I'm too broke to buy actual monitors, but I have some speakers from an old, but previously unused, Sony home entertainment system, that came out as the ultimate system to run your PlayStation 2 sound through, and to hook up your Micro-Disk to! 😁 With every option turned off, they give me a fairly true response, and my mixes translate very well to the little "Boombox" that sits in front of me, between the two speakers. The stereo image is very good, sometimes I think I've left the boombox on, and it's playing the mix too, because it sounds like some instruments are coming from those speakers. That's really what I use when actually mixing, but then, at the end of a session, I'll check the mix on my TV system, with a soundbar and a subwoofer, which is very crisp, but also has the low, low frequencies covered, then on my home stereo, which is decidedly "boomy", with little top end. Then I'll check it on my phone, both with and without headphones. When a mix has no problems on those extremes, I know it's going to sound good anywhere, but I'll check it on the car stereo system as many times as possible, sometimes that's where I'll decide to make tiny adjustments. With all this, I know that the speakers I mix on give me a fairly flat response, it's just the very low frequencies I need to check elsewhere to make sure that other speakers can handle them at high volume. I made a conscious decision to put the subwoofer that came with the system on the TV, rather than have it hooked up to the system I mix on (it came with that system), which I think would mean I made mixes that would sound thin without a subwoofer. So far, this is working quite well. One year I might take out an advance on my pension to buy monitors, but for now, there are higher priorities, I get one advance per year, and am broke for the next six months, so there's always something that is more important.
NS-10 Studios, JBL 3MK11, single Auratone 5c, and for boom box testing JBL Extreme (tube shaped boom box, highly recommended!) . And Presonus sub and most important, check in 2009 Toyota Sienna.
After years of so many speakers in my studio I bought a couple of Neumann kh350 and a couple of plug ins: audified MixCheker pro & Sonarworks. Now I live in peace :D
For me it's all about translation. Anyone who has owned high end monitors for a few years knows that unfortunately, no speaker is perfect. It's no good having expensive monitors if that is the only speakers your mix sounds good on. People often say things like; "it doesn't matter what speakers you use it's all about knowing your monitors" In practice however it just isn't that simple. All speakers have their blind spots to one degree or another. The famous soul destroying car test is a great example of this! Referencing on different speakers is really the only way to cover all the bases. It's the only way to check that your mix is actually doing what you think it is, based on what your speakers are telling you. If you get your mix singing across 2 or 3 sets of different speakers then there is a good chance your mix will translate well in the world. I personally have found the more speakers to check on the better. Spike Stent is known for checking on LOTS of speakers in his studio. Many years into the game now I really understand why! I personally mix on two sets of monitors, a bluetooth speaker and headphones, I'm now looking into some Auratones or similar for a smaller speaker perspective.
I have a Tivoli mono/stereo full range rig where Colt has the Auratone. We came across a ton at a local thrift store for $20. They are amazing for checking mono and mid range. I love them for what they are. Thrift stores can be crazy for hidden gems. Just gotta know what you’re looking at and have patience. DISCLAIMER: I was the Tivoli rep for a while. While I had units in my bedroom, the ones in the studio are from the Thrift store. Edit: I failed to mention my main monitors. They are a mix of ATC/ScanSpeak/and I forget the AMT company. With custom crossovers, powered by Parasound Halo amplification. They were purpose made for me. And they translate to my Audeze LCD-XC. Kinda like the Focal cans and speakers.
I try to remind myself that every speaker is a filter regardless of price. Your mid-range video is a classic that everyone should watch because mids are truly the key to translatability.
I'm always mixing on my Focals, and I have some hd800's for checking on headphones to catch little details, pops and clicks etc. I did buy slate vsx and a subpac to check translation, but have found I've not needed them and they have sat dormant.
Thanks a lot Colt for the monitor explanation and especially for the „magic is in the midrange“ video. I am a hobbyist and this video was like turning a light on with an immediate positive impact on my mixes.
100% agree from my side. 👍 I mix on "Event TR8" for nearly 20 years till now + pretty new "ik-multimedia iLoud MTM". Because i have a really small room they are working amazingly good!🙏 Man, those dwarfs are unreal. And by the way i am an headphone nerd 🙈😅 Beyerdynamic DT-1990 / DT-990 edition / DT-880 edition / DT-770 ... Sennheiser HD-600 / HD-650 ... Sony MDR-7506... just to name a few... all driven by a lake people amp and corrected via sonarworks...
