Okay,I'm cheap,but need monitor help!

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by foamboy

I am in a pretty square room with minimal reflective treatment and my mixes seem to be a bit weak in the bass realm,so I have been thinking about a sub.

Well, you should be thinking about bass traps and other acoustic treatment instead of a sub.

--Ethan

[aclarson]

Gotta agree with Ethan here; as much as you may not want to hear it, more room treatment will likely fix your problem. And this slight upgrade in monitors probably wont.

[foamboy]

Originally Posted by foamboy

Also,no crap about more room treatment either. I got what I got fer now and it's gonna have to do.

thanks,foamboy.

"Well, you should be thinking about bass traps and other acoustic treatment instead of a sub.

--Ethan "

"Gotta agree with Ethan here; as much as you may not want to hear it, more room treatment will likely fix your problem. And this slight upgrade in monitors probably wont. Today 12:17 PM"




*sigh*

Oh well, it was worth a shot.



foamboy

[sleeper1400]

Originally Posted by aclarson

Gotta agree with Ethan here; as much as you may not want to hear it, more room treatment will likely fix your problem. And this slight upgrade in monitors probably wont.

treat the room and you'll get better sound.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by foamboy

*sigh*
Oh well, it was worth a shot.

Would someone please explain to me what exactly it is about recommending acoustic treatment that makes people so disappointed? Not just here, but everywhere. It seems that some people would rather pay more for gear that won't help them even a little, instead of getting bass traps and other acoustic treatment that will make a huge improvement. What's up with that?

--Ethan

[fallforward]

Would someone please explain to me what exactly it is about recommending acoustic treatment that makes people so disappointed? Not just here, but everywhere. It seems that some people would rather pay more for gear that won't help them even a little, instead of getting bass traps and other acoustic treatment that will make a huge improvement. What's up with that?

The cycle I have noticed.

Headphone<Book Shelf Speakers<PA system from your band<Shitty Monitors<Cover every square inch of your room with egg crate foam/old carpeting/moving blankets<Decent Monitors<Good Monitors<Room Treatment


To Ethan- Decent room treatment is "expensive" because the results are somewhat intangible. You have to have good enough ears to notice the difference. And buying gear to fix the difference seems 'easier' it is just a manifestation of how the world works (to me anyways!).

It's the same reason that there are so many fitness gadgets on the market. Why would we buy those when we can just do pushups/situps/run around the block, for FREE?!?!?! Because we want something else to fix our fat ass, and while room treatment is technically 'something else' most people already have a room in which to record, and they don't want to spend money on the room, they want stuff to put in it.

I am going to guess that more than half of the people that buy room treatment are buying it for the look anyways, and have little idea what difference in sound it will make. And I am not speaking to the people on this forum because everyone here is here to learn, but speaking of the great public.


To the OP- If your mix is lacking bass the last thing you need is a sub. That will just make it worse. I would say that reason your mixes lack bass is because you are hearing more bass whilst mixing than is actually recorded, which would mean your monitors are bad, or you have some funky stuff going on in your room. Maybe borrow an RTA setup or get a cheap one, and see what is going in you room before chunking down anymore money. As saving money seems to be your main point, spending any money before you know it will improve what you already have would be wasteful.

Good Luck man!
Robby

[AnthonySpinali]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Would someone please explain to me what exactly it is about recommending acoustic treatment that makes people so disappointed? Not just here, but everywhere. It seems that some people would rather pay more for gear that won't help them even a little, instead of getting bass traps and other acoustic treatment that will make a huge improvement. What's up with that?

--Ethan

It's not slutty!

I think that when you're new to anything you think that more $ = better results. Since this is recording, the logical thought process is that the $ must be spent on the tools you record with. I think the only reason I never spent a fortune on mics is that I've always worked with engineers who told me not to. They always say,

"That's not going to make a big difference. Get a good guitar/amp, play well, and write cool songs and it will come in time. Spending money on fancy mics does not make you or your songs good."

I just did a blind "taste" test of 13 mics on my singers voice and the AKG 414 scored 12th in a list of mics that included a toy GE mic scoring 6th. Another $1000.00 mic scored 11th. Number one was a $250.00 mic (Shure Beta 87). This was not a real scientific test and highly subjective. But I think that it proves that, to me, a $1000.00 mic isn't always the solution.

Gear is over-rated. It's how you use it and, I'm starting to believe, the ROOM! (and treatment of that room)

Foamboy,

Don't get a sub and don't upgrade your monitors (Aren't those monitors supposed to be really good?). I imagine the difference between Rcokit 5 and Rockit 8s will be very subtle compared to room treatment. I think that almost any monitor is acceptable you just have to get used to it. Learn what it's weaknesses are and learn to compensate. I like to listen to my favorite records through mine to have good reference points. But most importantly learn to think of room as a part of the signal chain. Because, let's face it, the only thing between the instrument/amp and the mic is the room, and the only thing between your monitors and your head is the room. If you have a junk room no amount of $ in gear is going to be able to fix listening through a messy sounding room.

Just my opinion... Hope that it helps.thumbsup

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by AnthonySpinali

It's not slutty!

indeed, time for some slick packaging & marketing campaigns for bass traps.

[AnthonySpinali]

Originally Posted by Stevil

indeed, time for some slick packaging & marketing campaigns for bass traps.

Ha!

Ethan, Maybe they're not expensive enough. See if Neumann will let you put their name on it. Tell everybody that Abbey Road couldn't have been recorded without them. That seems to sell mics and pres.

[fallforward]

I don't mean to undercut here Ethan...

I found a pretty cool link on some DIY bass traps. There are a ton of them online but I really liked this one. (And Ethan was cited many times as inspiration)

Steven P. Helm: DIY Bass Traps


The super chunk cornerfill seemed cool too...

[warhead]

I'd love to know if there is decent bass somewhere in that room (just not the mix position)...

War

[AnthonySpinali]

Originally Posted by warhead

I'd love to know if there is decent bass somewhere in that room (just not the mix position)...

War

That's a good point. He could be sitting in a bad spot....

Foamboy,

Is your room set up according to these recommendations?
RealTraps - How To Set Up a Room

That could really change everything....

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by fallforward

Why would we buy those when we can just do pushups/situps/run around the block, for FREE?!?!?! Because we want something else to fix our fat ass

LOL, indeed.

--Ethan