Not optimal. but anything is doable. Just see to that you get plenty of other references. type, car stereo, Walkman and so forth.

That little thing? Got a model number or brand name or something...We have no idea what that stereo is capable of from the 1" by 2" picture.

Does that stereo have an external input? One where you can plug in the ouptut of the firewire solo? It may be an RCA input or Line in?

The solo has 2 1/4" line outputs. If the stereo has RCA inputs you would need 1/4" to RCA cables...like these:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MONMDJCR

If it just has a line in you'll need something like this:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--HOSCMP15

Of course it can be any brand these links are just for a visual reference. You can get any brand of cable from any place.

If you don't have RCA inputs for the stereo, then it might have a line input.

By RCA do you mean AUX imputs?

It has AUX inputs that fit those cables, it also has a AV compu link

RCA = unbalanced, mono plugs that are round with an electrode in the middle.

Hes talking about the connector, not the circuit.

Definitely not the best thing to use, but you may be able to "learn" them enough to eventually get something that sounds reasonable. In all fairness, you basically have to "learn" any speaker and system to get to know how it translates to other listening systems.

The speakers will likely be hyped in some areas. Tone controls on the receiver will probably do more harm than good. You'll be tempted to make them sound good, and overcompensating by twiddling after the fact something that sounds different in its original state. Then, when you make a CD of the song, it'll probably be horrendous-sounding in anything else.

You'll not likely pick out little annoying anomalies in the file to know when to tweak those. At the very least, you should get a good set of headphones to do some critical listening for noises, panning, and identifying abrupt level changes more easily.

An interesting anecdote from "Recording the Beatles" goes something like this:

The studios had been using Altecs for a good period of time, and though not perfect, they had gotten used to how it should sound on those so the mix would sound good pretty much anywhere. Actually, they were so far from perfect they figured if they COULD make it sound good on those, then they will sound good anywhere.

Management ordered new Tannoy speakers, which had higher highs and lower lows, and better specs all around. Nobody could come to grips with those things....couldn't get a mix right. Eventually, they started bringing the Altecs back in to use if they REALLY needed to get something done, and then compared the mix on the Tannoys. They had to "learn" the better speakers.

I had to learn my KRK speakers. The first few things I did had GREAT sound in my room. Good, tight punchy bass, smooth highs. When I made a CD and played it anywhere else...the bass was RIDICULOUS! I had to learn just how much bass I can hear through the KRKs to sound good elsewhere...and it ain't much. Absent a subwoofer, if I want more bass after the fact through those, I just patch the output through an EQ and add a bit to listen, comforted in the fact that I'm not mangling the file itself. Took a LOT of bad attempts to figure out "just how much".

What you want to use is FAR from ideal, but you can experiment with them until you save up enough money to get some proper powered monitor speakers, or amp and speakers.

Kapt.Krunch

I use a stereo as my monitor b's. I like it, able to listen to a mix on what the consumer would be using AND my studio monitors.

Hey ColdWarmth, sorry to jump in your post but just wanted to chime in. I will be running the exact same setup as you are and I just wanted to know how yours is connected. Do you go xlr > xlr from the vt-b1 to solo, or do you go 1/4 > 1/4? For anyone else who may have knowledge of which connection is ideal, please give some insight on this matter, it would be greatly appreciated!

I go 1/4 inch to 1/4 inch.

line out on the VTB1 to the line in on the solo.

ColdWarmth wrote: In setting Up a small budget recording space, I find my speakers on my computer are quite weak, I have this stereo...
http://images.overstock.com/f/102/3117/8h/www.overstock.com/images/products/T10129743.jpg

Would I be able to connect it somehow to use as studio moniters?

I have a studio projects VTB1 mic pre going into a firewire solo firewire box, then into the computer.

Can I make this happen?

I cant really tell i would need to see the back of it but it may be possible

I use my trusted Hitachi speakers as a second set. I also hacked into the power amp on and old Sony boom box. I toggle between my three speakers set ups when I do a mix. I try to make the mix fit in all the setups.

As main monitors it may be difficult because the typical home stereo has been designed to give the 'smile' EQ. The smile EQ is when the bass is slightly boosted as is the high end. Think of a graphic EQ with the low and high end boosted, it looks like a smile.

So you will have try your mixes on as many set ups as possible to get to know what your speakers are actually doing to the mix, then compensate for them. It can be done. I find that if a mix works for me on my Hitachi’s it going to translate well. Anyway just my 2 cents. Best of Luck.