Key knowledge you need to know before choosing a monitor
In the face of the current variety of monitor speakers, everyone will be somewhat picky. Then before choosing a monitor speaker, you should carefully study the following knowledge to help you make the right choice!
Why choose monitor speakers?
Monitor speakers need to provide accurate, non-staining sound that truly expresses the musical composition. When you're recording, editing, mixing, or processing bus audio, a pair of clear-cut speakers ensures that your mix is ​​delivered to the end user's headset, TV, car, and other audio systems. Note that when we choose a speaker, there are a few points that are prior to accuracy. We will list it again to help you find the monitor that best suits your environment.
Active monitoring VS passive monitoring
Although there are a large number of active monitor speakers on the market (with their own amplifier circuit), here is a reminder that the growth of the recording industry has always been accompanied by passive monitor speakers (additional amplifier circuit is required), which is not between the two. It is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages.
The picture shows the classic YAMAHA NS-100 passive monitor speakers
Passive monitoring systems are usually modular, requiring you to match the speaker unit to the corresponding power amplifier, connection accessories (such as cables), and so on. Active monitoring is one and can be used when purchased, thus providing convenience. You don't need to prepare a spare workspace, and you don't have to worry about the amplifier matching, because the internal links of the active monitor are perfectly matched.
MixCube monitor speakers from Avantone
It has become the industry standard for reference monitors for decades.
More typical speakers, such as Mix Cube, are both passive and active. If you want to build a passive monitoring system, you need to know that countless professional studios around the world are now Do not hesitate to use active monitor speakers (such as Genelec 1031, Avantone's Abbey, etc.), because there is no need to worry about amplifier matching and tuning, while ensuring sound standards and consistency. So unless you have a wealth of circuit knowledge and a very clear purpose, we recommend that you use an active monitoring system that is both convenient and easy to use.
How many watts does I need?
In the entire recording monitoring system, the change in energy has a huge impact on the overall sound, and the impact depends not only on the volume of volume you hear. It determines the dynamic range of the sound and the headroom provided by the system before the signal reaches peak clipping. High power means you can hear more transient details, allowing you to more precisely adjust parameters such as compression, limits, and thresholds. So most devices like Rupert Neve provide a larger voltage in the front stage, which increases the energy, and then attenuates a part of the signal through the post-stage transformer circuit, increases the high-order harmonic components without distortion, and other products often do not At this point.
The picture shows the Avantone Abbey monitor speaker website parameter table
Clearly labeled the power of each band amplifier
General monitor speakers official website introduction will have such detailed parameters for reference
You can try it out, the same mix, sent to two different power monitoring systems, the higher power of the group of monitor speakers signal margin will be greater. Many people don't know that the peaks of the music (such as the high peaks of the snare drum and the kick drum) are sometimes required to be as much as 10 times the energy produced by the average of the audio material. So if you need a volume corresponding to a level average power of 20 watts, the peak value can reach 200 watts. If your amplifier can only provide a stable 70 watts of power, you should worry about whether you need 130 watts or more. Such high peak signals have a greater chance of causing interference and clipping, and the bottom drum in pop music often encounters similar situations. When you think you don't need too much energy supply, remember that greater power provides better clarity and dynamic range, not just the volume. Another thing to note is that the power of many domestic products is virtual, and I hope to gradually improve.
Single amplifier, dual amplifier and three amplifiers
The energy division of the input signal of the speaker unit in the monitor depends on whether the internal is a single amplifier, a bi-amp or a three-amp. Many monitor speakers have two units: a tweeter and a woofer, the former responsible for high frequencies and the latter for medium and low frequencies. Some products add a third speaker unit so that low frequencies can be sent to the woofer and the IF is sent to the midrange unit. In a single-amplifier system, a circuit network similar to the splitter divides the signal of the amplifier and sends it out, sending signals of different frequencies to the corresponding speaker unit: low frequency to the bass basin, high frequency to the high cone . In the dual power amplifier structure, two discrete power amplifiers supply power to the two high and low frequency speaker units respectively. In the same way, there are three monitor speakers that divide the signal into three parts, each of which is powered separately.
Simply put, the bi-amplifier and the three-amplifier have a smoother, more accurate frequency response and a clearer sound. When zoomed in separately, each unit can focus on restoring the sounds that it receives that are just the frequency range that it needs, making the restoration process more accurate. When the speakers are similar in size, the sound of the bi-amp and three-amp monitors is clearer and clearer.
Speaker units of different materials and their importance
Speakers come in a variety of materials, from paper to Kevlar to aluminum. Manufacturers are constantly evolving their own products, and if you are interested, you can find a lot of information about the material properties of different raw materials. But wait a moment, are you really interested in the material of the speaker?
In the figure, there are different types of units of different materials.
