Studio Speaker Tips

Studio Speakers have been talked about a lot lately. This is another area that has changed with the new music industry and technology advancements. Studio monitoring is definitely a priority. However, the changes are on the room, proofing, speakers available to choose from and also using headphones.

Speakers: Most all consumer systems have EQ curves built into the unit and also offer presets for different styles of music. Professional speakers should have a flat frequency response. I have had great experience with Yamaha HS/NS Series, Event's, M-Audio and Tannoy. The other important factor is the active speaker. These days thats almost all that you can find. Active speakers are speakers that have the powere included in the speaker instead of having to purchase a power amp and the speakers.

Room: These days nearfield monitors are meant to be 'near field'... These speakers are meant to be listened to at conversation levels, moderate levels for mixing. When the volume is jacked up then the overall sound of the room will blur the sound in combination with hearing the speakers 'near' you.

Ideally, you want to be about a foot or two at most away from the speakers, listen at conversation levels, only increase the volume when checking certain frequencies, boomyness, etc. Two things happen at low monitoring levels. The first is the sound doesn't blend with the room sound. The second is that you avoid ear fatigue, can get a balanced mix every time and can work all day if needed.

Proofing: Anyone who tells you that you need to proof a room to get professional sound quality is fibbing... Don't get me wrong, clients love a professionally proofed booth, the look and feel, etc. but these days to start off a studio with a huge investment like that is not the wisest decision. The focus should be making sure you get the greatest sound with the least expense of equipment.

Subwoofers: Subwoofers are more for surround sound or luxury than contributing to a mix. A proofed control room will best help a subwoofer succeed in your studio. Considering surround mixing with DVD audio and video has not caught on in the consumer market, you can put the subwoofer on the back of the priority list as this is the primary use of them. Or if you want to tick of the neighbors or show off they are fun to have. :)

Headphones: To say that you can mix and master in headphones would get much ridicule a few years ago.. Its like a few years ago when DJs using CDs/MP3s would get blasted for straying from vinyl.. Things change especially with technology... These days you can get a great pair of headphones to mix in. If using headphones for mixing, I recommend comparing them with your speakers before finalizing. I personally will use headphones for a lot of production, mixing and mastering while working on the track. Then when its pretty much done I'll listen to it in the speakers to finalize level and subtle details.

At the end of the day, all speakers sound good. It can get old and ridiculous spending time comparing speakers and seeing which ones work the best. The bottom line is making sure they are the right size for your studio, they are active and have a flat frequency response. When I first started using M-Audio's speakers I didn't even listen to them before I bought them. I just checked the specs and the price was perfect for a 2nd pre-production studio. No speaker is perfect or is the ultimate answer to the perfect mix. As with all equipment, you'll need to take time to get to know them, hear what your favorite music sounds like through them, etc. I always listen to music in my speakers throughout the day. This drastically reduces the time to get to know your speakers.

In summary, check the specs for a flat frequency response, make sure the price and size is in your budget, post questions here too... but bottom line is that many of the active speakers available today will do the trick.

I have added a few different types of speakers reviews under the video section
M-Audio BX5a
Yamaha HS80