What to look for in a cheap pair of monitors?

[RottenToTheGore]

Sorry for making another topic, if it's better for me to lump all of my questions in one topic I can do that. I just thought it may help for others who had similar questions.

Anyways, I've decided I may want to invest in some monitors. But my budget is very low, $150 tops if that. I know I won't get audiophile quality, but I'm looking at it as more of a starting point anyways.

So there's plenty of options out there, and some with lots of positive reviews, but I'm not even sure what I should look for in a monitor to see which one is right for me. Any suggestions of products or things to look for?

Also, I had taken a clip of a song I made the other day and played it in a friends car. It sounded awful compared to how I heard it on my computer with headphones. This is due to not doing any mastering correct? Will using monitors let me hear more of what it would sound like on a car stereo? So that I know where to start adjusting things?

(Yet again, thanks alot for all your help. Really appreciate it )

[perplex]

apple earbuds

[RottenToTheGore]

apple earbuds

I know it's a joke, but come on... I'm using Skullcandys now as it is

[3dot...]

getting cheap monitors won't solve your problem ...at all

treating the studio acoustically ..
and getting a pair of decent monitors ...
connected to a decent audio interface ..
will

alternatively .. rent a small studio for the mix/master part..

also ..many people mix at home in their "shit boxes" and send it later to mastering

a word about "mastering " music.. aside from good gear..
it's mostly a good ear and TONS of experience!
and that my friend ..takes time and work!

good luck!

[perplex]

apple earbuds

I know it's a joke, but come on... I'm using Skullcandys now as it is

why do you think its a joke? apple earbuds are worth referencing any song on these days. granted it isn't the end all way of monitoring, but its good to know what your song will sound like on them.

do you know how many people have ipods/iphones? theres a big chance that your recorded music (if released successfully) would end up on an ipod.

[RottenToTheGore]

apple earbuds

I know it's a joke, but come on... I'm using Skullcandys now as it is

why do you think its a joke? apple earbuds are worth referencing any song on these days. granted it isn't the end all way of monitoring, but its good to know what your song will sound like on them.

do you know how many people have ipods/iphones? theres a big chance that your recorded music (if released successfully) would end up on an ipod.

Very good point, I apologize I took it the wrong way.

I guess I'm confused about the purpose of the monitors then, and why I should even get a pair at this point (and if I'm asking that question, it's probably better to wait). I'm probably better off looking into why it sounded so different in my friends car first.

But the topic still stands of any suggestions of what to look for if/when I do decide to pick up some monitors.

[Da hand]

Listening to monitors and headphones is very different acoustically. Sounds mix differently on both.

1. When you mix on headphones, what is on the left driver is only heard by the left ear. When you mix on monitors, the sound coming out of the left monitor is heard by both of your ears.

2. What you hear on headphones is not as influenced by the space you are listening in (i.e the room, car, etc). The only space is between your ears and drivers. When listening on monitors (and car speakers, stereo, etc) the sound is rebounding off all the surfaces present in the space you are in. This reflected sound combines with the direct sound coming at you to give you the final "mix".

These are the two main difference. There are many more. Generally, getting a mix to sound good on both headphones and speakers is much harder to achieve using only headphones than it is using only monitors.

[beatflux]

A pair of HS50m's go for 400 brand new, so I would recommend just saving up. There's really no use buying a pair of headphones or monitors for 150, you'll just regret it later when you finally upgrade. Sell your APC if you have to. Monitors are more important.

[memes_33]

yes, your mixes should improve with monitors. the more systems you can listen to your tracks on, and the more you can make them sound good on, the better your mixes will be. unfortunately, you can't get much for that kind of dough. i think at one time i picked up an alesis amp and a pair of tannoy pbm-6.5 passive monitors for around that much (used of course). if you're serious about producing, though, i would save for a decent pair, or at least something in the $300 range.

[3dot...]

. Sell your APC if you have to. Monitors are more important.

...well..that's a bit extreme...

[matthews]

....same monitor question every 3 days....

does nobody use the search button anymore?

[RottenToTheGore]

....same monitor question every 3 days....

does nobody use the search button anymore?

Sorry about that, glad to know I'm not alone I can post in another thread if needed.

Back to the topic, my issue is that I don't have any speakers at all right now. So even if I wanted to go from headphones to regular computer speakers I couldn't (My monitor has internal speakers, that are quite afwul).

But I did look into a little higher range, and I saw the Alesis M1 Active 520 can be bought for about $175. Any major objections about them? I'm a total beginner after all, so something that doesn't hit the wallet too hard is best as I like to think ahead if for some reason I decide to let this hobby go I'm not out too much.

And I'm just starting to get the hang of the APC40! I'd hate to get rid of it now

[H20nly]

if i only had 150 but hoped to produce decent mixes... i'd start with a good set of headphones

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CCMQ8wIwAA

that link is long, but it's a search for Audio Technica M50. you can see the various prices on them and there are reviews at the bottom too if that helps. they were recommended to me a few years ago by leedsquietman (R.I.P.) and they sound top notch.

i completely agree with the notion that using good* monitors is better than using headphones, but you're not likely to get good monitors with 150. if you start with some really good headphones (like the ones i linked you to) and save up for some decent monitors in the meantime, you can enjoy your music as you're making it AND hear what it is supposed to sound like while your at it.

mix as many tracks as you can while you save up. learn. then come back at it twice as hard when you finally pull your reference monitors out of the box and plug those bad boys in.

[H20nly]

....same monitor question every 3 days....

does nobody use the search button anymore?

you gotta read the OP. some are more difficult than others... in this thread he's trying to pull it off for 150 USD. that's not a question, that's a challenge.

[3dot...]

my advice...
get a home-stereo amp with a pair of good speakers
(ones that let you enjoy listening to music)..
I personally prefer old amps and cabinets..they're mostly on the cheap side TOO..
(..and you'd have some $ left for decent studio-headphones..
which will give you the neutrality and precision you seek..
my recommendation : AudioTechnica ATH-M50...great value cans that you can also take to gigs)

and when you're ready to put the cash down..
or feel it's necessary...
then get precision monitors...
in the meantime .. enjoy making music !