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Hello everyone.

Long time fan, first post.

Just looking for opinions... I have been a long-time fan of inexpensive gear, not just because of economics, but also because it's fun to create "professional" results with "pro-consumer" equipment. In many ways its the content (and the engeneer), not the equpiment used that is most important...
(Not that I'm "all that" or anything... Just an enthusiast with a few years under my belt)

Over the years I have had the opportunity to mix on a number of different monitors made by Tannoy, Event, Alesis, JBL and Yamaha.

When I decided to set up my own home project studio a number of years ago, I did the research and after much deliberation, deciced to give the Samson Rubicon r6a a try. Best monitors I've ever used. Maybe it's because I know them so well now, but I'm getting better translation from them than any other monitor I've used. No sub, just a stereo pair with a Samson C Control (for volume control and an easy way to switch to my homemade grot-boxes) and an M-Audio Delta 44.

Anyone else have any experience/love/hate for these things?

...Andrew

Comments

RemyRAD Thu, 11/29/2012 - 00:01

One of my home-based clients asked me about a pair of speakers for his home studio in the bedroom. I recommended the KRK line of monitors. Instead, he got what you have. And for such an inexpensive, Chinese made, powered monitor, I actually found them quite good, given what they are. As you said, these translate everything well for you and that's the most important thing not what the specifications are or what anybody else tells you to get.

In fact I'm a lot like you. Today, I have the best of the best but 40 years ago I didn't. And 40 years ago, the low-end stuff was pretty underwhelming. Nevertheless, like you said and like I say, it's not what you've got but what you do with it that counts. It's mostly based upon engineering chops not gear. And since you already know that, you are way way ahead of the pack. I also feel that having compromised equipment actually makes one a better engineer. It makes you a better engineer because you have none of the sonic advantages that a truly fine piece of equipment has to offer. And any professional can make a professional recording on virtually any equipment that works. All bets are off if the equipment doesn't work well.

So what really is your question? Do you want somebody to tell you to replace those speakers? If you do? You've already got my suggestion. But there really isn't any need to do that. I'm still using my favorite monitor speakers that I've been using since 1978. Now those are the bigger ones. It's in your best interest to also have a pair of smaller monitors. And nothing fancy. I have three pairs of smaller alternate monitors in the same control room. This is so that we can compare what it will sound like coming out of a small average system. It has to sound the same whether it's coming out the little speakers the bigger speakers or the biggest speakers. And that's part of the art of mixing. That has nothing to do with fun to play with plug-ins and other software thingies.

You can see your way correctly. You have a special knowledge already built-in. Other folks don't know how to justify that. They can only hear with their eyes looking at specifications and data sheets. And while there's lots of better stuff out there, where's it going to end up anyhow? IPod and earbuds? Right. An MP3 download? Yeah. Ultimate sonic purity? Who the hell needs it? No one really. Just the folks that have lots of box that can afford to have it. I mean I was stupid. I could've bought a house for cash for what I sunk into my business. So now the only home I have is a Remote Truck Crowmobile.com and the 25-year-old RV I'm now living in. Didn't think I'd be here at 57 years of age? But that's sort of how this business goes. I really don't know anyone, even really successful folks who have multiple gold, platinum records whose studios, didn't go bust more than once. So it's all fun and games in this business. Good luck to you.

You're smart.
Mx. Remy Ann David

drubu Sat, 12/01/2012 - 08:06

Well, what I'm asking is whether or not anyone else uses these monitors... For me and my purposes, they are perfect. I am very satisfied with these monitors, just wondering if I should be. People really seem to turn their noses up to "budget" lines of equipment... and rightly so in many cases. But every now and then, a a cheap piece of gear will pop up and just do the job right.

Would I replace them? No, not for monitors that cost $1000 more... I don't see that as a wise return of investment. Not for the marginal improvement I may or may not observe. $5000 - $10,000 more? Hell yeah, and a new control room with better sound treatment, etc.

Of course, then I'd have to learn how a whole new system sounds/translates...

I guess the point I'm making here is one that has been made elsewhere as well... It's not what you are using, it's how you use it.

