Monitors for tiny home studio

[LocalTrack19]

it is 2m by 2.5m, under a pitched roof (going up from 1.40m to 3.5m).

If walls and roof made of lite material, the smaller size is not a big issue. Sound waves can go through. Although, you can't get a wide stereo image in a small space.

Placing my monitors against the wall is the only option, and I understood that rear-ported monitors are not a good idea.

It's irrelevant. Just don't block the port completely.

I do my recording over my Beyerdynamic D770 250 ohm headphones which are great. However, I would also like to have monitors for reference, as my mixes severely suffer from the “It falls apart in the car” issue.

Don't mix in headphones, use monitors. Headphones for checking.

What monitors do you recommend? Price range up to approx 300,- (like I said: it’s just a hobby).

For the music you make, Yamaha HS 5 is a good candidate.
I assume you already have an external audio interface with volume control, because monitors don't have a volume control knob.
Also, you need stands for them, don't put them as is on the table.

Thanks for your suggestions and reply.
My approach now is to have a single Avantone MixCube for referencing and the headphones for recording and initial mixing. If that does not help, I will consider monitors. Are you sure about rear-ported monitors and placing them close to a wall? I read everywhere that this is a no-go. And what would be the issue if I do initial mixing on headphones and checking on the MixCube?

[LocalTrack19]

This Slate headphone thing have different approach tho, it simulates whole environment, it only works with their headphone tho, check that out, there's tons of people who are blown away by it.

Behringer C50A is cheaper than MixCube's and not any worse for that purpose.

I considered the C50A over the Avantone though this review by Mike Senior put me off - https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/behringer-c5a-c50a ... I wouldn't normally take one person's word for it, but it was his book that convinced me to get a cube speaker in the first place

Haha same for me. Did you get the Avantone? And is it any good?

[fese]

Maybe this can address your problem?
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-pro ... -more.html

This thing is really interesting and I am seriously considering giving it a try. Can absolutely be that it doesn’t work for me (tried the waves abbey roads studio and didn’t like it), and it quite pricey of course, but if the cans are comfy enough and it works as well as advertised/reported, it might just be a viable alternative to speakers with their inherent problems in small, untreated rooms.
I might test them when their available here.

[Passing Bye]

And what would be the issue if I do initial mixing on headphones and checking on the MixCube?

You stereo mix still could be off, if you are just going to utilize one cube without having any other stereo speaker reference.

[Passing Bye]

Maybe this can address your problem?
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-pro ... -more.html

This thing is really interesting and I am seriously considering giving it a try. Can absolutely be that it doesn’t work for me (tried the waves abbey roads studio and didn’t like it), and it quite pricey of course, but if the cans are comfy enough and it works as well as advertised/reported, it might just be a viable alternative to speakers with their inherent problems in small, untreated rooms.
I might test them when their available here.

Same, we moved our studio 40km's from me (it was 3 km's previously) and really can't see myself travelling all the time, especially on short deadlines juggling day job, there's chance I move out to another country even, so have less interest in spending money trying to convert any room into viable solution, so yeah, definitely interested if it does what it claims.

[LocalTrack19]

Maybe this can address your problem?
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-pro ... -more.html

This thing is really interesting and I am seriously considering giving it a try. Can absolutely be that it doesn’t work for me (tried the waves abbey roads studio and didn’t like it), and it quite pricey of course, but if the cans are comfy enough and it works as well as advertised/reported, it might just be a viable alternative to speakers with their inherent problems in small, untreated rooms.
I might test them when their available here.

So will I probably, and Black Friday is coming up

[roman.i]

Thanks for your suggestions and reply.
My approach now is to have a single Avantone MixCube for referencing and the headphones for recording and initial mixing. If that does not help, I will consider monitors. Are you sure about rear-ported monitors and placing them close to a wall? I read everywhere that this is a no-go. And what would be the issue if I do initial mixing on headphones and checking on the MixCube?

I think it will be a wrong move. Headphones lack a sense of a depth and stereo image, it's close to impossible to mix on headphones. They're mainly used to do surgical things and referencing since headphones are not affected by the room reflections they have more clinical sound. A singe MixCube is not solving any of the space issues. MixCube is made for professional studios, to give an insight to the engineer how the mix will sound on cheap sound systems. It doesn't have the neutrality and clarity of a monitor needed for proper mixing, but exactly the opposite.
The Port is there for releasing the air, as long as the air can move freely, the monitor will produce the extended low-end. Block the port, and the low end will get more clarity and less frequency extension. Basically, the port is a poor man's solution for extended bass response. Port has nothing to do with how the sound disperses in the air. Put any monitor against the wall and it will resonate, with front/back/without a port.

