If you have started out recording with a simple home studio setup (like these ones under $300) then you may likely be using a pair of studio headphones for all of your tracking and monitoring needs. There is no shame or handicap in this, let me be clear.
In fact this is how I started out my recording career and it served me well! When you decide to incorporate a pair of studio monitors, however, let me give you 3 simple tips to help steer you clear of hype, myth, and money wasters!
1. Choose Monitors That “Fit” Your Room
Studio monitors come in many different sizes. Most of us will want a pair of “near-fields”, meaning they will be in close proximity to our listening position. Most near-field monitors are measured by the largest speaker cone size and come in a few different flavors. Most typically you see 5 to 8 inch speakers. What you need to figure out is which size of course.
Despite the obvious suggestion by some to get the biggest speaker you can afford for the purposes of better bass response, I say forget all that. Choose a speaker size that better matches the size of your control room. If you have a typical spare bedroom in a house or apartment then you likely don’t need anything bigger than a pair of 5 inch monitors. In fact, I mix on 5 inches in my own studio.
If however you are in a bigger control room of sorts (or a bigger basement studio let’s say) you might be better off pushing more air with 8 inch speakers. Of course there isn’t a rule on this, but you get the idea. Most of us will lean towards the 5 to 6 inch speakers in our home studios and be better off for it.
2. Choose Monitors That “Fit Your Budget
Now that you know what size speaker you need based on your room size, it’s time to consider the other non negotiable, budget. Unless you are foolish, you really shouldn’t spend more money than you can afford on any given piece of gear and that includes monitors.
If you have $700 to spend on speakers great. If you only have $300, fine. Just determine your budget (Hint: take a look at how much expendable money you have sitting around in your bank account, not your credit card limit), then get online and price out a pair of monitors in your needed size that falls in at that price. With so many great manufacturers producing great speakers at every price point, you don’t need to spend much time looking these days.
3. Choose Monitors And Then Don’t Look Back
My third tip may seem lame, but it’s vital. Once you’ve determined your size, budget, and have done some research, you should simply make your purchase and move on. Studio monitors, despite what people might claim, are not the end all be all of your recordings. YES, proper monitoring is key. Obviously we are discussing an auditory art form, so hearing your tracks well is key. But studio monitors are only one part of the equation.
Your room will color and change the sound coming out of your speakers. Your D/A converters will color and shape the sound coming out of your DAW and into your speakers. Your listening position in your room will color and shape how you hear what is coming out of your speakers. And add to all of that, each monitor speaker sounds different and is coloring and shaping your sound anyways. You get the idea.
You are not limited by your studio monitors. They are a tool and a means to an end. Grab a pair you can afford and just get to work.
Comments
Thanks for the great tips!
Using 5 inch speakers, is it worth adding a subwoofer for better bass listening and hence better mixing?
Entirely up to you. I don’t mix with a sub, never have.
GOD !!! i spend huge money with no cause. wish i could see your valuable posts a year before and not listening to those people. i got Rockit 6. which is actually way too much for my little room (66 sft). now i am having serious problems with controlling sounds. room is not well acoustic though. hey Graham can you tell me, i have two options in my KRK …called audio inputs ( unbalanced and balanced ). my question is what is the purpose between them. i am using balanced TRS. btw balanced has XLR too.
Nazim – TRS and XLR are both balanced cables. One just happens to be 1/4 inch connection and the other is a mic cable connection. Use balanced if you can. Less chance of noise.
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Are you sponsored by them be honest?
Not sponsored by anybody. I just review products that I like and are affordable.
great site, great cause. finally, someone dealing with the real thing.
for us, techno-geek-musicians , it’s really wonderful to get some healthy proportions once again.
I must say, I also printed and read your e-book, and intend on using your advice further on.
thanks again.
Thanks for the tips, I was on the right track in my decision making..you just afirmed that!
Graham,
While this topic was specific about monitors, I saw your open statement about studio headphones. Can I inquire based on my 12 x 12 spare bedroom, I trying to narrow it down between semi-open or Circumaural headphones?
Thank you for your time!
Oscar
I like closed back headphones, but that’s just me.
Graham, great post. Agreed. I’d add, IMHO, that you should also pick a pair of monitors that sound good to you, personally. You’ll be spending quite a good deal of time recording/mixing with them so in addition to being acurate and made for the job at hand, they should also sound pleasing to your ear/tastes. If you can, best to audition some at a pro audio store. Bring a favorite CD that you’re familiar with sonically and ask to play it on different monitors in your price range till you find a pair that sound pleasing to you. Then when you get them back to your studio, start listening to a ton of your favorite music or mixes so you can begin to “learn”/get used to what your new monitors sound like in your setting. Will help to do that before you start mixing, should cut your frustration level down considerably.