next?

[TrondC]

ok, I got a nice little home setup (Machinedrum UW and Monomachine mk2's, ESX, Acidlab Bassline1, KP3 and the latest addition, the Korg Zero 4 mixer that also doubles as an audio interface) , looking for the "boring" things now. still don't have to make it a better "studio":

-monitors
-a dedicated music computer/mac
-a nice, flexible recording/music software

theese are things I'd probably want for tidy, creative and productive music making with anything that resembles good quality, but I'm not sure what to get first. I believe in investing in quality, which is why I have the elektrons instead of 12 elektrons, boss samplers and danelectro pedals (been there).

however, I have little experience with buying monitors, and hope for some advice from you nice guys and gals.
Also not sure if the Zero will cut it as an audio interface, I do have the Audio Kontrol 1 still, but will sell that to fund the monitors if the Zero does indeed work well as an audio interface.

anything else I should look for/consider getting? I am hoping to minimize the amounts of gear, and I am pretty sure I'll get my bass needs from a future Voyager RME, and more "round" sounding poly sound from a Virus or Nord Modular 2, but I need to get monitors and a good recording solution first...

any thought from all you experienced users are welcome

[Syn303]

however, I have little experience with buying monitors, and hope for some advice.

anything else I should look for/consider getting? I am hoping to minimize the amounts of gear, and I am pretty sure I'll get my bass needs from a future Voyager RME, and more "round" sounding poly sound from a Virus or Nord Modular 2, but I need to get monitors and a good recording solution first...

any thought from all you experienced users are welcome

I had a Voyager RME, it never met my bass needs, although the Minimax suits my bass needs far better, and it was half of what the Voyager costs and still delivers those moog bass and lead sounds.

Monitors - you have different kinds: Reference Monitors, Nearfield Monitors, Passive Monitors and Active Monitors.

Reference Monitors or Studio Monitors - are loudspeakers specifically designed for audio production applications such as recording, film, television and radio studios.

Nearfield Monitors are designed for use in the recording studio for general monitoring purposes and for mixing.

Passive Monitors require an amplifier for their power output. Usually it is best ot start off with Passive Monitors before upgrading to better monitoring equipment. However passive monitors are better for your budget purposes.

Active Monitors require no amplifier, they have a seperate amplifier for each driver, or one monitor has an amplifier which feeds both drivers of the Monitors.

[Ianh]

Price range is very Important... but from what you have said it sounds like you are going for reasonable cost, good quality.
What I would recomend:

Moniters:
Mackie Mr5/MR8 (depending on your needs)
Tapco s 5/s 8 (also depending on your needs)
Genelec (if your feeling like spending money)

I use a Macbook pro and like it alot. And would really only recommend getting a Mac. Just remember music production takes a lot of power so just get the most powerful for your money. People will be able to help you at an apple store.

As for DAW I would recomend either protools or logic. If you get protools you will need to change your Audio Interface.

Protools:
M-audio Profire 2626
M-box 2 Pro
(remeber M-box stuff comes with protools but M-audio m-powered is like 200-300 bucks.)

If you go with logic or something else you can keep your set up. but here are some other Audio interfaces I would recomend
Logic:
Apogee Duet
Profire 2626
Presonus (something)

Hope this helps.
ian

[futureworlder]

Genelecs sound like wet dog food next to Adams. get a pair of A7's; the 5's are nice, but they won't do the heavy lifting the 7's will. Yes, they're expensive, but probably the most important (and least considered) piece of gear in your entire studio is your monitors; a flat reference will not hide or flatter a bad mix, which is something you want to avoid. next up, get a (fairly) decent compressor and learn how to use it. all else is window dressing.

[TrondC]

ok, thanx for all the suggestions. seems there are lots of things about sound and the different kinds of monitors out there I still have to learn (will have a wikipedia session soon )

the thing is, I'm not looking for the "ultimate" monitor system, but a versatile system that can be used for multiple purposes. Basically, in the end, me and my girlfriend want a system of monitors/speakers/whatever that can be used both for making music, production, listening to CD's and acting as speakers for our TV. I know that I may ask the impossible, but a system that allows all this would be awesome

and yes, I am willing to spend a decent dough for a system that can be used also for cd-players and tv and whatnot.. any audio source really

..and a compressor.. hm, more to learn, but I guess that also pays off in the long run.

thanx again:)

[futureworlder]

if you're looking for a really great "bang for buck" sound system that can be used to monitor mixes and general listening, I'd look at either going with a pro-sumer level system or splitting the duties between two pairs of speakers. Reason being is that monitors with a flat-response can increase ear fatigue over time and become difficult to listen to, often resulting in "creeping levels" where you push certain frequencies or tracks higher than they need to be because your ears are tired.