[LocalTrack19]

Thanks for your suggestions and reply.
My approach now is to have a single Avantone MixCube for referencing and the headphones for recording and initial mixing. If that does not help, I will consider monitors. Are you sure about rear-ported monitors and placing them close to a wall? I read everywhere that this is a no-go. And what would be the issue if I do initial mixing on headphones and checking on the MixCube?

I think it will be a wrong move. Headphones lack a sense of a depth and stereo image, it's close to impossible to mix on headphones. They're mainly used to do surgical things and referencing since headphones are not affected by the room reflections they have more clinical sound. A singe MixCube is not solving any of the space issues. MixCube is made for professional studios, to give an insight to the engineer how the mix will sound on cheap sound systems. It doesn't have the neutrality and clarity of a monitor needed for proper mixing, but exactly the opposite.
The Port is there for releasing the air, as long as the air can move freely, the monitor will produce the extended low-end. Block the port, and the low end will get more clarity and less frequency extension. Basically, the port is a poor man's solution for extended bass response. Port has nothing to do with how the sound disperses in the air. Put any monitor against the wall and it will resonate, with front/back/without a port.

That’s odd, many things you mention here are contradicting what some others in this thread have said or what I read previously. Anyways, I will see if the MixCube and probably some additional simple nearfield monitors will work for me, and I will update here.

[roman.i]

That’s odd, many things you mention here are contradicting what some others in this thread have said or what I read previously.

It's because we are talking about different approaches to the small room problem. I'm talking about a cut-down version of the classical approach, a proven one, that's how most small studios are set up. Others probably trying to re-invent the wheel by offering easy to implement alternative, and companies trying to market the next game-changer thing. I don't believe in either, in my opinion, they're waste of time.

[andymcbain]

Haha same for me. Did you get the Avantone? And is it any good?

Yes I did - bought one second hand and it's easily the best £150 I've spent for my setup. I'm using it alongside monitors and headphones and regularly switching between them using the software that came with my RME interface.

I know there are conflicting views on them, but I definitely agree with Mike Senior that these are a valuable tool for home studios, for the reasons outlined in his book.

[LocalTrack19]

Haha same for me. Did you get the Avantone? And is it any good?

Yes I did - bought one second hand and it's easily the best £150 I've spent for my setup. I'm using it alongside monitors and headphones and regularly switching between them using the software that came with my RME interface.

I know there are conflicting views on them, but I definitely agree with Mike Senior that these are a valuable tool for home studios, for the reasons outlined in his book.

Great to hear! I am getting one later this week, looking forward to see what it does. What monitors are you using?

[khanyz]

I recently got some JBL 104s, which are 4”/0.75” Coaxial. Initially tested with various CDs and then some mixed/mastered tracks and they are very good, absolutely great for £80. Rear ported, but still a nice bass level with enough detail for me to notice dodgy reverb tails in a mixed track. Stereo imaging is also good.

[LocalTrack19]

That’s odd, many things you mention here are contradicting what some others in this thread have said or what I read previously.

It's because we are talking about different approaches to the small room problem. I'm talking about a cut-down version of the classical approach, a proven one, that's how most small studios are set up. Others probably trying to re-invent the wheel by offering easy to implement alternative, and companies trying to market the next game-changer thing. I don't believe in either, in my opinion, they're waste of time.

So basically what you are saying is to take the classic approach and get monitors and make sure the room gets treated to some extent? What monitors would be the best for my small space given my budget?

[Passing Bye]

Let's get some things straight, nobody advised you against stereo pair of speakers in favor of single MixCube and you can spend tons of money and that room will still have issues.

Is it possible to get decent or great results in far from perfect room? Yes! But you will need to reference your stuff quite a lot on different systems.

Is mixing in mono on single MixCube beneficial? Yes! But you will need to have actual stereo pair of speakers to get good stereo mixes that translate.

Is it possible go get decent or great results mixing on cans? Yes! But you will need to reference your stuff quite a lot on different systems, until you get the hold on it, even than it won't replace your speakers entirely.

[LocalTrack19]

Let's get some things straight, nobody advised you against stereo pair of speakers in favor of single MixCube and you can spend tons of money and that room will still have issues.

Is it possible to get decent or great results in far from perfect room? Yes! But you will need to reference your stuff quite a lot on different systems.

Is mixing in mono on single MixCube beneficial? Yes! But you will need to have actual stereo pair of speakers to get good stereo mixes that translate.

Is it possible go get decent or great results mixing on cans? Yes! But you will need to reference your stuff quite a lot on different systems, until you get the hold on it, even than it won't replace your speakers entirely.

I know, thanks. It is just that it is quite confusing for a newbie like me. Recording and mixing is really nice to do, but is has some many technicalities that you have to consider, also when getting gear, preparing a room, choosing setups etc. And it is never a nice experience to buy stuff only to find out that you should have bought smaller/bigger monitors, that your headphones do not match the impedance level of your audio interface, that you need another room etc. So forgive me for asking stupid questions