the price of studio monitors

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Apr 2007 8:45 pm

Randy that's similar to the classic Auratone cube speakers
used for that similar purpose.

One VERY good reason to have a good full range monitor
when tracking is to be sure what IS down there.

Brad refers to it a s 'Junk In The Trunk'.
If you do your tracking on a little box, you can't tell what is happening below your speakers cut off point.

This can leave lots of rumble you THOUGHT you rolled off,
and the power amp will try and reproduce that too
in the real world, but the small speakers can't.

This translates to distortion at lower than expected levels.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 5 Apr 2007 3:48 am

part way home now. I just won a pair of
Behringer 2031 P's from eBay, 8.75" driver.
I think my low end is covered. got them for 109$.
I am bidding on a power amp now.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 5 Apr 2007 5:47 am

Good deal they are on sale at Universon in Paris for
179 euros or at least $225~US.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 5 Apr 2007 6:06 pm

For several years, I used a Pioneer receiver with a big pair of Sony 4-way speakers as my studio system. Worked fine for me. I've gone to an active pair of Event TR8-XL monitors now. I think I paid about $600 for the pair new. As long as you're able to get a good finished product, it doesn't matter what you use. If you know that your system is going to add a lot of bass, you can adjust for that with your EQ during mixdown. If you know that your system will add on the high end, you can adjust for that. You really need to listen to your mix on several different systems anyway. In the studio, in the car, in the living room, etc...

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 6 Apr 2007 7:35 am

all right! I just won a power amp I was bidding on.
a Peavey 500. lightly used. 175$

picked up a SM57 the other day for 59$.

getting there.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 6 Apr 2007 7:41 am

You'll like the 57 for certain things, like micing an amplifier. But I don't think it will get you very far on vocals. You'll want to get a Studio Projects C1 for vocals. Less than $200 on ebay. If you don't want to spend that much, a Behringer B1 sounds nearly as good for less than $100 - or a brand new one for exactly $100 from most of the online music stores.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 6 Apr 2007 7:51 am

Gary. I should have added that I intend to use the SM57 for instrument miking. I agree , it is not the ideal for a voice mike.
dorbo, oud, uke, and any other non- electric acoustic I have.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 6 Apr 2007 7:53 am

Cool!
What the crap is an oud?

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 6 Apr 2007 7:54 am

Oh. Never mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oud.jpg

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 6 Apr 2007 7:57 am

You know, I've used my C1 on guitars and other acoustic instruments too. Sounds really good. If you put it up over your shoulder when playing, it records exactly what you hear as the player. And if you combine the mic with a pickup and mix them to a single mono track, you can adjust the mix to get any combination of fat acoustic mellow sound (from the mic) and pick attack / bright sound (from the pickup).

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 6 Apr 2007 8:44 am

Gary Shepherd wrote:Cool!
What the crap is an oud?

here are my ouds.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 Apr 2007 9:32 am

I have an Oud also.

But wouldn't think of using a 57 on it.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 6 Apr 2007 12:00 pm

Gary,
what`s your verdict on the Event speakers ?
I like the price already..

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 6 Apr 2007 12:11 pm

Randy Reeves wrote:Gary. I should have added that I intend to use the SM57 for instrument miking. I agree , it is not the ideal for a voice mike.
dorbo, oud, uke, and any other non- electric acoustic I have.

The SM57 works well for amplifiers, but it doesn't sound all that great for acoustic instruments. It doesn't capture the high frequency overtones very well. It gives an acoustic guitar (or oud) a darker tone that what you'd usually want on a recording.

The SM57 excels in high sound pressure applications, like miking a guitar amp on stage.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 6 Apr 2007 12:34 pm

the literature Ive read says it is great for instruments....
I do plan on experimenting too. thanks for the input guys.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 Apr 2007 8:11 pm

Randy...
remember the literature is written by the sales department...

The 57 was designed in the 60's as a mic that worked well with the Sure Vocalmaster PA,
a pair of columns with 5-6 8" speakers no bass and no tweeters to speak of.

So it emphasized the range that this poor PA
could actually put out,
without blowing up the too small power amp in it...

Needless to say the design criteria was not for
full faithful reproduction of wide band signals.

Your average home computer speaker is more accurate that a Vocalmaster.

Yes lets get some reviews on these speakers
coming into the mix.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 8 Apr 2007 10:34 am

thanks for the insightful post. once the mike arrives I will be exploring what it can do.
in my mind, all things have some type of quality to it.
as an artist I try to use that bit to my advantage.
so I will see about the Shure SM57 , for sure.

and I will let you know too.