Are there monitors that are good for electronic music specifially for Elektron gear? Im talking good quality. Some seem better for bass and some for midtones. So as Elektron gear cuts right across the spectrum is there some more suitable than others? Cheers.
The budget it up to 2k. I have my own house and its very very big. Rooms are great for ambience and acoustics are not a problem. Neither are neighbours as its an old Victorian detached house that i bought. I could invest in studio cladding but at the moment just need to know about what other Elektron people use from their experience. Cheers.
Then just read the many, many posts that are already on the forum:
https://www.elektronauts.com/search?context=topic&context_id=77580&q=Monitors&skip_context=true
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Thanks for the link but it doesnt cover my specific question. That is ONLY Elektron gear.
No. There are no monitors that are good specifically for Elektron gear. There is nothing special in this regard about Elektron instruments compared to other instruments.
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Can you expand?
In my opinion, choice of monitors depends on the application:
Do you simply want to listen to your instruments for your own pleasure, or do you want to listen to the content of the music so that you can determine how it would sound to listeners in different listening environments? If so, which environments?
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Good thing is, there aren’t any that are particularly unsuitable for Elektron gear. You’ll want your monitors to sound as linear as possible, i.e., to neither emphasize nor de-emphasize any frequency ranges. You’ll also want to make sure you know them well, e.g., in which frequency ranges they may be “off”. Last but not least, for reproducible results you probably won’t get around acoustic treatment of your listening room. None of this in any way depends on the instruments that produce the electric signals your monitors will convert into moving air.
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If I had $2k to spend on monitors I would get Focal shapes. I think the Focal stuff is particularly well suited for electronic music as they reproduce low-end subs and kicks nicely without the need for a dedicated subwoofer. Although at your budget, a cheaper pair of speakers like Focal Alphas, KRKs, or Yamaha HSx monitors and a dedicated sub or sub-pac would likely provide the most engaging experience.
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As an investment i hope to satisfy both needs. But being realistic it will be listened to mostly by myself.
Thanks Hans. Thats helps me understand a bit better.
Thanks hooper. I will see about those choices you recommend. Im lucky to have the money but id still like to spend it wisely.
I listened to good advice and split my budget btwn treatment and monitors. Happy with the result, I’m even considering recording acoustic instruments in the room.
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Neumann.
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Great setup Simon. What are the monitors?
I also cannot stress enough that even high end monitors will not sound balanced without proper treatment.
Be like Francis and split your budget. Your mixes will sound much, much better with treatment.
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Yamaha HS8, 518 pounds delivered including the stands. And I got 12 realtraps acoustic panels used for 700. If I had spent the 1200 on monitors alone it would have been pointless; I wish I’d made some recordings in the room before the treatment, a click of the fingers had about a 2-3 second nasty reverb.
And to your point my DN, OT2 and AH sound pretty good. Just need to get some art on the walls.
Even this will give you a boatload of improvement to an untreated room.
Add in some bass traps (posibly DIY) and you are good to go for even a midsize room.
My preference in monitors is to have unported cabinets. Ported may sound boomier, but aren’t nearly as accurate on the low end. I use the bigger Neumann’s and don’t need a sub, not sure if the smaller ones need it or not.
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Honestly can’t stress enough how important doing at least some treatment will be to your mix translations.
This can measure and somewhat treat the anomalies of your room as well, could be worth looking into in addition to the physical treatment.
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