OTOH, traditional "speakers" can color the sound to where things like phasing or even phase cancellation occur, resulting in a much "nicer" sound, but not something you'd necessarily want to mix on because coloring and boost & cut architectures work great for soundtracks, etc where the jet engines and rockets BOOM across the screen, but bass-boost will result in a limp, bass-deficient mix because the speakers were adding low frequencies to your music; tricking your ears into believing the track had enough thump.

so, if you're not looking to invest in an "ultimate monitor system" just yet, I'd suggest this solution: get a set of KRK Rockit 6 or 8's, with or without the sub, as these will give you the flat response you want, with the advantage of a forward-loading bass port located beneath the woofer; this is a great feature as it gives a more immediate and tighter bass response as opposed to other designs where the port is located in the rear of the cab, causing a sloppier response and quicker ear fatigue (rear porting bass cabinets are also a nuisance to deal with when acoustically treating / deadening a room, especially if you've got them located in the corners where most reflections can occur). I also like the kevlar woofers and the dome tweeters are nice and bright. you can push the Rockits harder in the lows as compared to a more highend system like Genelecs or Adams, which could easily be damaged from extended bass-heavy mixing and peaks from an un-gated audio source. Since you seem a little complacent about getting a compressor right away, I'd recommend a lower-end system that might not give the detail or response the $$$ solutions will, but will take alot of abuse while you're becoming more familiar with what and what not to do when mixing. When you're a little more seasoned in the studio, then take some of the money you've saved by starting with the KRKs and get the Adams.

The KRKs also sound ace on soundtracks, movies and cds, just not as "colorful" as say a pair of Advents or Infinitys would; though you can't accurately mix on those so it's a pretty good trade-off.

[pflosi]

I use the adam a7 for all purposes - mixing, mastering, listening, movies, internet, etc. I love them and will never give them away. they have a very decent sound in the highs. Other good monitors are the yamaha hs series, they are a little more bassy than the adam a7. the krk stuff is pretty good too, for it's $.

Good monitor speakers is one of the three main points to get a good mix / master - the other 2 being a good room and experience. thus i'd really recommend to get some

[Stab Frenzy]

I use Yamaha MSP5As for everything, they're excellent and very versatile monitors and are pretty cheap. The MSP7s look good too if you need a bit more volume or bass response. IMO the MSP series are a lot better than the HS series, I used both of them side by side in a studio I worked at and the HSes sounded like hifi speakers to me, that didn't have the depth or clarity of the MSPs at all.

That said the MSP5As have a very clinical top end which is great for seeing into your vocal area and doing corrective EQ but not as great for just listening to music on. I've been using the MSP5As for 5+ years now though, mixed quite a few albums on them and know them inside out.

I've used various Genelecs a lot at the studios I've worked in, they're accurate but on the verge of being shrill, to the point where you might find yourself pulling out high frequencies just cause you're sick of hearing them. I spent a bit of time mixing on KRK V6s, they were like the opposite in that they just sounded like good hifi speakers. They might be quite accurate but I didn't really like mixing on them because the things that needed work in the mix didn't jump out at me like they do on the Yamahas or the Gennies.

Briefly used A7s and Dynaudio BM6As, they were both really good but didn't use them enough to get a real sense of them, but I'd be looking at them if I had that much cash to spend on new monitors.

The main thing with monitors I think is that you spend time learning what they sound like in your room. There isn't really a 'best' monitor, just the one you like the most. If I were you I'd take in a few tracks you've been working on to a place with a few of the monitors you're interesting in and have a listen to make up your own mind. Remember you're not going for the ones that make your stuff sound the best, you're going for the ones that allow you to hear the most accurate picture of your music.

For your music computer either get a Macbook Pro or an iMac, depending on if you need the portability of a laptop or not. You only need a Mac Pro if you're running PCI-e stuff like PT HD, otherwise you can get more computing power for way less cost from an iMac.

If I were you I'd check out Live for your software, I think it'd suit your music perfectly. Very flexible and intuitive to use. There's a free demo available from Ableton's website. http://www.ableton.com

[TrondC]

woha.. to much to swallow for a hobbyist like me... :p will try to have theese in mind when I go to buy, seems I'm leaning for a mid-end all-rounder this time. also something that I won't need an amp for.

and I'm ordering the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook too, will try to learn something this time

[matia]

ummm the Genelec 1030a's i've got can take a mauling and sound incredible with or without a sub.