I've got a pair of Adam T7Vs as my mains right now. Also have a pair of M-Audio BX5 as a secondary setup + a pair of DT990 Open backs and a pair of the generic ear buds that used to come with Samsung phones. Then I also put a song on my phone and test a car. My monitor controller also has a mono-mode that I use for varying comparisons between mono-stereo. I also have one of the first gen Alexa Echo Bluetooth speakers as well.
I was using two sets.... untill I really learned my new set (I do it as a hobby).. I found I was unsure using two... now I find my mixes are better if I just focus on one set of speakers.. I do check my mixes on a bluetooth and my home stereo and lastly in my car.....
So true on the bluetooth speaker--I use the Bose Soundlink for reference and the low mids are always the issue that gets exposed. If things get congested there, the clarity disappears... it's quite humbling, haha
Besides the normal stuff I have a set of 64audio AT6'S that (imo the best in-ear monitors) are my favorite for checking low end. If it's right it's absolutely amazing but if you overcook it They will distort. Find what works for you. Great as always Colt 🤘
The days of using multiple monitors might be coming to an end. It’s an old-school practice that is becoming more and more irrelevant as the quality of the various sound sources available to the general public improve. Gone are the days of AM radios, boom boxes and crappy home stereo systems. Nowadays, even ear-buds give the listener a high quality broad frequency spectrum to enjoy. I admit that I have NS-10M Studio monitors in my room, but they’re mostly just nostalgic reminders of the past that compliment my obligatory old couch and lava lamp. Like many mix and mastering engineers, I’ve decided to move to using one set of high quality monitors (Genelec) and room correction hardware (Trinnov ST2). I’ve tried software room correction, but there’s only so much a $200-$300 plug-in can do. High-end room correction equipment eliminates your room from the listening equation: you hear the monitors…not the room. What you hear is what you get and because of that it translates very well to other environments and systems. So…in my opinion…you can spend lots of money on several sets of monitors and amps, or you can spend lots of money and put together a single monitor system. I choose the latter because I feel that every time you make a change in a mix to make it more palatable on a set of inferior monitors, you’re compromising.
Been thinking of getting Auratones since I only have 1 set of monitors but don't have much space available. I always check on good AKG headphones, laptop speakers, and phone, along with the car test which is always the final test, but those are listening afterward not during mixing.
Hey Colt, I am planning to buy Focal Trio 11 Be as well. What Iso Acoustics Stand do you use? I was thinking about the Iso-Puck-76. I would appreciate it if you can let me know. Thank you and God Bless.
The reason for needing multiple sets off monitors is mostly because it is hard to get room acoustics right, to the point of simply being able to trust directly what you hear for it to properly translate. This is especially true because so much mixing is done these days in small residential rooms which are particularly difficult to tune
Actually did a shoot out many years ago between those two, and the 5C was a very obvious clear winner. The 5C is a much more usable frequency response, and far less harsh in my opinion.
i have two pairs of hs8 yamaha and hs5 yamaha but thinking about re doing the whole set up. should i? also wanted to add a sub but think with the Hs8’s i think i get enough bass response? I worked with all types of music so trying to please everyone
A question I've been struggling with for a couple years now: Do you know why when I get my tracks to the loudness of one of my reference tracks, it will sound fine in my studio monitors and my headphones, and even my couple sets of crappy speakers I keep in my studio in order to get a feel for what it sounds like on cheaper speakers, but on a phone or via my phone's bluetooth in my vehicles, I always have to turn my phone down 2 notches because at full volume it will be distorted?
I have the KRK rockit 5 and I have a 1500 dollar Sony bravia sound bar and sub in the room i check stuff on . Then my phone with regular headphones for gaming and Last but not Least I upload to Drive and check it in my car . I have a 9 speaker Bose system in my car which in my opinion is the most exciting stereo I've ever heard . Stock powered sub over the spar tire . The Elliot Shriner recording of ToTo's Tambu is magical . Or good old Moving Pictures from Rush never let's me down . Pearts drum sound is hands down one of the best ever . Especially on YYZ.
No absolutetly not (!) expect maybe for a commercial room with various clients/engineers. Multiple speaker-sets at one place will not help you, only the sellers. Unexperienced people will compare things to deaf - of course the sound will suck on bad speakers - so what? Anybody with bad speakers is used to that sound - but why should you adapt to 1 of 1000 kinds of bad speakers? The most important thing is to know *your* speakers very very well. Plus, get a real good active 3-Way-system from the most reputated manufacturers for serious production. Avoid strange hyped "high end" passive-design with funky snakeoil-marketing. That's it.
