Z
zook250
New member
i second the sub idea. made a big improvement in my mixes. i have ysm1's and an athena sub.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
Here's some help for setting up monitors: buy a test CD (I got one at <www.tmenet.com/audio> but the page is unavailable at the moment) and a SPL meter (<http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_011_008_004_000&Page=1> for a $50 Radio Shack model). Set the meter up on a camera tripod (or duct-tape it to a stool, whatever) and take SPL readings for the frequency bands on the test CD. Then move everything around until each band is as close as possible to the others in dB. For the sub, use its crossover/volume knobs to adjust. [If you're like me, who adjusted the sub until it "sounds right" you may be amazed at how much hotter the bottom is than it needs to be!]. Now you've spent about $65 and you have tools that will allow you to set up monitors wherever you go. This technique will not turn poor boxes into Genelecs but they will be more accurately reflecting what's on the hard drive (or tape).
K
kylen
New member
Do what Querty mentioned and all the other folks talking about the room, don't buy anything except a Radio Shack SPL, a Behringer ECM8000 omni measuring mic ($40), and use the free Virtual minirator http://www.nt-instruments.com/minirator/ as well as the free Inspector RTA spectrum http://elementalaudio.com/products/inspector/index.html
Go to any acoustics site you can find, Ethan Winer, John Sayers, Homerecording and study what folks do with bottom end problems (< 300Hz) the toughest area to tame !
I've got those Alesis M1's and you've got to get them away from any wall - mine are 3 feet away from anything, I've got some 703 in a sort of gobo configuration as well as a couch for a bass trap - hehe it doesn't have to cost a whole lot to make some great improvements. But you do have to take some time to look at room modes and find the best position for your monitors and your ears in the room. M1's are nearfields so if you get the room set up a bit you can use a relatively tight listening pattern (3-4 foot triangle) so things will begin to translate better. Then gradually improve on equipment as time moves on and budgets increase. Right now it will mostly cost you time to get a big bang for the buck I'm guessing !
PS: I just remembered Ethan Winer has a cool article in this months' EQ magazine (Feb2004) on this very topic !
Go to any acoustics site you can find, Ethan Winer, John Sayers, Homerecording and study what folks do with bottom end problems (< 300Hz) the toughest area to tame !
I've got those Alesis M1's and you've got to get them away from any wall - mine are 3 feet away from anything, I've got some 703 in a sort of gobo configuration as well as a couch for a bass trap - hehe it doesn't have to cost a whole lot to make some great improvements. But you do have to take some time to look at room modes and find the best position for your monitors and your ears in the room. M1's are nearfields so if you get the room set up a bit you can use a relatively tight listening pattern (3-4 foot triangle) so things will begin to translate better. Then gradually improve on equipment as time moves on and budgets increase. Right now it will mostly cost you time to get a big bang for the buck I'm guessing !
PS: I just remembered Ethan Winer has a cool article in this months' EQ magazine (Feb2004) on this very topic !
