Topic: Monitors vs PC speakers...

[Toxikator]

If a mix sounds good at a lower volume it's going to also sound good at a higher volume, but the opposite is not neccesarily true.

Neither is true. The human ear is far less sensitive to volume changes in the low frequencies than it is to volume changes in the high frequencies (see here for more info). What that means is that as you turn your volume knob to the right, you increase the relative loudness of the mids and highs. So if you mix at low volume levels, your mix will be too light on the bass at high volume levels. If you mix at high volume levels, your mix will be entirely too bass-heavy at low volume levels.

Your best bet is to mix at upper-mid volume levels, since they most accurately represent the kinds of volumes that listeners will be experiencing. Also, any consumer stereo with B.A.S.S. Or one of those novelty loudness maximising curves that adjusts the EQ relative to the volume will be normalized about the mid-to-upper-mid listening levels.

[The Colorado Kid]

I've checked out the Fletcher Munson chart several times myself.  I'm just going by the advice that almost every engineer/producer goes by (especially in every instruction manual I've ever read).  Of course, truthfully you want to check your mixe(s) at different volumes & from different mediums (car speakers, etc.,).  As the advice I gave is standard advice from all those "professionals,"  I'll generally stick with it.

Of course, I like to listen to most music as loud as possible given my druthers.  Why it hasn't totally damaged my hearing at this point when it has destroyed most of my (equally aged) friends?  I don't know?

[Toxikator]

Most engineers tell you not to mix at extremely high levels but mixing at low levels is acknowledged as equally bad. It's not mentioned much because, typically, no one mixing is going to desire to listen at low levels. the desire to listen at high levels, however, is more common.

But if you've ever mixed late at night and had to keep from pissing off a roommate you'll know just how bad it is to mix at low levels.

[apathyoverdrive]

I love seeing people's "setup" pictures.  Such effort.

I run all my mixes through my Aiwa stereo, out two speakers.  A hand me down.  Not to say my mixes are great.  They are typically overloaded and monotonous.  Whatever.  I really don't have much to say.

[The Colorado Kid]

Of course if you turn things WAY down (like the muzak in the grocery store) there is only a wee bit of bass, so you definitely have to mix somewhat louder than that!

[Ricdude]

Rough mixes on ear buds.  No, really.   Then I take the roughs for a spin on my car stereo (stock VW stereo, nothing special).  Take notes, tweak accordingly...

Then I fight with the mix for a month or two to get the bass, mids and trebles balanced.

Then I stop mucking with it for a few months.

Then I figure out what I forgot to tweak the last time, come up with better transitions, fills, and background sounds.

Then I fight with the mix for a month or two...

Then the wife and kids go out for an evening, and I play it on the home stereo, and realize the master compression is pumping.

Then I fight with the mix for a month or two...

Monitors are next on the studio list. (any personal recommendations in the $300/pair range welcomed)

[The Colorado Kid]

I love my KRK Rokit 8' (& Tox., loves his different model KRK's), but you're looking at $250 a speaker for an 8.  You could get the smallest Rokit (would that be a 5?, or 4? - I forget) for $150 for one, but my guess is that the smaller you get the more they're not going to represent the real mix?

Eventually with any of the KRK's you can get a $300 sub woofer.  I've wondered about getting one, but I like to open the windows when I can & I'm sure the sub sounds would carry across the lawns & have my neighbors all hating me.

We'll see.
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Also look for the thread "Any Recomendations On Nearfield Moniters" in Tech Talk.  Lot of good stuff there (when stk was still with us).

[Myster_EE]

lol, my "setup".

[Toxikator]

CK: My KRKs are subless, but they cost $500 a speaker. Doing those suckers in surround (where a sub is essential, BTW) costs 7x (5 speakers, plus a sub which is =2x the cost). so that's what, $3500?

Though surround sound is all about stereo field, so it might make more sense to have two monitor sets; a cheapo desktop hifi for surround, and decent monitors for stereo editing.

[Jont]

i just got the bx5a's and dont hear a problem with them, i heard lots of people complain about the low end on these monitors but really dont notice that problem.