Help with speaker monitors

Taqnlam · 2024-03-16T01:59:21.449Z

New to synthesis… if I was to buy something like a
Minibrute 2 or a ms20 mini… what’s holding me back from getting an appropriate size trs cord to dual output cords for 2 5 inch JBL speakers… not running it daw… sure I’ll get a mixer eventually….

But it this possible with a y cable to get sound out of the speaker monitors sans mixer or interface???

What about other synths?

Would I just run yes from the head phone jack and then a dual into speakers?

What am I missing? (Sure I know I’m gonna want a mixer eventually… but it is really necessity… starting at square one with no gear yet…)

chr1sdanger · 2024-03-16T02:55:28.162Z

Nothing is stopping you from doing this. A lot of people start out like this. Either using just headphones, mono out to something like a keyboard or bass amp, or monitor style speakers connected to the headphone out of a synth.

To connect a 1/4" TRS headphone port to separate monitors as you describe, you’ll need a male TRS to dual TS female adapter, and two TS cables. Keep the monitors at 0db, and adjust the volume using the headphone volume control on the synth.

However, one thing I’ll say is you will likely get bored of that setup pretty quickly. With no effects or eq, the raw sound of the synth can become fatiguing on the ears very quickly. I’d recommend the next step as either some type of multieffect or a mixer with some stereo effects. Overdrive or distortion, chorus, delay and reverb should be a great start. The mixer is for when you want to add a drum machine or second synth

Personally, I started on a microbrute connected through effects pedals to a guitar amp. But very quickly realized that was not going to cut it for long.

Taqnlam · 2024-03-16T04:08:36.357Z

Something like a mackie 8 in the near future would be wise?

chr1sdanger · 2024-03-16T04:13:13.832Z

To be honest that’s going to be a question only you can answer.

Will you want to:
Play one synth with a lot of effects? -> multi effect unit
Play a couple synths and/or drum machines -> mixer with effects

Its not a question you need to answer right away. My advice is grab a synth, grab those speakers, grab the cables, and start learning. You’ll know what you need next then.

Octagonist · 2024-03-16T07:45:15.845Z

Specifically regarding the MS-20… a popular patch configuration is to take the signal out of the main or headphone outs and pass it into the filter, or the external instrument processor (and then to the filter). This creates feedback and can fatten up a sound nicely. You’d then use the other of main/headphones to take the signal to your speakers, or mixer etc. The two outs are controlled by the same volume knob.

I mention this because your initial plan is to connect the synth directly to the speakers. This means you’re likely gonna use the synth’s main out knob to control overall volume from the speakers. But doing so, you’ll also be attenuating the feedback signal, which will monkey with the sound you’re making, if you’re doing the feedback patches.

A mixer will help get around this. It’s also not a big deal as no-one’s gonna force you to make feedback patches and there’s still heaps you can do with an MS-20.

chr1sdanger · 2024-03-16T15:08:39.476Z

Very solid point about the MS20 routing and volume control.

@Taqnlam The minibrute 2/S has “brute factor” control which essentially is a similar type of feedback which acts like distortion, no patching needed. If that helps your decision.

reeloy · 2024-03-16T18:17:22.180Z

…u gonna need active speakers and a lot of discipline, since ur always struggeling with volume versus gainstaging, in constant conciousness of not loud enough, too loud without realizing all the way to blow ur speakers and all the way back to the most asked studio setup question of any kind…why do i can’t hear anything…

any mixing soltution, to be placed between any monitoring and any gear is a somewhat first level of what u can call a musicstudio…