The material certainly accounts for a large proportion of the sound quality, but you will not use the material as the main standard to choose the monitor speakers (will? I heard that the color is the standard). We fully recognize that the speaker unit material has a huge impact on the sound, but we can't just look for the unit material. The most important thing is to listen carefully. That is to say, we should pay more attention to the sound results of the monitor speakers than the materials!
Speaker type: inverted or closed?
You'll find many small monitor speakers, and a lot of big speakers, with an inverted cabinet structure that extends the frequency response of the low voice. There are advantages to doing so, and the accuracy of the sound may not be as accurate as the closed structure. This phenomenon is exaggerated when the inverted phase of the inverted cabinet is at the rear and the speaker is placed against the wall. If you can only place the monitor speakers on the wall or on the feet, it is recommended that you choose the front inverting hole or the closed box for more accurate monitoring.
Balance, room compensation and other functions
The picture shows an excellent studio acoustic environment
The picture shows the room compensation adjustment of the back panel of the Avantone Mix Tower.
The compensation adjustment behind different speakers is also inconsistent
In general, it consists of attenuation and gain for different frequencies.
Many monitor speakers have some adjustment and equalization functions to improve the acoustic environment of the room. Some products even have digital processors that optimize speaker performance depending on the environment. These are useful features, and it's important to remember that you can't spoof devices. Equilibrium and room-optimized DSP can make the sound of the ordinary room sound better, and can further enhance the sound of the room. But in the end, you have to debug the device yourself, without a set of speaker devices to make up for the uncontrolled sound.
Do I need a subwoofer?
It depends on what you want to do! If you mix for a TV show or a dynamic scene, then a multi-point monitor plus bass is standard. If you mix your own band in the basement and make a DEMO, you only need a pair of stereo monitors. Ask yourself this – how did my audience listen to my work? If there is a home theater in the brain, or a dance floor or disco, there will of course be bass, and you need it to monitor the lowest scale. If your work appears more on an iPod or a car, then adding bass to your monitor system is not a good fit.
The picture shows the Avantone Abbey three-way active monitor
Specialized woofer with back-illumination
As a studio music production, there is no need for a separate subwoofer.
Another consideration is the size of the room. We don't count the numbers first, just know that a small room is not enough for the low-frequency sound to fully expand the fill. Putting the subwoofer into the small room is a self-seeking sound error: you will continue to hear the sound exploding and falling, some low notes will sound very hard, and some will be soft and dark, and the overall sound of your studio will become unbalanced. You should also be aware of the perceived impairment caused by excessive low frequency energy, which will affect the adjustment of the low frequency when you mix. Some acoustic designs, such as low-frequency traps, can alleviate these symptoms, but room size still has a limit to the accuracy of sound.
Speaker placement and isolation
Be sure to at least have no gray areas - make sure the monitor speakers form an equilateral triangle with your head when you sit in the mix position. In other words, place them as far away as your head, and the distance between the two speakers is equal to the distance they are from your head. This will provide an accurate frequency response and a clear stereo image. If you need to set up a multi-channel surround sound system, it's more complicated - you can consult Yishengfei's professional and technical engineers for more advice, they can guide you how to choose and build a surround sound system.
The audio stand helps to improve the sound of the monitor speakers, and they can be heard by placing them on the workbench or stand. When the speaker is placed on the table or console, it produces a reflected sound that is transmitted to your ear after the direct sound. This is a slight comb filtering effect that reduces the accuracy of the monitor.
Professional studio tips: Put a mirror on the hard surface between you and the speakers. If you can see yourself in the mirror, this means that the reflection of the monitor will reach your position. This mirror is like an acoustic mirror. Passing sound to your ears in a non-direct way, this is a comb filtering effect. The hard surface between your agent and the monitor is subject to sound absorption. At the same time, the speakers will have some energy transferred to the surface they are placed on. If not handled, there will be more acoustic interference. The monitor speakers are placed on a stand with soundproof pads for best handling.
Where should I start?
There are a lot of considerations in the front about choosing a monitor speaker. From here on, the reference point should focus on your work environment and work content. The following points need to be remembered:
The size of the speaker must match the size of the room. The smaller the room, the more you need to choose carefully...
Technically, studio monitors are not intended to be "good". They must be as accurate as possible. When depicting and controlling the frequency response of the entire work and ensuring the balance of sound, all your thoughts and details must be accurately expressed, and good or bad effects must be heard.
Note that the result of “What does a device sound like?†is unpredictable. Even if you spend time listening to the store's friend's shed, your room will have a different effect. You can find the same features, don't expect the effects to be exactly the same.
If you have the choice of listening to the speakers, I hope that you are also the same ~ care about controlling the acoustic environment of your room. If you haven't bought a speaker yet, we strongly recommend that you take a portion of your budget to purchase the basic sound-absorbing material - so you can hear more from the speakers instead of the room reflections.
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