Best Monitor section for DAW??

[TML]

I'm ditiching my digital board and will be using my hd 3 with my dac 1. I have 3 sets of monitors...Dyn's 15a's ...NS 10's and a boom box. What would you guys recommend I use to go between the speakers? I'll be using a small mixer to send headphone levels. I saw the Mackie Big knob....It seems like it would work...but I'm not sure if it will degrade the sound...Also I have nothing but contempt for Mackie and the recent products...namely a joke call a D8B. Thanks,
Tim

I enjoy my Central Station very much.

The converter in it smokes my 001 converters.
The analog is supposed to be passive.


It is way more pro looking than the BKnob to me.
I didn't want all those cables connecting to the device I am handling.
Nothing like wiggling cables to create "nice" audio.


Best of luck.


David

[gwm]

The Crane Song Avocet Studio Controller could be just what the doctor ordered. Their products and service are simply first rate (IMO).

[MASSIVE Master]

As a former Central Station owner and curent Avocet advocate, I agree. For the bucks, you can't beat the sound & flexibility of the Central Station.

For plain and simple ass-kickin' goodness, still without going bonkers on the price tag, the Avocet is my new favorite.

[NathanEldred]

My Lavry Blue DAC into an SPL MTC sounds excellent as well.

[TML]

guys...I already own a Dac-1. Would I be better saving the dough and going with the Mackie piece...god I hate them...or ditching the Benchmark and getting the Cranesong. The Dac is just a great piece of gear.......
Tim

[zimv20]

i like my coleman m3ph

[Shaman]

My vote goes for a Grace design m904 / m 906

I´m loving mine.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by Shaman

My vote goes for a Grace design m904 / m 906

I´m loving mine.

Did you prefer it over the Avocet? Others? Why?

[jbuntz]

The central station works just fine. I didn't do extensive A/Bing or anything but I couldn't tell that it was degrading the sound. The big knob is active.

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by lucey

Did you prefer it over the Avocet? Others? Why?

Here

and

there



and there´s also something NEW in town from dangerous:

Mmmmmhhh

[weedmaker]

SPL MTC

Built like a tank, transparent, with very handy Musician Cue Mix facility!

Recommended

Cheers

[TML]

Massive Master-
What was it about the Avocet that made you let the Central Station go? Thanks,
Tim

[Last Legend]

Central station is crap. It can't even touch a boombox for keeping the stereo image tight. Seriously, especially in that first 1/4 of the knob, the balance (and distortion!) is all over the place. Then there is the nightmare of the trim pots...Former CS now M3PH owner.

[TML]

I think the high end grace is out of the picture....5 g's plus...ouch.........the 904 is in the 2700 range and the coleman is about 7 bills.........

[theother]

I like the Totalsystems SPA2.

http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/pr...oductid=93-531

Let's you calibrate all the input levels and has a nice headphone amp built in.

Very good quality but not as good as the best out there.

It's about £900.

[tomdarude]

....definetly wait for the new Dangerous controller, shaman mentioned above...
take a look @ the dangerous event cologne thread.

I was eyeing at the cranesong until yesterday, but the small dangerous will fit my bill perfectly.
1,5k for monitoring/cue/headphones & remote incl. with dangerous quality!

great deal!

[MASSIVE Master]

Originally Posted by TML

Massive Master- What was it about the Avocet that made you let the Central Station go? Thanks,
Tim

A Chevy will get you there, but a Bentley has a nicer ride...?

Just wanted something more up to the task - The CS was that piece that seemed "out of place" with everything else. Plus, calibration on the INput, 1dB incremental level control (that's definitely tighter than the CS's knob), and absolutely stellar D-A...

The only thing I wish it DID have would be the A-or-B-plus-C output switching (I run my sub in parallel) - The Avocet is A-or-B-or-C and that's it.

[TML]

Yeah...feel in the same boat...I've got good gear...an control room......and want every advantage I can afford.........I'll check out the dangerous.......How much wait time are we talkin'.....end of summer????

[tomdarude]

If I remember correctly... Chris mentioned something around 6-8 weeks.

[TML]

Thanks for the input...6-8 is a long time...probably worth the wait. I may check and see the availabilty of the Avocet...just for kicks......the coleman looks nice......except the one with the talkback has limited outs...the one with 3 outs has no talk...am I reading this right? Thanks,
Tim

[theother]

I'd wish someone made a speaker selection for up to 4 pairs of monitors.