And to see if anyone else uses these with good results.

...Andrew

RemyRAD Sat, 12/01/2012 - 21:10

And I answered your question Andrew. And like a good little audio engineer, you're not listening. And, so, I'm hired frequently to go, record and mix this client of mine, on his system, record and mix other clients on their systems with the same monitors and I've come up with marvelous sounding mixes because they are reasonable low-cost monitors to use. I didn't find much ear fatigue as I have on some very nice and costlier others.

Would I replace those monitors with others costing $1000 more? HELL YEAH! Simply, they are tools and if they work, then they are tools and they work. And I thought they sounded much better than many other cheap monitors I've heard or worked upon. What do ya think I've been doing this for three months as a career like you? I've seen, heard and worked on, just about everything, audio. I'm not a consumer wannabe I'm a professional. So you want to know if there are other engineers like myself that would advise you to purchase something else? Hell yeah! If you want to buy yourself a new present for Christmas, do it. Because you will find that those $1000 more ones, may very well sound better to you? And they may in fact sound of Stan surely better because they do. Does Alan Size $36,000 monitor system sound better than a $1500 monitor system? Hell yeah! To the people who can afford it. And so even though my control room is on a caliber with those monitors, I don't use those monitors. Not because I don't or didn't have the money for those monitors. It's fine if you are in competition to display your goldplated phallus in competition with someone else's goldplated phallus? So I work in someone's very well appointed studio, I enjoy using the goldplated phallus monitor systems installed. Generally though, most of us use console top pilot fish. So your monitors are completely fine. If there recordings already translate well to other playback systems, you've got a winning monitor system there for your work. I mean hell, Bob Clear mountain cut most all of his hits on a cheap pair of speakers. Where because of its shrill high frequency response tweeter, he stuck a piece of toilet paper over the tweeters. Then everybody started putting toilet paper on their tweeters because they knew that's what you needed to record and produce a hit with. But one thing Bob never revealed? What brand of toilet paper to use? And so it's not just important to note what brand of toilet paper but whether it was one or two ply? Because if you don't know what toilet paper to use, you'll be left scratching your ass, wondering why your ass itches? Of course that is simple to answer. You should have used more toilet paper the last time you went to the bathroom but ran out because of all the speakers you are modifying.

So there's a good reason not to replace your current monitor system because you wouldn't want to be caught with your pants down and no toilet paper.

Wax on... Wax off
Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD Sun, 12/02/2012 - 18:35

I was like discussing the challenges and it yammering about equipment. Everybody's perceptions are so different from each other, there is no right, there is no wrong. There is only what fits. And whatever allows ya to get the job done. Some control rooms are designed as black-tie events. And they cater to those. Others are in Billy Bob's basement and who brought the beer? I mean for the most part here, the largest group of people are recording rock 'n roll and other avant-garde pop music. Few people here are recording symphonic and operatic productions on a scale higher than enthusiast. And let's face it... a good chunk of rock 'n roll relies upon all sorts of distortion. So who cares if the equipment adds a little of its own? It's only rock 'n roll and I like it, like it, yes I do. Does all rock 'n roll today need to sound like it has been 100% automated and mechanized? I really don't think so? I mean there's different demographics that cater to different demographics and you can't just slather on a one-size-fits-all scenario in this business.

Of course as Chris, the site owner here indicated, my recording and engineering skills are living in the 70s & 80s. To which I think he may very well be correct? So? Are there people still playing bluegrass? What about Opera? Some good get down knee slappin' gospel? The whole world isn't rock 'n roll and the whole world really doesn't care what equipment you use. They just want something they can comfortably listen to. And comfortably may not entirely equate to state-of-the-art? I mean don't we still see a lot of old-school antique design microphone preamps that are still highly desirable? Of course we do. And we see plenty of that other state-of-the-art stuff also. I mean I think a Stingray is a lot more state-of-the-art than my Chevy Van but that doesn't mean that I would trade my Chevy van for a Stingray. Well... now you got me thinking? Screw everything I said.

I'll take the Stingray
Mx. Remy Ann David