Studio Monitors

 

 This section is on reference monitors used in the recording studio.
 (Click on the highlighted music terms to learn their definitions in our music dictionary.)
 
 In a studio environment near-field monitors are a standard piece of hardware, and not extremely expensive. (Compared to some older PA systems and speakers the size of a porta-john) Near field is a term that describes the distance between the monitoring speakers and the ear.

To clear up some common misconceptions as to what good studio monitors are supposed to do during audio playback:


Monitors are used in recording studios to accurately translate the recorded tracks into sound waves known as the audio you hear.

• The purpose of studio monitors is to reference these tracks in their naked, (exposed) unaltered frequencies.

Commercial stereo speakers are designed to make the input signals sound as good as they can sound.

• Commercial stereo systems often polish the sounds you hear to make listening a more enjoyable experience.

 
Monitoring your mix with sonic accuracy is crucial to evaluating the tracks that build your song. In a music production studio, monitors are the audible link between your mix, and the way it actually sounds to the ear. Quality monitors won't sugar-coat your song, they'll give you the results you have produced devoid of any artificial enhancements. This is a very humbling, but eventually, a very satisfying truth about good studio monitors. Good monitors should be used by anyone that wants their music recordings to be heard by more people than their myspace visitors, and friends.
 
 
 
                       
                      Active and Passive Studio Monitors
 
 
There are two types of near-field studio monitors, active and passive.

1. Passive monitors are simply monitors without an amplifier built into it. 
2. While active monitors come with an amplifier built in to directly power the speakers.

                             A Couple of Tips

• When mounting a pair of monitors, a good rule of thumb is to place them at ear level and set each monitor equal distance from each other as they are away from the listener/producer.
• Distance is generally known to be no more than 10 ft. from the ear. 
• To minimize unwanted reflections, do not place studio monitors directly against or facing any walls. Spacing varies depending on a rooms shape and size.

 Near-field monitors are an inexpensive way to directly listen to your sounds. Monitoring your tracks inside headphones can be done without much consequence during recording, but having external studio monitors is highly recommended for mixing and mastering. Using external monitors helps the ear to hear a more realistic overall stereo image. Thus, placing the tones and frequencies that make up the mix can be done with more precision. The environment you record in can interfere with both the sounds that are recorded, and the way these sounds are heard. A true set of near field reference monitors can be your best guide to judging the production quality of your mixes. In addition to getting better sounding productions, getting to know your monitors will help develop your production techniques.


Happy recording,

James