@@ColtCapperrune Oh really? So you don't think you should know you speakers very well? You think you could adapt to random listening situation just by getting another (random) pair of speakers instead of buying one set of extrem neutral & good ones? Well, thats not logical - at least for me. But please share your explanation about that.
You clearly did not watch the video… The more monitors you mix on, the better your mix will translate to other environments... that’s why people have multiple pairs of monitors, it’s why people do car checks, that’s why people check on their cell phones, it’s why people have Bluetooth speakers. If you’re only mixing on one set of monitors, no matter how great the room or the monitor, you are missing other perspectives that will help your mix sound great in every environment.
How many monitors do you mix on???
6. One is a Bose Soundlink II bluetooth speaker.
The others are, emotive, NS-10, JBL LSR 305 plus sub, Mackie and Auratones.
I'm too broke to buy actual monitors, but I have some speakers from an old, but previously unused, Sony home entertainment system, that came out as the ultimate system to run your PlayStation 2 sound through, and to hook up your Micro-Disk to! 😁
With every option turned off, they give me a fairly true response, and my mixes translate very well to the little "Boombox" that sits in front of me, between the two speakers. The stereo image is very good, sometimes I think I've left the boombox on, and it's playing the mix too, because it sounds like some instruments are coming from those speakers.
That's really what I use when actually mixing, but then, at the end of a session, I'll check the mix on my TV system, with a soundbar and a subwoofer, which is very crisp, but also has the low, low frequencies covered, then on my home stereo, which is decidedly "boomy", with little top end. Then I'll check it on my phone, both with and without headphones.
When a mix has no problems on those extremes, I know it's going to sound good anywhere, but I'll check it on the car stereo system as many times as possible, sometimes that's where I'll decide to make tiny adjustments.
With all this, I know that the speakers I mix on give me a fairly flat response, it's just the very low frequencies I need to check elsewhere to make sure that other speakers can handle them at high volume. I made a conscious decision to put the subwoofer that came with the system on the TV, rather than have it hooked up to the system I mix on (it came with that system), which I think would mean I made mixes that would sound thin without a subwoofer.
So far, this is working quite well.
One year I might take out an advance on my pension to buy monitors, but for now, there are higher priorities, I get one advance per year, and am broke for the next six months, so there's always something that is more important.
I use a pair of Barefoot monitor with the Meme system and 3 set of headphones
Studio monitors, phone speaker, earbuds, headphones, car, home stereo, JBL speaker. So that's 7
NS-10 Studios, JBL 3MK11, single Auratone 5c, and for boom box testing JBL Extreme (tube shaped boom box, highly recommended!) . And Presonus sub and most important, check in 2009 Toyota Sienna.
After years of so many speakers in my studio I bought a couple of Neumann kh350 and a couple of plug ins: audified MixCheker pro & Sonarworks.
Now I live in peace :D
Pretty much everything you talk about in this video I've been doing subconsciously. Thanks for sharing!
For me it's all about translation. Anyone who has owned high end monitors for a few years knows that unfortunately, no speaker is perfect. It's no good having expensive monitors if that is the only speakers your mix sounds good on. People often say things like; "it doesn't matter what speakers you use it's all about knowing your monitors" In practice however it just isn't that simple. All speakers have their blind spots to one degree or another. The famous soul destroying car test is a great example of this! Referencing on different speakers is really the only way to cover all the bases. It's the only way to check that your mix is actually doing what you think it is, based on what your speakers are telling you. If you get your mix singing across 2 or 3 sets of different speakers then there is a good chance your mix will translate well in the world. I personally have found the more speakers to check on the better. Spike Stent is known for checking on LOTS of speakers in his studio. Many years into the game now I really understand why! I personally mix on two sets of monitors, a bluetooth speaker and headphones, I'm now looking into some Auratones or similar for a smaller speaker perspective.
I have a Tivoli mono/stereo full range rig where Colt has the Auratone. We came across a ton at a local thrift store for $20. They are amazing for checking mono and mid range. I love them for what they are. Thrift stores can be crazy for hidden gems. Just gotta know what you’re looking at and have patience.
DISCLAIMER: I was the Tivoli rep for a while. While I had units in my bedroom, the ones in the studio are from the Thrift store.
Edit: I failed to mention my main monitors. They are a mix of ATC/ScanSpeak/and I forget the AMT company. With custom crossovers, powered by Parasound Halo amplification. They were purpose made for me. And they translate to my Audeze LCD-XC. Kinda like the Focal cans and speakers.
