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Author Topic: Monitor advice wanted  (Read 11817 times)

Gregg Janman

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Monitor advice wanted
« on: November 07, 2010, 11:53:37 PM »

Hey all,

Thanks in advance for any helpful nuggets of wisdom!

As some of you know, I've only been mastering professionally for about a year, although I've been doping it to my own and my friends mixes for the last ten years or so. As you may also know, for that whole period I have been using Yamaha MSP5 monitors, in the same room, which I have come to know and love.

Next year, we'll probably be re-locating to Milan, from Yokohama, and at that time I am imagining I'll have about UK
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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2010, 03:01:21 PM »

Hi Gregg,

Of the speakers you've been offered I'd be wanting to check out the ATCs - I haven't heard the 20s, but it's been said they possess the same 'family' thing as larger speakers in the range (and those I do know), albeit in a two-way enclosure and with a higher bass rolloff - it's possible you might want to think about a sub or subs if you took that route.

Focals? What I've heard of them sounded good, though I don't especially think of the smaller ones as mastering speakers for some reason. Your budget might cover a second-hand set of PMC AML1s, now superseded by AML2s which could help keep the price down a bit. I've used the 1s for a few years now and can definitely recommend them for mastering, although on a different tack I do know that Bob Macc (UK-based, sometimes seen both here and at GS) is selling a set of K+H 300s in your price bracket - contact Bob direct for more details or PM me for his email if required.
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Nigel Palmer
Lowland Masters
Essex, UK
www.lowlandmasters.com

Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2010, 06:45:08 AM »

Thanks for your input Nigel. I have also heard good things about those PMCs you mention, but I'm probably going to go with the ATC's.
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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2010, 07:18:05 AM »

Go for it, Gregg - all the best with whatever you end up getting.
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Nigel Palmer
Lowland Masters
Essex, UK
www.lowlandmasters.com

Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2010, 05:00:17 PM »

Thanks. My friend (who will sell me his ATCs) assures me they will be incomparable with my current Yamahas!
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Macc

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2010, 10:30:05 AM »

You're in for a whole world of pleasure Smile
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Bob Macciochi

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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2010, 10:46:39 AM »

Macc wrote on Fri, 12 November 2010 15:30

You're in for a whole world of pleasure Smile

This is true. I haven't heard the Yamahas, but I suspect the ATCs will be in a different league resolution-wise.
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Nigel Palmer
Lowland Masters
Essex, UK
www.lowlandmasters.com

Macc

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2010, 07:58:18 PM »

I haven't heard the ATCs but I have heard the Yamahas, many many many times.

The above comment stands Very Happy

Let us know how they do you Gregg!
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Bob Macciochi

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Barry Hufker

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2010, 11:37:03 PM »

Another vote here for ATC.

Barry
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2010, 08:35:39 AM »

Thanks guys! I have to wait until after we move, but I am really looking forward to getting these! I'll report back next year when they are installed, up and running!
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jfrigo

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2010, 12:33:37 AM »

ATC makes excellent speakers, especially the 3-way designs. The mid-domes are superb. Even though the ones you refer to are 2-way, they'll still sound great.
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2010, 06:02:31 AM »

yeah, i'll see how i get on. i may upgrade to the 50s and a sub at some stage, if i feel the need.
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urm eric

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2010, 06:39:41 AM »

Gregg Janman wrote on Mon, 15 November 2010 05:02

yeah, i'll see how i get on. i may upgrade to the 50s and a sub at some stage, if i feel the need.


We had passive 20's for classical location recording duties, with active 50's in the mastering room. There's a family resemblance, but the mids and overall coherence of the 50's are pretty remarkable and a fair old step up from the 20's. I've never felt the need for subs with the 50's, and the measurements ATC did of the room bore that out. Great speakers.

Cheers,

Eric

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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2010, 02:27:15 AM »

Thanks for the advice Eric. I'd love to be able to get the SCM50 ASL Pro's, and be done with it forever, but there's no way I could stretch for a new pair. They go for around GB
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2011, 10:54:38 PM »

Dragging up an oldish thread...

Thanks once again for all the excellent and informative replies so far!

Well, it looks like re-location from Yokohama to Milan will be some time in April or May.

I am still wondering about monitors. It seems they are definitely the thing to upgrade first, then worry about the converters a bit later.

