View Single Post - Requirements of good speakers for audio recording

PunterCam · 03-26-2008, 12:39 AM

Pro-tools only runs with either digi-design or m-audio hardware. You're saying presumably that you have a digi002 yeah? That's the big box with 8/16 inputs on it connected via firewire or usb(!). That's the 'soundcard' you use with protools. It will not use any other hardware, all your ins/outs and midi data should be from that.

As for speakers, numbers unfortunately mean nothing! Some speakers are rubbish, some aren't, it often has little to do with the specs or the price.

You'll find most studios use yamaha ns10s as they're notoriously honest, that is, most music sounds rubbish on them, so if you get it sounding good on them, it will sound good on anything!

PMC are also a great little company. I've got a pair of their TB1s. They sound great, consider them.

Tannoy make nothing that good these days, but they do make some active speakers, which might appeal to you.

Ultimately, get down the shops and 'pro-audio' shops and have a listen. Take some cds that you know well (one classical, if strings sound poor then walk away, one rock, one pop, and one with big low down bass) and spend a few minutes just listening. Not too long though or you'll get used to them and think they sound ok when they're not! Your first impression is almost certainly correct as well, if they sound like shit to begin with then move on.

And don't listen to the staff, they're working in a hi-fi shop, chances are they don't have a clue

03-26-2008, 12:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
PunterCam Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 423	Pro-tools only runs with either digi-design or m-audio hardware. You're saying presumably that you have a digi002 yeah? That's the big box with 8/16 inputs on it connected via firewire or usb(!). That's the 'soundcard' you use with protools. It will not use any other hardware, all your ins/outs and midi data should be from that. As for speakers, numbers unfortunately mean nothing! Some speakers are rubbish, some aren't, it often has little to do with the specs or the price. You'll find most studios use yamaha ns10s as they're notoriously honest, that is, most music sounds rubbish on them, so if you get it sounding good on them, it will sound good on anything! PMC are also a great little company. I've got a pair of their TB1s. They sound great, consider them. Tannoy make nothing that good these days, but they do make some active speakers, which might appeal to you. Ultimately, get down the shops and 'pro-audio' shops and have a listen. Take some cds that you know well (one classical, if strings sound poor then walk away, one rock, one pop, and one with big low down bass) and spend a few minutes just listening. Not too long though or you'll get used to them and think they sound ok when they're not! Your first impression is almost certainly correct as well, if they sound like shit to begin with then move on. And don't listen to the staff, they're working in a hi-fi shop, chances are they don't have a clue __________________ 2006 Mac Pro Dual, dual core xeons @ 2.0Ghz each 2Gb Ram (I'm too poor) NVidia Geforce 7300Gt 256mb Onboard Sound - optical out to Logitech Z5500 Digidesign MBox2 output to PMCs 250Gb Drive running both Mac OSX and Windows on seperate partitions, 400Gb Seagate Drive for Windows, 400Gb WD Drive for OSX 24¨ Acer AL2416W (not nearly as bad as you'd think) Various Lacie external drives Last edited by PunterCam; 03-26-2008 at 12:41 AM.