You absolutely should. You need those different windows into your mix because every speaker has its own strengths but also weaknesses
I try to remind myself that every speaker is a filter regardless of price. Your mid-range video is a classic that everyone should watch because mids are truly the key to translatability.
Interesting!
I'm always mixing on my Focals, and I have some hd800's for checking on headphones to catch little details, pops and clicks etc. I did buy slate vsx and a subpac to check translation, but have found I've not needed them and they have sat dormant.
Thanks a lot Colt for the monitor explanation and especially for the „magic is in the midrange“ video. I am a hobbyist and this video was like turning a light on with an immediate positive impact on my mixes.
100% agree from my side. 👍
I mix on "Event TR8" for nearly 20 years till now + pretty new "ik-multimedia iLoud MTM". Because i have a really small room they are working amazingly good!🙏 Man, those dwarfs are unreal. And by the way i am an headphone nerd 🙈😅
Beyerdynamic DT-1990 / DT-990 edition / DT-880 edition / DT-770 ... Sennheiser HD-600 / HD-650 ... Sony MDR-7506... just to name a few... all driven by a lake people amp and corrected via sonarworks...
I've got a pair of Adam T7Vs as my mains right now. Also have a pair of M-Audio BX5 as a secondary setup + a pair of DT990 Open backs and a pair of the generic ear buds that used to come with Samsung phones. Then I also put a song on my phone and test a car. My monitor controller also has a mono-mode that I use for varying comparisons between mono-stereo. I also have one of the first gen Alexa Echo Bluetooth speakers as well.
Killer!
Dude! I also have The T7Vs as my mains and a set of BX-5s as a second reference! What a cool coincidence lol
I was using two sets.... untill I really learned my new set (I do it as a hobby).. I found I was unsure using two... now I find my mixes are better if I just focus on one set of speakers.. I do check my mixes on a bluetooth and my home stereo and lastly in my car.....
Superb yet again Colt, I’ve just been to dig out my Bluetooth speaker. Great idea. Thank you once again.
I use one pair (Adam A7X) right now because I want to build my new studio desk before I get my other set up. Great vid bro!! Much ❤️ Colt!!
Thanks!!
So true on the bluetooth speaker--I use the Bose Soundlink for reference and the low mids are always the issue that gets exposed. If things get congested there, the clarity disappears... it's quite humbling, haha
Super helpful video thanks Colt!
Besides the normal stuff I have a set of 64audio AT6'S that (imo the best in-ear monitors) are my favorite for checking low end. If it's right it's absolutely amazing but if you overcook it They will distort. Find what works for you. Great as always Colt 🤘
The days of using multiple monitors might be coming to an end. It’s an old-school practice that is becoming more and more irrelevant as the quality of the various sound sources available to the general public improve.
Gone are the days of AM radios, boom boxes and crappy home stereo systems. Nowadays, even ear-buds give the listener a high quality broad frequency spectrum to enjoy.
I admit that I have NS-10M Studio monitors in my room, but they’re mostly just nostalgic reminders of the past that compliment my obligatory old couch and lava lamp.
Like many mix and mastering engineers, I’ve decided to move to using one set of high quality monitors (Genelec) and room correction hardware (Trinnov ST2).
I’ve tried software room correction, but there’s only so much a $200-$300 plug-in can do. High-end room correction equipment eliminates your room from the listening equation: you hear the monitors…not the room. What you hear is what you get and because of that it translates very well to other environments and systems.
So…in my opinion…you can spend lots of money on several sets of monitors and amps, or you can spend lots of money and put together a single monitor system. I choose the latter because I feel that every time you make a change in a mix to make it more palatable on a set of inferior monitors, you’re compromising.
Been thinking of getting Auratones since I only have 1 set of monitors but don't have much space available. I always check on good AKG headphones, laptop speakers, and phone, along with the car test which is always the final test, but those are listening afterward not during mixing.
What are you using as your monitor controller ?
If you can, is there anyway you can discuss passive background active monitor controllers,
This has been so helpful and informative ✨ also what’s the song in the background 🔥
Not gonna lie, when I first saw this on my feed, I thought you were talking about computer monitors lol
Same here, I run 3 for protools and studio one, haha
I check on also HomePod Mini to and smaller speakers and crappy speakers
Nice!
@@ColtCapperrune I was wondering why you don’t have your Yamaha NS10 anymore ?
For a multi speaker setup. Do you A/B them or have them all on at the same time?
Hey Colt, I am planning to buy Focal Trio 11 Be as well. What Iso Acoustics Stand do you use? I was thinking about the Iso-Puck-76. I would appreciate it if you can let me know. Thank you and God Bless.
