Mortifix wrote: Right now I have an EMX860st and 2 non-powered Yamaha speakers. I just bought a passive monitor yesterday and realized how much better it sounds. Now on the back of the soundboard there is ports for monitor and speakers. I guess what I am wondering is how to setup a proper sound system. The room is about 50 ft by 50 ft. There are microphones and instruments. For this kind of operation should I have 2 speakers or 4 and should they be powered or not? I do have a firepod that I bought by it does not work with the two speakers I currently have so I am going to be buying an amp for the firepod. Should I buy the amp and powered speakers? Also I just bought a passive monitor that I set on the floor and it sounds so much better then the speakers I have so thats what got my thinking that my setup is all wrong.

Not exactly sure what it is you are doing. :?

This is a Home Project Studio forum, but it almost sounds like you are talking live monitoring stuff. You have a live (not recording) mixer, in a large room, with a Firepod (?), and a monitor that sounds good on the floor? This one is pegging my confusion-meters.

Should you use 2 or 4 monitors? For recording playback, one pair at a time. For monitoring live, as many as you need. And, you won't have live monitors while recording, unless you want feedback, phase or other problems.

And you wouldn't use stage monitors for recording monitoring. And, you wouldn't use recording monitors on the floor.

Powered or unpowered makes no difference. You have a powered mixer meant for live performance, and you can use passive speakers from those. You can run out the Monitor out, and use active, or run actives from the Firepod. Or, you could run an amp and passives from the Firepod or the mixer out.

You didn't list what "monitors" you are speaking of.

It sounds all like live monitoring, except for the inclusion of the Firepod. If it's for recording, you may have some serious troubles, just judging from the info you supplied so far.

What speakers do you have that you are referring to? What are you trying to accomplish? Recording? Live monitoring?

More info is needed. I'm confused.

Kapt.Krunch

Kapt.Krunch wrote: What are you trying to accomplish? Recording? Live monitoring?

More info is needed. I'm confused.

Kapt.Krunch

+1

this post makes no sense.

Mortifix wrote: ..... and 2 non-powered Yamaha speakers. I just bought a passive monitor yesterday and realized how much better it sounds. ........I have 2 speakers or 4 and should they be powered or not? I do have a firepod that I bought by it does not work with the two speakers I currently have so I am going to be buying an amp for the firepod. Should I buy the amp and powered speakers? Also I just bought a passive monitor that I set on the floor and it sounds so much better then the speakers I have so thats what got my thinking that my setup is all wrong.

Just to clarify since this seems to be something that is confusing you: Powered monitors are amplified. Passive monitors are not amplified. Since you plan on buying an amp for the firepod, you won't need to buy powered monitors. Unless of course you plan on frying the amps in those new monitors.

Ok so no amp for the firepod. I record live music. I went to the music store and told the guy I need a monitor. He pointed me to a $180 passive monitor (I dont remember the name brand). I dont know if its a stage monitor or recording monitor. The powered and unpowered is me trying to decide if I want to get rid of the EMX and use the firepod instead.

I was also wanting to use the firepod so I can adjust each persons vocals and the instruments.

I have 3 speakers total. 2 x Yamaha S12E's and the small monitor I bought for $180. I have the EMX in the back and a firepod sitting on top not being used. I have an audio cable running to a computer for recording.

Mortifix wrote: ...so thats what got my thinking that my setup is all wrong.

Yep...way wrong. As I said before, you don't want to use floor monitors while home recording. (If you're recording a band in a bar, and they are using floor monitors, you'll just have to deal with that).

And, you don't want to use PA monitors for serious playback/mixing of ANY recording.

Keep the Firepod, get some powered studio monitors, or passive ones and an amp for playback and mixing...not live monitoring, and some headphones with possibly a headphone distribution unit for monitoring while recording.

And it may help to read up on home studio recording and why what it seems like what you are trying to do is not good.

Kapt.Krunch

Ok so how many studio monitors should I get? Can you point me to some good brands?

Mortifix wrote: Ok so how many studio monitors should I get? Can you point me to some good brands?

usually somewhere between 1 and 3 is good. i hear behringer makes good stuff.

...Maybe you should go to your local small-time recording studio and ask for a quick tour of the facility (basement suite). Take a good look at generally how things look. Maybe take pics.

edit: you say you "record live bands"......does that mean you've actually accomplished the act of recording a live band? I'm definitely curious to know how you did that with how very little you seem to know about what you gear is/does.