[rabryars]

Dear All,

All of the units listed here look great but most if not all only allow for only one pair of monitors at once. Does anyone know of / can recommend one that might allow for two or three together. I could use a 5.1 set up and mute / unmute 2 pairs as required; Grace designs M906 looks like it could do this. It would leave a 5th out and sub redundant which seems like a waste though .........

Bob

[Bob Olhsson]

I just use the DAC-1 volume control feeding the XLR outputs to the mains. I also feed the RCA outputs into a little integrated hi fi amp and use that to drive NS-10s, etc using the speaker switching on the amp. I turn the mains off using the switch on the back of the DAC-1.

You can find used integrated amps in the paper or on e-bay. If you already have amps, you can probably still buy a switch box at Radio Shack that'll do the job.

I have a M3 acive (ebay cheap) Should I look to switch to a passive unit? It would probably be a 100 bucks different if I purchase used and sell my active unit.

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by rabryars

Dear All,

All of the units listed here look great but most if not all only allow for only one pair of monitors at once. Does anyone know of / can recommend one that might allow for two or three together. I could use a 5.1 set up and mute / unmute 2 pairs as required;

3 speakers, seperate or simultaneously if you like:

http://www.spl-usa.com/mtc/mtc_E.html


5.1 surround:

http://www.spl-usa.com/smc/smc_E.html

[Jax]

Guys, you might want to check out Marchand Electronics and have something custom built for you. Their site is kind of a drag, but look for the PR41 and try ordering something that uses its components, which are about the best you can get for a passive attenuator. You can order almost any configuration you need. I'm expecting my 1/2 rackspace box this week and I'll post a little review here later.

Btw, one advantage of a passive box without converters is just that - nothing that will become obsolete within 5-10 years. You can also order these boxes with extra room for future expansion (5.1, etc), with or without holes cut.

Marchand Electronics

p.s. - No, I don't work for them.

[TML]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

I just use the DAC-1 volume control feeding the XLR outputs to the mains. I also feed the RCA outputs into a little integrated hi fi amp and use that to drive NS-10s, etc using the speaker switching on the amp. I turn the mains off using the switch on the back of the DAC-1.

You can find used integrated amps in the paper or on e-bay. If you already have amps, you can probably still buy a switch box at Radio Shack that'll do the job.

OK...so I just get back from doing a warmup gig before Loverboy...for a roots rock project i'm producing....I sat in on keys.........and I'm thinking....god am i tired/old/and otta shape...and 2.... ....Bob's kinda right...funny....I just need to switch cleanly between speakers........the mono/phase knob is nice...and talkback is a plus...but I need a 10 dollar part at Shack......when it comes down to it.
Tim

[theother]

Originally Posted by TML

OK...so I just get back from doing a warmup gig before Loverboy...for a roots rock project i'm producing....I sat in on keys.........and I'm thinking....god am i tired/old/and otta shape...and 2.... ....Bob's kinda right...funny....I just need to switch cleanly between speakers........the mono/phase knob is nice...and talkback is a plus...but I need a 10 dollar part at Shack......when it comes down to it.
Tim

Of course.... but wouldn't it be great to have it all in one box?

The moment you have big speakers (soffit mounted) in a room, 2 pairs are never enough for selection.

I have big Dynaudios, NS10's, ATC nearfields and Auratones. Then there is still the boombox... don't need one for that...

[rabryars]

Thanks All,

Think NathanEldred suggestion looks like it might do the biz. Its distributed in the UK by Stirling Audio who we know so thats a plus too ! Thanks alot for your posting.

I currently have an old hifi amp that A/Bs a few sets of passive hifi speakers singly or together but this will probably stay in the home garage set up.....which is all it's really good for! The SPL or equivalent is for the studio proper. I don't have soffits but active stand mounted Adam 4, Dynaudio airs and some diddy nearfields (hhb circle 3's) and as "theother" has an old battered up boombox which is stand alone anyway.
I have thought about sorting different monitor mixes direct from the desk but this is awkward as desks are "hot swappable" in this room and do get changed depending on requirement. At least with a unit like the SPL I can set up the monitoring and then wire whatever desk accordingly.

Jax - look forward to your posting on the Marchant unit. Thanks for link

Cheers,
Bob