Alternate Speakers for Mixing

[mazz]

Hi Everyone,Thought I'd try to start a discussion on alternate or secondary reference speakers for mixing.I'm considering getting a pair of Avantone MixCubes:http://www.avantelectronics.com/AVANTON ... s.htmThese would be switched to while mixing, particularly when mixing anything that would potentially be broadcast on TV (hopefully everything!! )Let's talk about:1. Does anyone have experience with these particular units?2. What do you use currently in addition to your regular monitors while mixing for a reality check.\?I currently have a pair of cheap computer speakers and a small subwoofer I switch to. From what I understand, the advantage of the single driver speakers such as the MixCubes (or their predecessor the Auratone or the HorrorTone as they were dubbed) is they give a more "accurate" representation of what happens to the mix when it's played back on frequency challenged systems out in the real world. (It's still advisable to check a mix on other systems after a mix is done, here I'm talking about switching systems while in the process of mixing).They're supposed to be coming out with a powered version but in the meantime AudioMIDI has a bundle deal on a pair with an amp and some speaker cables: http://www.audiomidi.com/MixCubes---Pow ... hanks,Mazz

[billg]

Hello Mazz, thanks for the info on these speaks. I suffer from some pretty severe hearing loss from years of LOUD live performing (pre-earplug generation). I just can't mix at louder volumes on a good full range system because my ears blow out & get "dazed & confused" really easy. I usually mix fairly low, check the mix on a boombox, in my car, . . . and my favorite is my sony under the counter cd player in the kitchen (if the bass/ kick/vocals sound right on the sony they usually sound pretty good anywhere!). After all of this I'll then get a good distance from my studio speakers & crank them up as a final step. I've recently been thinking that what I should do is give a try at mixing "backwards" . . . that is to start my mix on a set of small low range speaks, get things to sound right on them & then see how it translates to the "big guys." The Avantones sound like they just might be what I'm looking for. I'm looking forward to seeing if anyone here has experience using these. Thanks again for the link & info! billg-

[jh]

Usually I A/B a lot, that´s been the best reference to me. That "crank them up and go to another room" is good one too. Other references I use: old computer speakers (the classic ), high-end/hi-fi/lo-fi headphones, TV, boombox, car, walkman, and sometimes my friends´ stereos etc. I´ve learned quite well how things translate, so I´m using less and less references. I think the biggest downside of having alternate speakers is that they´ll be in the same room (if your room has poor acoustics), but anyway it´s a good idea to have ´em - JH

[gitarrero]

mazz,do you know gearslutz.com`? ...you'd find lots of answers there I guess...;)I do check the mixes with alternative speakers, currently I'm using adam p22 (main monitors) and yamaha ns10 (alternative). I don't have the ns-10 very long in my setup, but I heared them in another studio - they sounded very "honest" and gave me a good impression where a mix lackes.cheers,martin

[mazz]

Oh man do I love the sound of those Adams!! Ribbon tweeters all the way baby!A friend of mine has those p22s and they're just beautiful sounding, to my ears. They're pretty expensive here in the US. I've heard good things about the A7s but the P22s are the real thing!"Green" Mazz!

[matto]

Hehee I guess my setup is a bit more modest than Martin's...his alternates are my main speakers I only have NS-10's, which I know very well, and AKG K-240 headphones, which I also know very well, I alternate between those two.Works for me cause my studio is not a "real" studio to begin with...matto

[mazz]

matto, methinks it's a real studio cause real music comes out of it!! Many a hit song has been mixed on NS-10s. They obviously work just fine if you know what you're doing! At the end of the day it's the ears and what's between them that really matter, the tools are just tools. (Why can't I listen to my own advice! )mazz

[squidlips]

So, given that all y'all are mixing down your own stuff, I need advice, if you've got time (sorry to hijack this thread for a second but I figured since all y'all were on here, I'd do it real quick and you might not notice! ).......I've been enjoying the studio I use a lot but my engineer isn't a mixer. He'll admit it too. He's a horn player and we have a blast together but voices are not his thing and mixing down isn't either. I'm not bad at it but I can't get the sound that I hear in my head. What can I do?

[sgs4u]

perhaps you could explain a little bit about what you hear in your head?have you heard this sound you're talking about, on anyone else's recordings?

[squidlips]

Hi Steve, thanks for caring, even though we're not friends. That's so nice of you. I can't give a good example at this moment. Was just listening to Mandisa's new album (which my engineer is playing on) and there are a couple of cuts she does that have that sound......."God Speaking". Her voice sounds so three-dimensional and rich and right THERE and I'm so frustrated that I can't get THERE from here! I had another engineer years ago who could do that but he loved my voice to bits and my current guy just sorta likes it. Ya know, in a vague, distant way.It's my voice that's driving me nuts. I think he finally got the essing problem solved but now it sounds like I'm singing out of a coffeecan. I'd rather sound like k.d. lang, thanks evah so.