I've recently been offered the following, for around the same price:

1) A pair of ATC SCM 50 ASL Pros

2) A pair of ATC SCM 20 ASL Pros PLUS one ATC SCM 1/15 Sub

The 20/Sub combo is slightly more expensive.

I master 95% modern electronic music.

So, the question is, would you go for the lovely 50's, or the 20's and the Sub?

I'll have the opportunity to demo both in the shop, so will of course do this and take some recordings along, but before I do, are there any opinions so far? I'd be really happy if "The Essex Boys" jumped in with their recommendations. Wink
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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2011, 03:22:49 AM »

Gregg Janman wrote on Wed, 02 March 2011 03:54

So, the question is, would you go for the lovely 50's, or the 20's and the Sub?

Here's a thing: I know several pro mastering people at the upper end who use 50s (no sub), but no-one at that level who uses 20s and a sub. The 50s go down a surprisingly long way and offer more than their -3dB point would suggest - I believe that's at least partly to do with their non-ported design, which offers a more gradual rolloff.

I see 'no port' seems to be the way to go with a couple of recent speakers, for example the forthcoming Boulder is designed that way.

http://unityaudioproducts.co.uk/boulder.php
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Nigel Palmer
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #16 on: March 02, 2011, 07:09:50 AM »

Thanks Nigel!

To be honest I am thinking along the same lines, i.e. go for the 50s. But as far as I know, they ARE ported, no? The 20s definitely are not. Here's a pic of the 50s:

http://www.atcloudspeakers.co.uk/images/scm50aslpro.jpg

I'll drop ATC a note too, see what they say, and report back.

Gregg
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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2011, 08:26:27 AM »

You're right, Gregg. Now why did I think that? Embarassed

Never mind, their bass extension is still more than you might expect Smile
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Nigel Palmer
Lowland Masters
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2011, 08:40:42 AM »

Maybe because they make a big thing of saying that the bass ports are not for bass extension, but to let the bass drivers move more freely, or some such...

Anyway, dying to try these out! My friend had a pair and also said there would be no need for a sub.

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lowland

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2011, 09:58:18 AM »

Gregg Janman wrote on Wed, 02 March 2011 13:40

Maybe because they make a big thing of saying that the bass ports are not for bass extension, but to let the bass drivers move more freely, or some such.

That's the one! - I've been trying to find some reference to this on the web, to no avail. Maybe Eric can throw some light.

EDIT: post #14

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/mastering-forum/165966-atc-mo nitors.html
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Nigel Palmer
Lowland Masters
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urm eric

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2011, 11:09:01 AM »

Gregg Janman wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 21:54

Dragging up an oldish thread...

Thanks once again for all the excellent and informative replies so far!

Well, it looks like re-location from Yokohama to Milan will be some time in April or May.

I am still wondering about monitors. It seems they are definitely the thing to upgrade first, then worry about the converters a bit later.

I've recently been offered the following, for around the same price:

1) A pair of ATC SCM 50 ASL Pros

2) A pair of ATC SCM 20 ASL Pros PLUS one ATC SCM 1/15 Sub

The 20/Sub combo is slightly more expensive.

I master 95% modern electronic music.

So, the question is, would you go for the lovely 50's, or the 20's and the Sub?

I'll have the opportunity to demo both in the shop, so will of course do this and take some recordings along, but before I do, are there any opinions so far? I'd be really happy if "The Essex Boys" jumped in with their recommendations. Wink


The 50's - in a heartbeat - different league.

With best wishes from *Norfolk*

Eric
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Gregg Janman

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2011, 04:56:09 PM »

Thanks guys!

Consensus certainly seems to favour the 50s!

Eric, sorry, knew you were somewhere nearish to Essex!  Very Happy
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bkuijt

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Re: Monitor advice wanted
« Reply #22 on: March 02, 2011, 05:17:02 PM »

urm eric wrote on Wed, 02 March 2011 17:09



The 50's - in a heartbeat - different league.

With best wishes from *Norfolk*

Eric



+1

I've used both recently, no comparison: go for the 50's.

The 20 are two way and the 50's have the fabulous mid and high drivers.
Try to get that sub from the 20's pair if you worry about bass Smile

Bests, Bastiaan
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Bastiaan Kuijt  //  BK Audio  //  www.bkaudio.nl

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