big speakers vs little speakers: what they can tell you about a mix

[wildplum]

If the mix sounds sound dull and lacks presence of full range monitors but sounds balanced on band limited speakers (for example, mixcubes), the problem likely is not a lack of upper midrange content but too much low frequency stuff.

But what about the other way around? What if the mix sound great on the full range speakers but sound dull on the band limited? What does that tell you about the mix?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by wildplum

If the mix sounds sound dull and lacks presence of full range monitors but sounds balanced on band limited speakers (for example, mixcubes), the problem likely is not a lack of upper midrange content but too much low frequency stuff.

But what about the other way around? What if the mix sound great on the full range speakers but sound dull on the band limited? What does that tell you about the mix?

That the mix needs work.

[Greg Reierson]

A soft focus lens is often used on an aging actress to hide a few wrinkles. She still looks good unless you really zoom in. Mastering monitors are like a very sharp focus lens. They reveal everything - even the things you'd like to ignore as a listener. Lots of near field monitors fall into the 'soft focus' category. They make everything sound about the same, which is good for getting things in the ballpark but not so good for making final adjustments in a mastering context.

A mix that sounds good on larger speakers but falls apart on small speakers probably needs the full spectrum to represent the music. I wouldn't necessarily say it's bad mix. It might be that the small speakers just can't deliver the musical message as well. You'd be missing out on a lot of the fun with the 1812 Overture played back on NS10s.


GR

[MattGray]

Originally Posted by wildplum

If the mix sounds sound dull and lacks presence of full range monitors but sounds balanced on band limited speakers (for example, mixcubes), the problem likely is not a lack of upper midrange content but too much low frequency stuff.

But what about the other way around? What if the mix sound great on the full range speakers but sound dull on the band limited? What does that tell you about the mix?

Need more info... what brand/model are the full range speakers? & is the room considered accurately neutral (acoustically treated)? Where was the song mixed, on the full range or the mix cubes?

If say that full range monitors are well respected & set up in a good space (i.e. well balanced) then I would say that whoever mixed or mastered the song has focused more on the lowend & not enough on the critical midrange area that you can hear on the smaller mix cubes. This can be the only problem with mixing on full range monitoring. Because you can hear the complete spectrum it's harder to focus in on the critical range (200Hz - 12kHz) without being somewhat swayed by the extreme highs or lows either side.

It's for this reason I've got a mute switch for my subs, so I can focus in on the lower mids more accurately on the Duntechs without the subs swaying my judgement. I also double check that all the mids (upper, middle & lower) are balanced on a small mono speaker inside the Studer tape deck. This ensures a master that translates on a wide range of speakers, big or small.

If however the full range speakers you speak of aren't very accurate or the room acoustics are out of whack, then who knows?? Your ears would be flying blind.

Matt

[Bob Olhsson]

The problem with transparent speakers is that musical balances that don't work on lesser speakers still sound OK. The problem with lesser speakers is that they cover up a multitude of problems that can become painfully obvious when listening on different lesser speakers. A minority of lesser speakers such as NS-10s can really nail musical balances.

Each has its place and I've never been willing to not have both available.

[soundseeker]

Originally Posted by MattGray

It's for this reason I've got a mute switch for my subs, so I can focus in on the lower mids more accurately on the Duntechs without the subs swaying my judgement. I also double check that all the mids (upper, middle & lower) are balanced on a small mono speaker inside the Studer tape deck. This ensures a master that translates on a wide range of speakers, big or small.


Matt

Oh thats a cool idea. Do you think this technique would work well with the PMC DB1 and the TE-L sub?