Anyone using computer speakers for another reference?

[tofu maniac]

I have an old pair of powered PC speakers, I want to use them as an alternative to my monitors, but there is only one 1/8 jack for the both speakers. I have a mackie big knob and room for 2 more sets of monitors. Anyone doing something like this and how?!

[river]

I just hooked up an old pair of Altec Lansing PC speakers through a headphone send on my console.

[tofu maniac]

Originally Posted by river

I just hooked up an old pair of Altec Lansing PC speakers through a headphone send on my console.

aaah!thats a great idea! just did it. thanks!!!!

[Marty J]

Can't you just plug them into your computer as nature intended?

I think I recall reading that Bob Clearmountain uses an old set of Apple speakers for checking mixes on.

[bunnerabb]

I had some old JBLs that are you basic, post Harman, plastic crap.

They really let you know what the low mids are doing and they're a good consumer reference.

[Chrisc_o]

I have a set of Monsoon speakers (2.1). Pretty natural sounding. I also listen to my mixes on our home theater set-up, which is actually a set of Logitech THX (5.1). That sub can really pump out the lows!

[lofi]

of course !!!

thats essential

[delcosmos]

I love to check mixes on my lap top speakers, I have a 17" Mac book. Those little speakers sound great!! You can check there if your vocals are too loud.

Best regards.

delcosmos.

[tofu maniac]

Originally Posted by Marty J

Can't you just plug them into your computer as nature intended?

haha ya but i wanted to plug them into my big knob to a/b between those and my monitors. i plugged them into the 2nd headphone jack and it works great...fixing alot of my vocal problems already!!

[Marty J]

Glad you got it sorted!

[Mitch Deason]

Originally Posted by tofu maniac

haha ya but i wanted to plug them into my big knob to a/b between those and my monitors. i plugged them into the 2nd headphone jack and it works great...fixing alot of my vocal problems already!!

That's what I did, too, as I had the three regular speaker outs filled already.

Mine, too, are the little Altec Lansings with a couple custom cigarette burns from days of old.

They're really good for telling if I'm stacking up too much in the bass frequencies.

[Bierce85]

I tried it with a pretty good set of klipsch computer speakers and didnt really see the point. Doing things to your mix based on what a cheap little set of extremely colored speakers tells you just isn't smart IMO. Also, the klipsches had the typical mid scoop and heavy mid-bass response that makes every mix sound the same on computer speakers anyway. They don't tell you anything.. I could never see myself listening to my mix through computer speakers and finding some problem I couldn't otherwise see.

[drummin4christ]

Use JBL's hooked up thru a central station as my B monitors. Like someone else has stated, you can really tell what the mids are doing.

[sahiaman]

I got rid of mine old pc speakers when I got the mixcubes. But the old ones did work well for checking on and off.

[Funk Dracula]

Originally Posted by tofu maniac

I have an old pair of powered PC speakers, I want to use them as an alternative to my monitors, but there is only one 1/8 jack for the both speakers. I have a mackie big knob and room for 2 more sets of monitors. Anyone doing something like this and how?!

Yes. Computer speakers are #2 to Ipod earbubs for end user delivery. Car stereo is next. Fu@ked up times right? Translation is a bitch.

[BudgetMC]

I've got a whole batch of alternate speakers I use to check mixes. I've got a mongo-crappy pair of garage-sale special speakers A/B'd to the monitors, I have a boom box handy to listen to, and I always check final mixes in the car and the truck. As John Fogerty said: 'If it sounds good in a car, it'll sound good anywhere.'