Soffit mounting nearfields.. Worth the trouble? Near-mids?

[Rodney Gene]

I am moving to a new studio...( ) and get to build somewhat from the ground up...This is a producers studio,, non commercial primarily for tracking but most definitely want to be able to mix here.

Anyone soffit mounted thier nears...and if you have noticed a major change?

I understand the benefits and the unwanted effects of this but If I get a pair of 8" Mackies or 10" Dynaudios for the new studio...would those do better in that situation?

Plus...At what point does a near become a mid? 12"...15"?
Are most mid field monitors wall mounted?

P&B, muchos much gracias.

[retrograde]

There is much discussion about soffit mounting of near and mid field monitors at John Sayers site. Check it out.


http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewfo...68ce89101ebf2e

Geoff

[Rodney Gene]

Thanks Geoff...!!

P&B,

[mchimes]

Rodney,

Check out the forum at Recording.org. This helped me immensely when I built my studio last year.

Although you hear alot of talk about near fields, most serious acousticians will tell you that properly designed (very important) Soffits with quality speakers are superior (particularly in the LF) to their near filed cousins. I wouldn't soffit mount a near filed though because it's freq response is designed to operate in a free field (or half space) not in a soffit. It would be very misleading in the LF when "boxed in."

I was at a talk by John Stork (big time room designer) recently. I asked him if he has noticed the current trend in clients preferring to mix on near fields.

He "unloaded" my question by saying his clients don't prefer or really use near fields and that he hasn't noticed a trend. Yeah . . . I felt pretty stupid!! Then I looked at his clients and his projects and realized that near fields are a compromise to offset poor room acoustics. His clients don't have poor rooms therefore no need for NFs. You have an amazing advantage over so many in that you have control over the shape and construction of your room (as did I) . . . take advantage of that.

Anyway . . . do alot of research on this because you will be logging major hours in front of whatever speakers/method you choose.

Hope this helps,
Mike

[Rodney Gene]

Great info Mike...And yeah it helps alot!! Thanks! (Although I'm not part of the groovy tie club at Rec.org, they don't always take kindly to newcomers.)

Boy I will not sacrifice my work enviroment this time..no question.

Truth is I just didn't know any better the first time...folks try to tell you about the critical issues with room enviroment but you just can't know better until you know better. I have suffered here and I know I will never ever achieve the results I want here...not ever...not even with the best monitors in the world.

The room is everything...then the coffee..then the gear.



P&B,

[tINY]

You get to build from the ground up "Somewhat"...

Sofit mounting speakers has some huge advantages, but only in a suitable room.

How much leeway do you have to build new walls, ceilings, treatments, etc?



-tINY

[Rodney Gene]

Originally posted by tINY


You get to build from the ground up "Somewhat"...

Sofit mounting speakers has some huge advantages, but only in a suitable room.

How much leeway do you have to build new walls, ceilings, treatments, etc?



-tINY

Thanks for the reply Tiny....I always dig your font.

'Leeway'?...Sky's the limit. I am buying a house with additonal bulidings on the property...one of them is my new Studio...

'Somewhat' means...I am limited on budget (very in terms of this)...This means I need to weigh EVERY single choice I make based on diminishing returns so to speak...

If it is genuinely worth it to soffit mount 8" or 10" speakers then I will consider the benefit over some other benefit.

I need the rooms built and I need traps...those 2 are first...I would love a new pre and a couple of new mics for the sheer 'moving in' celabration vibe...though that might not be practical.
I must have a good sounding room...that's the bottom line.

P&B,

[tINY]

The font helps me find my conversations...

On the studio: Think big. Think 20x27 or more and think angles other than 90 degrees. Do you need isolation where you are at?

Hardwood floors and high ceilings are usually good. Columns and protrusions on the wall are good if you want a natual sound to the room.

All of these considerations will be more important than sofit mounted speakers. I don't like the idea of sofit mounted speakers myself - it is not easy to change if your needs change. Good monitors on stands with good absorbtion on the rear and side walls is almost as good and can be changed around if things don't work out....



-tINY

[mixer]

i have found that even in the highest end studios nearfields are a must. i but i think wall mounting them would require your mixing position to be to close to the wall....they are designed to be on the desk...