Which monitor controller do you use?

[innesireinar]

For those of you who don't have an analog console and work with DAWs.
Does it affect the sound? It's better passive with true analog potentiometer or those with VCA? I've heard that VCAs tend to degrade the sound.
I have a SPL surround monitor controller but I'm not very happy with it. It has the monitor's out plugs with stereo 1/4 jack and often they cause false contacts, the potentiometer isn't very well LR calibrated (I've never yet tried the other 4 channels) and doesn't have any precise reference point like those with VCA.
There is one from Martinsound that seems very nice but priced around 3K.
Does it worth the money?
Manley is doing one, but not yet available.

[T.RayBullard]

the grace 904 and 904b is very nice., and is well less than 3G

[drummin4christ]

I use a PreSonus Central Station and absolutly love it!!!

[Cojo]

Hello!

I'm not using any controller but if I would buy one I would probably go for a Coleman M3PH.

/Cojo

[rwhitney]

I use the Grace 904, which I think is great.

I've read that in the case of monitor controllers good active circuitry is better than passive because of its impedence continuity, among other things. Costs a lot more, though. Don't ask me for an elaboration, though, cuz I'm just a button pusher.

[Nerdyrocker]

I do not know if a lot of people know about them but I use the NHT Pro PVC (Passive Volume Control) and I think it is great.

It runs for around $100 or so. 2 balanced in, 2 balanced out, 1 knob - what else do you need?

[dolo]

Grace m906

[Dor]

Originally Posted by Cojo

Hello!

I'm not using any controller but if I would buy one I would probably go for a Coleman M3PH.

/Cojo

I have this unit and it does exactly what I needed it to do. Great unit & support.

D

[klaukholm]

Grace m902 - we are very pleased with this unit.

[crna59]

Originally Posted by dolo

Grace m906

Another vote for the Grace m906

Regards,

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by Dor

I have this unit and it does exactly what I needed it to do. Great unit & support.

D

Nice to know!

/Cojo

[andreªs]

Also Grace 906 - don't want to miss it! thumbsup

[innesireinar]

I've taken a look to Grace stuff but it seems that every product has coverters on board and since I've already have a pretty good one I'm looking for a unit that doesn't have converters in it. Has anyone never heard Audient stuff? They make one 7.1 that seems nice.

[Solunaris]

I've got the SPL MTC2381. It's cool. No problems, sounds clean. I'm selling it soon though since I'm getting a Tonelux with a control room section.

[tomdarude]

didn´t like any of the cheap one´s.....mackie. presonus spl etc.
all f***ed with the sound, for my ears at least.

coleman tb4 (rack mount)
grace
cranesong
or
dangerous monitor st (I ordered this one, best feature/price ratio imho.!!!)

[drockfresh]

Hey Gustav,

I was just about to buy the central station to replace the crappie mackie I've been using for monitoring and routing. What is the deal with the L/R tracking problem?

Thanks,
Dave

[vls]

Originally Posted by platypus

Hey Gustav,

I was just about to buy the central station to replace the crappie mackie I've been using for monitoring and routing. What is the deal with the L/R tracking problem?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi!

I've got the Mackie Big Knob, too... do you really think it degrades the sound?

Volker

[drockfresh]

Sorry....just to clarify, the "crappie mackie" I've been using is a 1642vlz console and NOT the big knob.


And yes, the 1642 definetely colors the signal nothing like turning up the faders and hearing shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[drockfresh]

I sent a PM to Rick Naqvi at Presonus and asked him to comment on this issue. He was active on this thread:
Presonus problem (problem solved)

This was his contact info:
rnaqvi@presonus.com
800.750.0323 x114

I'm very interested in getting a CS but would like to know if there is still an issue with newer units.

[GearHunter]

The Coleman and the SPL seem to be the favorites of our clients. The Crane Song Avocet is incredible, of course. We use it here in Mercenary's Meth Lab studio.

[HDGuru]

I use the Dangerous Monitor ST, and love it.

[squeegybug]

Originally Posted by Labs

The l/r tracking is so bad on my CS that I cant get usable monitoring levels unless I turn down on the speakers ... way down. Had my adams hard left+the output trim of the presonus pretty low to make it usable. It starts tracking even at around 11 oclock on the remote or something.

Labs -
That was what I was going to recommend. I "calibrated" my CS by setting the output knob at 70% of travel, then adjusting the attenuator trims to get 83 dB SPL. I have not had any balance problems like this, even at low levels. But sounds like you may have already tried something similar? BTW I don't use the remote, if that makes any difference.

BTW, I was leery of the sound quality, so recorded several tracks over a period of a few weeks, with the CS in and out of the loop. The signals nulled, and A/B comparisons showed no difference, so I kept it. I like the features, and I think the HP amps are nice too.

Hope you get yours working properly. Let us know how it goes.

Steve

[drockfresh]

This is the response I received from Presonus:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Dave,

Well the 12-segment master potentiometer used in the CS has about a
5% tolerance, but there is not a whole lot which can be done regarding that.
When we get in a unit where it is unacceptable, we replace the pot.
Generally speaking, the unit should be completely balanced, stereo-image
wise, after about 9o'clock on the dial and we generally encourage people to
keep all 6 speaker trims at 50% (lines straight across) to give the master
pot a more linear turn and better turning range. It's in the nature of the
manufacture of those pots to have about a 5% tolerance in the beginnings of
the turns, which will level off very quickly by about 9o'clock on the dial.

Chad Kelly
Customer Support Manager
PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc.
7257 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA
70806 USA
cdkelly@presonus.com
www.presonus.com
225-215-0660 (direct line)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[HDGuru]

Originally Posted by HDGuru

I use the Dangerous Monitor ST, and love it.

I might also mention that it's the sluttiest piece of gear I own. This thing is uber. My favorite feature is the remote talkback switch which I rigged extra slutty by modifying an electronic keyboard damper pedal.

[RoundBadge]

Cranesong Avocet ..Love it!

[yeloocproducer]

plus one for avocet. it's amazing for A/B comparisons... and sounds great too.

[jdunn]

I have an analog console, but I still use the Dangerous Monitor ST.

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by platypus

This is the response I received from Presonus:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Dave,

Well the 12-segment....... which will level off very quickly by about 9o'clock on the dial.

Chad Kelly


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chad's a great guy. he helped me deal with my CS issue.

i don't have the L/R issue anymore. i think the QC on the newer units are better, since the fixing. i think when you hunt for a CS, you gotta look for ones made after a certain month... June of '04 maybe?

if you do a bit of searching, you'll find a post of someone (sorry forgot) mentioning that remote is not recommended, as the signal will travel thru that thin cable, and back, thereby possibly affecting the signal.

hope that helps.

.

[jslevin]

The Grace m904 works great, has calibrated digital control over analog attenuation, a whole slew of digital and analog inputs and outputs, plus talkback control.

Frankly, you should be thinking about getting rid of your DAC in favor of this.

JSL

[justinmichael]

does a mackie big knob color the sound?