Ableton Forum

Hey everyone,
I'm quiet new to Ableton and trying to get started...
Therefore I got a question concerning the speakers I use:

I got some 2.1 Speakers (Logitech Z2300) and I want to know whether I should think about getting studiospeakers in future for producing and in what dimension...
By now I'm still lucky with my 2.1 system. I just bought a Oxygen49 and I'm starting to create my first tracks. If I buy some studiospeakers, I'd have to buy an Audiointerface, too.
By the way: My system runs Windows 7 on an Acer Aspire 5536G and my onboard soundcard some kinda sucks...

Just wanted to get your opinion on that, anyhow I'll wait for it because "I Need $"

BTW, I just produce for fun, mainly I used to be a drummer tho I like to keep it up with Ableton

maybe novation nio is the best usb card in that price range.
so as alesis mk2 speakers but only the passive one and youll need a good amplifier.
active one is sucks and cuts off low freqs.

How much cash you looking to burn on this? If you just want some cheap OK speakers you can go with some small M audios or if you want to drop some doh on something nice you can get some Genelecs or something nice like that. Here take a gander through this list of speakers to get an idea what's out there http://www.sweetwater.com/c405--Active_Monitors do you have a music store by you so you can go test out the speakers?

I got this PM-4a from seiwin.
http://www.seiwin.com/pm.asp
Except an frequency range a little squeezed (65Hz-20KHz) in the bass area
they are good IMHO. I have used them to mix down my album no problems so far
and right price.

- Best
- Pasha

Well, I'd first of all say it should all in all cost around 500€ max.
But do i really need this right now or are my 2.1 Speakers still okay for now?
I don't really know why I need such speakers... because of the frequencies I guess?
If I buy such speakers it'll be around easter I think anyways but I like to know what I'm missing in this time.

I thought about a firewire card, I don't need much... allthough I could record my drumkit at home. Basically I would sometimes play a guitar into Ableton, the rest would be done via Midikeyboard.

Thanks for the answers by know!

IMO, your current set up will do you fine until you start to realise what's missing in your mixdowns. Then you'll know why you need some decent monitors. BTW, I disasgree one of the above posts on the alesis mk2 actives, for the price they are a very good set of monitors and I'm sure they will provide you with the majority of your needs.

But all that is subjective really, you can pop along to your local pro audio place and check out monitors til the cows come home.

Your interface is going to be the most important decision and as you have time you can consider the following:

How many inputs do I need?
What instruments are you going to connect to those inputs?
Do you need midi in and out as well?
Do you need digital connections too?
How will this connect to your computer USB or Firewire?

The answers to these questions will allow you identify the makes and models of audio/midi interface that suits your needs.

You will record your drumkit, because at some stage it's going to seem like a great idea to have live drums on your track. Then how many mics will you need to record that? Will they be dynamic or need phantom power as condenser mics?

Your guitar will need a Hi-z input.

Will you midi keyboard continue to connect via USB to your computer or will you run it via midi through the soundcard?

In the mean time I don't think you're missing anything really, your current speakers and a decent pair of headphones will suit you just fine.

To be honest I did some research and I came to the same result as UKRuss. The questions I need to ask myself were one point I did not exactly know, so thanks for that. By time I hope I'll figure out what I really need. A friend of mine also uses monitors and and interface so I also got a direct contact to someone with experience. I will finish one of my tracks as good as I can and upload it, so I'll might get some reply on what I have to put more focus on.

Thank you all