Avantone Mixcubes

[johnnybregar]

Considering getting a pair. I've read a lot of posts here where people talk about checking their mixes on these and smaller speakers like them - but my real question is, how much do you actually change your mix based on what you hear out of them. Is it just super subtle stuff, like a little 800-900 here and some 1-2k there, or will you actually make more substantial changes if you're not hearing what you need to hear from the smaller speakers?

Is it true that if you mix too much toward the common demoninator that your mixes in bigger speakers will suffer? Do you find that eventually you get to the point where you don't need to reference much on the smaller speakers?

Should I get some Mixcubes or should I just get some cheap radio shack speakers....?

[tone delux]

check out the new active mix cubes.

Avantone Active MixCubes | Sweetwater.com

[tone delux]

i've used the mix cubes and the auratones for checking things in mono. i think they're nice for that. if you already have a nice pair of monitors then radio shack speakers should be fine. the ADAM A7s or S3As will allow you to "Dissect" your mixes. what monitors do you use now?

[johnnybregar]

I'm mixing on Focal Twin 6's now, so just looking to complement them with something pretty cheap and representative of computer speakers, boom boxes, etc.

[living sounds]

I've got A7s. So you think there's no need for Mix Cubes in this case?

[rarseman]

Just got the focal Twins today
I have set of Mix Cubes, I gonna run them both together when I get home

Originally Posted by johnnybregar

I'm mixing on Focal Twin 6's now, so just looking to complement them with something pretty cheap and representative of computer speakers, boom boxes, etc.

[recall]

I've got A7's and mixcubes. They complement each other well. I wouldn't want to mix on one speaker alone, I need contrasting representations and for this the 'cubes are great.

I also use set of dell/harmon kardons about 12ft away just for the distance check. Mixcubes could be used in this way also.

Mixcubes are really useful for sorting out the low mids, and funnily enough in a weird way the bass end. By clearing out low mid real estate they leave room for your bass sounds.

Good for mono check.

and hell, I love listening to Neil Young records through them

[living sounds]

Thanks, recall! What about getting levels right, especially snare vs. kick and vocals vs. other instruments?

Originally Posted by recall

I've got A7's and mixcubes. They complement each other well. I wouldn't want to mix on one speaker alone, I need contrasting representations and for this the 'cubes are great.

I also use set of dell/harmon kardons about 12ft away just for the distance check. Mixcubes could be used in this way also.

Mixcubes are really useful for sorting out the low mids, and funnily enough in a weird way the bass end. By clearing out low mid real estate they leave room for your bass sounds.

Good for mono check.

and hell, I love listening to Neil Young records through them

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by recall

... and hell, I love listening to Neil Young records through them...

You! *crack of the bullwhip* Get back to work!

[recall]

Very good for crucila things like Kick audibility, snare level, vocal level and whether the top end of the bassline is audible.

I also find them really revelaing for hearing if things are over compressed.

Its easy on a long mix (for me anyway) to over compress things, especially lead vocals. I don't know if its becasue there is no crossover in the 'cubes but I find them very good for this.

As for the Neil Young records... I class that as research which is technically, work

[aidyhall]

The Avantones are great for doing vocal rides, or any kind of automation. Sometimes the main nearfields are almost too revealing and clear, so that your fader moves can end up being too subtle. Make those moves dramatic, so that it's exciting on the little guys, and you're laughing!

[camerondye]

It seems, from my experience, that people only talk about using these for mono mixes...why do they only sell them in pairs then? Are people using 2 speakers on purpose for mono mix monitoring or what??? Obviously I know you can listen in mono on 2 speakers but why? I'm much more interested in them since they have powered set now.
Thanks,
Cameron

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by recall

... research which is technically, work...

[Kris]

I had the mixcubes for a while... I never changed a thing when using them... I suppose I have a pretty good handle on my room and main speakers. If your mixes aren't translating as well as you'd like, they are a great second option.

[johnnybregar]

Plus they look really cool. You don't even have to plug them in.

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by camerondye

It seems, from my experience, that people only talk about using these for mono mixes...why do they only sell them in pairs then?

As far as I know, they DO sell singles, Vintage King certainly does. But I keep my second one as a spare.

[peeder]

I like listening to them in stereo. They image very well being 1-way point sources. And reverbs are quite apparent in them.

Originally Posted by aidyhall

The Avantones are great for doing vocal rides, or any kind of automation. Sometimes the main nearfields are almost too revealing and clear, so that your fader moves can end up being too subtle. Make those moves dramatic, so that it's exciting on the little guys, and you're laughing!

+1 I'm doing my automation with them routinely. I find my tones on the S3A's and I set vocal levels and do automation on the mixcubes. Of course the low end automation is another issue.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by johnnybregar

Considering getting a pair. I've read a lot of posts here where people talk about checking their mixes on these and smaller speakers like them - but my real question is, how much do you actually change your mix based on what you hear out of them. Is it just super subtle stuff, like a little 800-900 here and some 1-2k there, or will you actually make more substantial changes if you're not hearing what you need to hear from the smaller speakers?

Is it true that if you mix too much toward the common demoninator that your mixes in bigger speakers will suffer? Do you find that eventually you get to the point where you don't need to reference much on the smaller speakers?

Should I get some Mixcubes or should I just get some cheap radio shack speakers....?

it's more a sanity check device than something on which to spend any great deal of time.

on the other hand, my collection of old big band jazz and james last orchestra albums sound terrific on the avantones.