Transporting speakers for remote recordings?

[Studiodawg]

I didn't want to hijack the thread "Reference Monitors for portable rig?"... I often consider bringing speakers to a location recording, but don't because it seems too "dangerous". I've seen only one speaker "bag" for Focals (I think) and wondered if there are any other lightweight road-worthy solutions for speaker transport...any advice? I have often considered buying the Fostex rackmount speakers (RM-1), but can't seem to "commit" to that scenario.

[DannyL]

I had a set of cases made for my Dynaudio BM15's. Custom Covers - Pro Audio, Video, Lighting, OEM Custom Covers - Under Cover
Durable protection with good handles and a cable pouch.

Regards;
Danny

[hbphotoav]

I used to carry a pair of M-Audio BX5a in an old camera shoulder bag. I protected the tweeters with scrap CD-Rs taped to the cabinets and put them in face-to-face. Power and signal cables went into the pouches on the front of the bag. Worked well... ought to work with any of the 5" (or smaller) powered Focal, Mackie, Tascam, etc.

Still have the bag... not the speakers.

[John Willett]

Genelec did a carrying bag and Neumann do a carrying bag for the KH120.

For my K&H 110 I went to KTS who made me a custom bag for a very reasonable price - around £50 I think.

[sonare]

Depends on if you are carrying them across town or flying them across the country. I have used Tannoy 800A for a long time, and for "local" I use a pair of Brit Army (appropriate I thought) duffel bags that have a solid bottom.

For things that means someone else is throwing them around, I had a pair of flight cases made. Not cheap, but better than trying to rent on short notice because of demolition. That's IF you can find something that will work. I tried to rent a pair in Detroit a few years ago and could not come any closer than self-powered PA speakers (and yes, the stands were extra).

The "most noble" awards go to anyone who schlepps around B&W 801, Dunlavys, or Quad ESLs (as Tony Faulkner does).

This does not address the fact that you are making some very important decisions while listening to unfamiliar monitors.

Rich

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by sonare

This does not address the fact that you are making some very important decisions while listening to unfamiliar monitors.

Not to mention, room...
I often bring speakers to the more serious gigs; usually in the standard genelec bag. Sometimes the bags travel inside a bigger bag or case, but the speakers are really sturdy anyway so I don't worry too much.

[Mats H]

I bought a pair of Genelec 8030s for remote work, they have their own bag for the speakers and cables. They are also mic stand montable and work great! When researching remote studio monitors I went for the manifacturer with one of the widest range of accessories.

As do the kh120... I'm leaning toward those for my next reference pair.

[studer58]

A lot depends on whether the drivers are 'naked' or have protective mesh in front of them ? I've been known to gaffa-tape a pair of NS-10M's face to face to make a solid 'block' (with a sheet of cardboard between them to protect the speaker cones) but I wouldn't recommend this for monitors you care much about ! Well made individual vinyl or heavy canvas bags for each speaker, and then another of the same to hold the pair tightly strapped together would be my suggestion for minimal care, and you could well go further than that......

[David Spearritt]

Is it true you can "lock" the drivers from motion during transport by putting a short across the speaker terminals. When the cones try to move the back EMF generated in the coils acts in the opposite sense to stop them moving.

I can't be bothered sorting this out with theory etc, got something better to do.

Is it true? I seem to remember years ago B&W shipped their monitors with shorts in place.

[Plush]

I just load my speakers loose in my Sienna van. I have used them for 15 years this way. I luv how beat up they look.

[Rolo 46]

Aluminium flight cases
Your local PA hire hire co will have used ones.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by studer58

A lot depends on whether the drivers are 'naked' or have protective mesh in front of them ? I've been known to gaffa-tape a pair of NS-10M's face to face to make a solid 'block' (with a sheet of cardboard between them to protect the speaker cones) but I wouldn't recommend this for monitors you care much about ! Well made individual vinyl or heavy canvas bags for each speaker, and then another of the same to hold the pair tightly strapped together would be my suggestion for minimal care, and you could well go further than that......

That is the problem. Woofers are exposed and unless the case supports the edges only, pressure points will press against the woofers.

I use JBL Pro III's with rebuilt crossovers. Small, light and take 100 watts. They are plastic cases with removable metal grills that protect the drivers. They can be thrown into a suitcase without extra protection. If they're lost, no big deal, I'll buy more.

[Studiodawg]

Thanks for all of your input. I appreciate it.

