Monitor Controllers - Suggestions

[pedrogoya]

Hi!

Im running 2 monitor systems through the Rme outputs.
In output 1/2 Im using the Focal Solo 6BE as the main ones.
In output 2/3 Im controlling the Yamaha 80.

I actually can control both via Rme virtual mixer, although its not very user friendly.

I am searching for a monitor controller to switch from one system to other in a glimpse and to mono the whole system too.

Mackie Big Knob seems to be the most spoken one, although I haven't heard quite good things about it.

Can u make me suggestions on this issue?

Something that is also messing with my head...
Will I lose quality (in any kind of form) from the outputs from the Rme if the Monitors are going through the monitor controller?

Thanks in advance!

www.pedrogoya.com

[markham]

You gotta check out the Gain Train / Function Junction from Kush Audio.

[djmajik1230]

I recently purchased an SM Pro Audio Passive Monitor Controller and I love it!

[pedrogoya]

Whats the difference here between active/passive controllers?

Is it due to that question Ive asked above?

The active ones will mask my sound as the passives wont ?

Thanks!

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by pedrogoya

Whats the difference here between active/passive controllers?

Is it due to that question Ive asked above?

The active ones will mask my sound as the passives wont ?

Thanks!

Passives bring their own problems to the table. Neither solution is 'invisible'. A great active or a great passive is a great answer. Lesser answers are ... less.

I like stepped attenuation which allows for repeatable levels. Ears respond to frequencies differently at different levels, so maintaining consistent levels for final checks is important. A very flexible but relatively pricey solution is the Cranesong Avocet. Dangerous makes a well thought of controller. Coleman Audio makes passive and active solutions. DACT and Goldpoint have pieces/parts from which you can build your own. Micheal Percy Audio carries top notch parts for a high end solution. There are other options.

[anodecathode]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

Passives bring their own problems to the table. Neither solution is 'invisible'. A great active or a great passive is a great answer. Lesser answers are ... less.

I like stepped attenuation which allows for repeatable levels. Ears respond to frequencies differently at different levels, so maintaining consistent levels for final checks is important. A very flexible but relatively pricey solution is the Cranesong Avocet. Dangerous makes a well thought of controller. Coleman Audio makes passive and active solutions. DACT and Goldpoint have pieces/parts from which you can build your own. Micheal Percy Audio carries top notch parts for a high end solution. There are other options.

+1 for the Dangerous Monitor ST. I had the Big Knob and the Presonus and sonically the Monitor ST blows them away.

[willi1203]

sm pro audio mpatch 2.1
(nt stellar) passive, but far superior to bad active...

switch between 2 stereo in and 2 stereo out, plus sub

mono / stereo switch

[pedrogoya]

Well, it seems Ive got plenty of choices here!

Ill take a view on the spoken ones...although I didn't understood the difference between the actives/passives...my lameness.

What has an active one that a passive aint?

Thaks once again guys!

[jac]

I tried so many controllers.... I ended with the avocet. It's not cheap, but it offers all i need.

[sickie]

You could control TotalMix (rme's virtual mixer) with a midi controller and save money you'd spend for quality monitor controllers or degrade your signal with cheap ones.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by pedrogoya

Well, it seems Ive got plenty of choices here!

Ill take a view on the spoken ones...although I didn't understood the difference between the actives/passives...my lameness.

What has an active one that a passive aint?

Thaks once again guys!

Passive should equal all passive electronics, no op amps or ICs. Active may have ICs or op amps and need some power to drive the signal through. Some seem to believe that passive will have no sound. This is demonstrably not true, and if you think back to all of the discussions about the differences in sound between various resistors or capacitors within the same circuit, active or passive,... well, passives affect the sound, too. And as Matt is pointing out int he other thread, you need makeup gain, and that would be active anyway. I have a custom built active stepped attenuator using Forssell op amps, TKD switching, Visnay and Roederstein parts, a massive power supply and a very small parts count. It is not going to have much of a sound. Ramming your signal through 300 Chinese bottom dollar parts is probably not going to be so kind.

Have you considered an A/B switch?

[Arksun]

The very best active AND passive designs should be extremely transparent. It's just that if you go the passive route its good to make sure there's no significant impedance mismatch and also best to use shorter run cables.

I use the passive Goldpoint SA1X. Extremely high quality resistors via a stepped attenuator that maintains the same impedance at any setting. Rated @ 10K, the input on my monitors is 10K and the cables are short. This provides very transparent signal to me.

But that doesn't have monitor switching its just a single volume knob. They do make ones with multiple inputs and switching too but, given you want mono button and possibly few other features, your best bet would be to go the active route I think, just avoid the cheap stuff.

*edit* Oh and whatever you do, please get some kind of volume control between the outputs of the RME and the Focals ASAP!. Especially with monitors that don't have their own volume attenuation control, it's a disaster waiting to happen, one massive overload and you have a real nasty full gain signal being fed to those Focals. This could not only damage them, but would almost certainly do some hearing damage.

Been there, done that, got the volume control because of it

[anon]

I can't stand monitor controllers they all seem to mess with the sound, that is one of the many reasons I love using a Metric Halo, I don't need one and I can set it up anyway I choose, I can switch between monitors with a key command and switch instantly, and I use a griffin power mate to control the volume, mute and dim, best system ever IMO.

I know this isn't going to help answer the question but I thought it was worth mentioning.

[scoob]

Under 350 = Big knob, sm pro

400-700 = central station, coleman

1000+ = dangerous, grace, etc

buy what fits your current budget and get to work making music sort the rest out later

do not buy the samson c control your better off with sm pro
got it? Good. Bye

[paulrk]

I'll be the first to suggest the Kush Audio boxes. I don't own them, but they are very reasonably priced, and I've heard only fantastic things about them. If I didn't use a Metric Halo rig, I'd own one. Also, Greg is one f#%king cool-ass dude .

[meverylame]

Originally Posted by sickie

You could control TotalMix (rme's virtual mixer) with a midi controller and save money you'd spend for quality monitor controllers or degrade your signal with cheap ones.

Oh good... monitor control via bit loss. :face palm:

[ericzang]

It can be an interesting test to see if you can hear the difference between reducing the volume from RME's mixer and externally. I did an AB test and didn't hear a significant difference in practical range of level usage.

I used Focal Twinss through RME's midi controlled mixer for a while and it worked out satisfactorily. It is complete with mono and mute (panic) function. I used a small dedicated controller for it, actually the one the manual recommended, the behringer bcn44. My DA converter was also placed next to me, so if I had to kill the signal after the computer, I can power off the converter, as well as having the speakers on a powerstrip at my feet which I can turn off as well. Fortunately I have not had to use these as panic buttons! (The RME is very stable.)

I also have the Kush now (needed for other setups) and it is transparent to me and has good tactile feel and control.