for the lack of midrange your speakers project. Keep doing this until it sounds good on all playback systems. Repeat the process for bass and treble frequencies.

Cy
 
I've been doing dsomething similiar for years now. I'm still using my stereo as an amplifier. I just bought some Yorkville monitors. The little reciever pushes em just fine, and I also have a convienient way to listen to CDS through my studio rig. But if you can, you should ditch the stereo speakers, and flatten the EQ on your reciever.
 
you can rent an eq monitor. They use them for car audio competitions to make sure the sound in teh car is flat. As your nearest car audio place and they'll be able to help you out. The rental should be cheap ($25/day)

Just a thought
 
you might want to put some thought into the room your listening in as well. The room itself can fool you by accenting or subduing frequencies from your playback system.
 
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