How far back do you sit from your mastering monitors?

[MattGray]

This poll isn't going to mean much without taking the monitors into account. Some here would be using near field, mid field or bigger full range monitors. There is no 'one-distance-serves-all'.

The manufacturer of the speakers usually have recommendations for the ideal distance/listening position.

[Jeff Hayat]

Isn't the ideal situation the equilateral triangle scenario - or is it different for mastering than recording and mixing?

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by MattGray

This poll isn't going to mean much without taking the monitors into account. Some here would be using near field, mid field or bigger full range monitors. There is no 'one-distance-serves-all'.

The manufacturer of the speakers usually have recommendations for the ideal distance/listening position.

For some material I have to master I would like to sit in another room where there are no speakers...<GRIN>

[Waltz Mastering]

12'

[Jerry Tubb]

All the way!

JT

[Franco]

10', tweeters at ear level (based on manufacturer's recommended listening position). 85dBSPL.

[wado1942]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hayat

Isn't the ideal situation the equilateral triangle scenario - or is it different for mastering than recording and mixing?

Yes, so if your monitors are 2M apart, you want to be about 2M away from them. That's not a hard, fast rule of course, just a starting point.

Now in my case, it depends on which monitors I'm using. If I'm on near-fields in the control room, it's about 1.5M but in my other room, it's about 2.5M.

[thehightenor]

I have my 0300's set up for the K System.

But because I sit in the 5-7ft range it doesn't really work out.

At K-14 the 0300's are so f**king loud I'd need to be at least 20ft back for the K System to make any sense in my room.

tht

[Bob Olhsson]

FWIW: an awful lot of control and mastering rooms with outstanding reputations have had their monitors closer together than the audiophile ideal of an equilateral triangle. Certainly there's nothing wrong with an equilateral triangle but it isn't absolutely necessary.

[CJ Mastering]

Nearfield monitors are about 3 feet away from me and the Full range monitors are about 7 feet away from me.

Don't go by what everyone else has. You need to take these things into account:
1. Your room size
2. Your room dimensions.
3. Nearfields and Full range monitors
4. You need to find a place for the monitors so that your frequency response is the flattest possible. Moving a few inches back and forth and left and right make a difference

[Pete Lyman]

BB5's-About 10 ft.
Auratones--2 ft. (sometimes 1 ft)

[rakkaus]

Originally Posted by wado1942

Yes, so if your monitors are 2M apart, you want to be about 2M away from them. That's not a hard, fast rule of course, just a starting point.

Now in my case, it depends on which monitors I'm using. If I'm on near-fields in the control room, it's about 1.5M but in my other room, it's about 2.5M.

some people use other triangle shapes. somewhere around 1.2 (and values next to it) is other common measure. ex: if the speakers are 2 meters apart from themselfs, you set the listen spot to 2,4 meters. i found that this proportion let the lows tights together much better, making it more solid.

[Babaluma]

It's a ridiculous question, as it all depends on the size of your monitors, your room, distance from floor, ceiling, back wall, distance between monitors, personal prefernce etc. What does the OP hope to garner from this discussion? I think you could find an "average", but it would be completely meaningless...

[Razik]

Originally Posted by Babaluma

It's a ridiculous question, as it all depends on the size of your monitors, your room, distance from floor, ceiling, back wall, distance between monitors, personal prefernce etc. What does the OP hope to garner from this discussion? I think you could find an "average", but it would be completely meaningless...

I agree, each room is different and each monitor is different.


Razik Mastering