Monitors

[MDV]

which ones did you get in the end?

Who me, or jonny?

We both got Adam A7s with a Sub 8 8)

[Davey]

ah, cool

[Johnny Mac]

Last night I was clicking through the 7000 odd sounds in the NI software via Kore 2 and found a huge selection of sub bass VSTs. Mary Mother of God, my whole flat was resonating without even going over board on volume or frequency! It's ffing mental this set up, i'm constantly thinking about it and things to do with it. I could make sub bass CDs at a fiver a pop for 'Carlos Fandango' and his boy racer mates for their sub bass Binatones in their Mum's cars  :lol:

That tool for setting up the monitors sounds very interesting. The method sounds exactly like a physics class experiment. I'm well up for a go.

I'm finally getting all the audio and midi signals where I want them now. It's been a hard few weeks. I've never used a Mac before now either. I've been like a mad proffessor and a feel like one now as well. The problem I'm up against now is time. I was up till 12:30 last night and back up at 4.50 for work. I need a breather for..... No way breather more studio play, I'm an addict now.  :D

[MDV]

Dude, you want to minimise those room modes!

Start working on the treatment and tuning a listening position for level EQ and equal stereo field! position them wherever they go (move furniture is required!) to get them as level as possible with equal reflections from either side, then bass traps and absorbtion/dispersion/both at main reflection points as priority!

[Denim n Leather]

Threadnomancy!! :)

[Johnny Mac]

Dude, you want to minimise those room modes!

Start working on the treatment and tuning a listening position for level EQ and equal stereo field! position them wherever they go (move furniture is required!) to get them as level as possible with equal reflections from either side, then bass traps and absorbtion/dispersion/both at main reflection points as priority!

I need a pair of stands then the reflective stuff. I can get loads of
Kingspan expanded foam insulation from sites at work. Is that any good?

[MDV]

Maybe, maybe not. I went with the stuff I used because there was data on its absorbtion coefficients with respect to frequency, and I went for what would work for what I was using it for - I wouldnt trust anything that doesnt have the measurements behind it, but it may be good, and if you can get it for nothing, whats to lose?

[Johnny Mac]

Maybe, maybe not. I went with the stuff I used because there was data on its absorbtion coefficients with respect to frequency, and I went for what would work for what I was using it for - I wouldnt trust anything that doesnt have the measurements behind it, but it may be good, and if you can get it for nothing, whats to lose?

Good point. I am a bit of a chancer. Perhaps in this case I'll get the right product. I'll try and remember to post a photo of the room tonight to illustrate how awkward this room is!

[_tom_]

Tom, I've heard some of your stuff and it seems to translate pretty well to my B&Ws; its bass heavy and dulled in general, overheads are too loud and theres a lot of bass (as in the instrument, previously I meant low end in general), but maybe thats what youre going for, but they're not bad...I havent heard them on my adams though; that often tells a very different story ;)

Newer stuff in your link is a lot better than last I heard you, too, so well done!

Listen to clutch much ;)

Thanks for the "appraisal" :D Glad to hear I'm getting better. I've just finished uni and hopefully got a bit of work lined up so will finally be able to afford some monitors, better software (drums, mostly) and get back into writing music a bit more now I'm home with all my lovely guitar gear :P A bass might help as well, I'm still using pitch shifted guitar through amplitube!

I'm not really going for a bass-heavy mix, just even/consistent and hopefully clear. But the sort of stuff I do does lend itself a bit better to heavier bass, I suppose.

As for Clutch, I'm not actually a big fan despite what my riffage may suggest!

[Johnny Mac]

Here's a pic of my room. Note the right monitor is on the desk and the left is on the floor until i get some stands. The sub is on a shelf on the desk under the keyboard. I think that maybe better on the floor.

[MDV]

Thats a tricky one because of all the cupboards, which you clearly need much less than a well tuned, sweet sounding listening position!

[Johnny Mac]

Thats a tricky one because of all the cupboards, which you clearly need much less than a well tuned, sweet sounding listening position!

Yes those cupboards are needed. We live in rabbit hutches down here in London! I'm going to be perched on the end of the bed in front of the screen most of the time. Does it matter if the sub is down on the floor? Some of the 5.1 home cinema systems have the sub out of the way so I wondered if it's ok for a monitor sub.

Terrible news from your end of the country Mark. 

[MDV]

Shame...its gonna be hard to place them really well with them there.

I would probably try, given the shape of the room and the presence of the cupboards, getting them the same distance from the wall and the cupboard, sticking some absorbtion on the walls and the cupboard door, bass trapping the corners that dont have cupboards in (which assuming you took the photo from the doorway seems to be one corner!) and hoping that the cuboards actually help trap a bit of low end and reflections.

Youre clearly pushed for space in that little corner, but I'd try and keep the monitors away from the side walls and close to the back wall (in contradiction with much common wisdom I've found that works well in small rooms: the alternative, and best way in bigger rooms is usually to have them well into the room so the speakers are at nodal points in the rooms resonant modes, so they cancel the modes to a degree).

At least the room isnt very symmetrical, so maybe you dont have massive modes to deal with, which is something at least.

And, yeah, its a horrible thing; I was slightly aquanted with one guy that was killed and one that was shot (two of the cabbies). Just knew them to say hi to, been in there taxis quite a few times. Nice guys.

[Johnny Mac]

Shame...its gonna be hard to place them really well with them there.

I would probably try, given the shape of the room and the presence of the cupboards, getting them the same distance from the wall and the cupboard, sticking some absorbtion on the walls and the cupboard door, bass trapping the corners that dont have cupboards in (which assuming you took the photo from the doorway seems to be one corner!) and hoping that the cuboards actually help trap a bit of low end and reflections.

Youre clearly pushed for space in that little corner, but I'd try and keep the monitors away from the side walls and close to the back wall (in contradiction with much common wisdom I've found that works well in small rooms: the alternative, and best way in bigger rooms is usually to have them well into the room so the speakers are at nodal points in the rooms resonant modes, so they cancel the modes to a degree).

At least the room isnt very symmetrical, so maybe you dont have massive modes to deal with, which is something at least.

And, yeah, its a horrible thing; I was slightly aquanted with one guy that was killed and one that was shot (two of the cabbies). Just knew them to say hi to, been in there taxis quite a few times. Nice guys.

Cheers Mark  :D

I'll have to have a good look into these ideas. With regards to the sub, I've got it on the bottom shelf of the desk which obviously vibrates a lot. Would it be ok on the floor (concrete), but that would mean the cone would be lower and have more of the bed in its way. In 5.1 set ups, subs can be hidden behind sofas ect and they still sound good.

Sorry to hear about your sad news Mark. 

[MDV]

It would be much better to put it on the floor.

I dont buy that sub location thing, behind sofas and shite. I've had subs in corners and behind stuff, and yeah, really low frequencies have no direction and yada yada, but I'v heard far more clarity, note resolution and punch with the sub infront of me, in between the speakers, facing into the room. World of difference, actually. In stereo resolution as well.

As far as putting it on stuff - you dont want to have it on anything thats going to vibrate in sympathy with it, like desks and stuff.

And thanks :)