Awesome! Congrats! I use the iso pucks 76 for the 11s. There’s links in the description of this video to both of the monitors, and the iso pucks
Thanks Colt. Your studio is really nice!
Thanks so much!
The reason for needing multiple sets off monitors is mostly because it is hard to get room acoustics right, to the point of simply being able to trust directly what you hear for it to properly translate. This is especially true because so much mixing is done these days in small residential rooms which are particularly difficult to tune
I've heard come Cyberpunk samples in this intro track
:D
I have a pair of event 2020 from the 90’s and a pair of auratone’s from the 70’s. Thats it and will listen on my JBL Bluetooth speaker
Do you frequently check mixes in mono?
I actually have a whole video about mixing in mile. If you search for Colt Capperrune mixing mono it should come up
Hi Cole, What do you think the Avantone Mixcube 5.25 ? Do you think the 5c is better?
Actually did a shoot out many years ago between those two, and the 5C was a very obvious clear winner. The 5C is a much more usable frequency response, and far less harsh in my opinion.
@@ColtCapperrune Thanks for the reply. Keep up the good work!
What speakers are they
Hello I have rokit 5 g3 and presnos 3.5 studio can i use it together? Thanks
What do the Focal Trio6 Be monitors give you that the Trio11s don't? I'm considering getting some Trio6 Be monitors eventually if they sound good.
i have two pairs of hs8 yamaha and hs5 yamaha but thinking about re doing the whole set up. should i? also wanted to add a sub but think with the Hs8’s i think i get enough bass response? I worked with all types of music so trying to please everyone
A question I've been struggling with for a couple years now: Do you know why when I get my tracks to the loudness of one of my reference tracks, it will sound fine in my studio monitors and my headphones, and even my couple sets of crappy speakers I keep in my studio in order to get a feel for what it sounds like on cheaper speakers, but on a phone or via my phone's bluetooth in my vehicles, I always have to turn my phone down 2 notches because at full volume it will be distorted?
When people mix on a single speaker that's from like 1970 crappy 4" quadraphonic speaker in mono sounds great, or even an iphone I think it's good.
Thank you bitter water for sponsoring this video I am already broke. No thank you
I have the KRK rockit 5 and I have a 1500 dollar Sony bravia sound bar and sub in the room i check stuff on . Then my phone with regular headphones for gaming and Last but not Least I upload to Drive and check it in my car . I have a 9 speaker Bose system in my car which in my opinion is the most exciting stereo I've ever heard . Stock powered sub over the spar tire . The Elliot Shriner recording of ToTo's Tambu is magical . Or good old Moving Pictures from Rush never let's me down . Pearts drum sound is hands down one of the best ever . Especially on YYZ.
We mix on different monitors and then most people listen on ear buds. The harsh reality.
Maybe that far. Sometimes just off the speaker on the phone lol.
Monitor Hack: Disconnect your Tweeter........
Now all you have is low and mid frequencies.
☝️
💯🤘🏻😜🙏🏻
NO I shouldn’t and BEERS are NOT the answer
No absolutetly not (!) expect maybe for a commercial room with various clients/engineers.
Multiple speaker-sets at one place will not help you, only the sellers.
Unexperienced people will compare things to deaf - of course the sound will suck on bad speakers - so what?
Anybody with bad speakers is used to that sound - but why should you adapt to 1 of 1000 kinds of bad speakers?
The most important thing is to know *your* speakers very very well.
Plus, get a real good active 3-Way-system from the most reputated manufacturers for serious production.
Avoid strange hyped "high end" passive-design with funky snakeoil-marketing. That's it.
Completely disagree… but thanks for watching!
@@ColtCapperrune Oh really? So you don't think you should know you speakers very well? You think you could adapt to random listening situation just by getting another (random) pair of speakers instead of buying one set of extrem neutral & good ones? Well, thats not logical - at least for me. But please share your explanation about that.
LOL! Maybe watch the video from beginning to end. I layout my opinion pretty clearly.
@@ColtCapperrune But you are not adressing the questions / arguments I brought to the table. Just to argue "some PROs do it" is not enough.
You clearly did not watch the video… The more monitors you mix on, the better your mix will translate to other environments... that’s why people have multiple pairs of monitors, it’s why people do car checks, that’s why people check on their cell phones, it’s why people have Bluetooth speakers. If you’re only mixing on one set of monitors, no matter how great the room or the monitor, you are missing other perspectives that will help your mix sound great in every environment.