[Petrus]

I just use a mid-size Samsonite hard suitcase. Speakers; ADAM A7, placed face to face with something taped between them to keep drivers from touching each other or anything else. First a fleece jacket on the bottom, then speakers with AC & signal cables at ends, then more fleece jackets around and on the top for tight fit. Cost: nothing (as long as you have ever travelled: suitcase, and done hiking/climbing: fleece jackets aplenty).

[GIACOMO-_]

ADAM A5, old model, with grille.

[studer58]

There's definitely a niche market waiting to be filled here...for rugged, dependable and roadworthy speakers which can be thrown together in the back of a van and expected to work when you arrive at the location ! High on the priority list would be imaging accuracy, reasonably high efficiency (if unpowered)..... so you don't have to drag along a monster amp as well ! Even the Quad Electrostatic speaker company made a 'ruggedized' version of their famous ESL-63 speaker (the 63 USA Pro) in the late 80's, with handles for easier lifting and a reinforced frame, probably as a result of pleading from the BBC and Decca ? Monitor manufacturers now seem intent on pretty wood finishes, which instill fear in the recordist who wants to take them out of the studio, lest they get a scratch or 3 !!
Here's a selection of hardware I'd like to see fitted as standard to a roadworthy monitor, before I take it seriously for that purpose:

0174SA Self adhesive carpet covering dark grey for the outside
4030 Small knuckle corner nickel plated for the corners
34102 Recessed sprung handle for each side
1607 Medium drawbolt n/p for holding the speakers face to face

Ok, some of it is a bit overkill, but you get my drift ? This sort of hardware inspires confidence, compared with the 'back of the mind fear factor' of "what if I drop or scratch it" that makes us hesitant to take our studio monitors into the sunlight and rain.

[studer58]

Originally Posted by David Spearritt

Is it true you can "lock" the drivers from motion during transport by putting a short across the speaker terminals. When the cones try to move the back EMF generated in the coils acts in the opposite sense to stop them moving.

I can't be bothered sorting this out with theory etc, got something better to do.

Is it true? I seem to remember years ago B&W shipped their monitors with shorts in place.

I remember some grave warnings from PA speaker makers in the 80's (JBL ?) that large diameter drivers, (eg 15" and 18" bass cones) could jump out of the magnet gap if bumped heavily during transit, and then the voice coil would be stranded in thin air atop the magnet housing ! Any attempt to replace it in the gap would result in bending of the coil assembly, and thus scratching sounds would emanate from the speaker foreverafter, as the coil rubbed against the gap sides ! I can't recall if the accepted wisdom back then was to transport such speakers on their sides, never with drivers facing up or down ?

Some wizz needs to invent a 'cone brake', similar to the stop-motion detection system used in IBM Thinkpad laptop drives, which protects them from impact damage....!

[fifthcircle]

I've seen gap shift in a number of PA speakers that have been dropped. Can't say the same for studio monitors as I've never dropped them.

I currently am using a pair of Genelec 1031A speakers that I made custom cases for through Encore cases. My cases have an inch of foam around the speakers, a space for the power cord and the tops can be used as speaker stands. Essentially, the handles are on the bottom under the rubber feet. The top half comes off and sits flat on a table and can be used as a location to place the speakers.

I've attached a picture of a control room with the rig in use.

--Ben

[studer58]

Ben, your transport cases look very strong indeed ! With my 'hardware list' above I was actually envisaging that the two speaker boxes might be locked together face to face.....via the drawbolts. This would make them one unit for the purposes of handling, and they could either have the corner knuckles attached for loading robustness, or else be lowered into a roadcase such as yours. 1 or 2 roadcases...the choice would up to the individual I guess.

The absence of grille screens for transportable monitors is a concern...I've never been able to see why there's such reluctance to fit them ? So long as there's no looseness or rattle potential, they give more than the take away from the on-location monitoring experience, in terms of confidence. Iv'e never seen a grille-less microphone, have you ? I'm sure purists will cry "diffraction effects", but then an accidental finger thru a speaker cone will do the same... nay, worse !

The location monitoring function could arguably be described as different from the mixing or mastering function back at base. If a carpeted, grilled (!), corner knuckle protected and drawbolt-clasp fitted speaker on location gave me 85% of the imaging accuracy of my in-studio pairs, I'd be well satisfied. The lack of room treatments and frequently sub-optimal placements in the typical location room/broom closet work against perfection anyway !

[digitalolive]

I use a Meinl padded cajon bag for my Dynaudios. Works great! I wrap my foam decouplers in a towel and sandwich it between the monitors to keep them from knocking into each other. 6 years and no problems yet...

Meinl Cajon Bag: Shop Drums & Percussion & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Steven

[Studiodawg]

Nice dressing room shot Ben! Looks like some of the rooms I record in!