Why do your recordings sound like ass?

mp3 wrote:^ not true at all. If you mix on computer speakers, chances are it will sound like a$$ in your car.

you CAN mix on pretty much any system or set of systems as long as you do alot of A/B comparisons with solid industry mixes so you can gauge how the certain system is affecting your ongoing mix


true flat response near field monitors are of course best to use but if not available use what you have along with a reference track or two or 3


check in car

check on 99 cents walmart earbuds

check on standard ipod earbuds

hell, take a cd to bestbuy and listen on all the different frequency response stereos in there, and take notes of the freq response of the systems.




once you get use to how each playback device affects the sound, you will have an easier time getting the mix outcome desired.



then in mastering do the sdame and try to get a final master that is consistent on all those systems and sources.

Nice article/thread. I recognize the value of proper monitors and I hear "decent monitors" thrown about a lot, what are we talking about here exactly? KRK Rokits? Mackie HR824s? Yamaha HS80Ms? There's a really big price range ($200 used up to like $10,000+) and I myself am in the market for a new set of monitors (low end on one of my Behringer Truths is completely out) and I'm debating how much would qualify as a "decent" investment. Like am I going to regret it long term if I don't just buckle down and buy the best shit I can afford right now? It'd be rad to hear from anyone who's owned x monitors for more than a year or two.

I've had my Event 20/20bas monitors for almost 10 years now. They orig cost $700. I kept them because I know them like the back of my hand, and I have been able to get good mixes on them through all the places I've lived, and all the treated and untreated rooms I've used them in.

I'd say, the $500-700 range would be a good step up from those behringers. My personal recommendation would be M-Audio BX8a in that price range, or Mackie HR624s a little higher. If you wanna go for the gusto, JBL LSR monitors sound fantastic IMO. Not a fan of KRKs because of their low-mid frequency bump, but some people love them for that reason. And the Yamaha HS monitors sound a little shrill to me.

But having said that, monitors are such a personal choice, and you should really go to your local music store and do a test. Most Guitar Centers have a listening room where you can demo monitors. Bring some music you're familiar with.

usually people get too big monitors for their room. 8" subs 2 meters from their face.

on the budget, blue sky 2.1 setup is nice. for around 1000 adam a7's with the sub is nice. dynaudios are nice. focal monitors are sweet, if you still wan't to step up a bit.

lately i've been mixing with genelecs + a genelec sub. i've started to like the closed box without the bass port... got the adams myself.


btw, when you test out monitors, try them different volumes aswell and listen how they produce the transients. I know this is pretty hard to do at a store, but I imagine that most of the beat makers rooms aren't that much better...

its preferable to get good quality monitors of course.but its best to know what your listening to on the setup youve got.i mean there are some pretty wacky producers outthere making amazing mixes on some big ole crusty monitor box from the seventies no what i mean.but yeah i just treated myself to some genelec 8030 s and im very happy.at the end of the night i listen to the mix on my laptop speakers.by the way,if ya wonna more bass put the speakers on the floor.........

umm... how about treat your room and get a sub?