Re: New Edit suite - Recomended Audio Monitors?

Here's my $0.02 worth.

First off, you are looking for an "active" monitoring system if you don't want to purchase a seperate amplifier. An active monitor has the amp built in. A passive monitor is just the speaker - no amp.

Secondly, if you ask 10 people which monitors to purchase, you're likely to get 10 different answers. It's similar to asking a group of runners what type of shoes a person should buy. It all comes down to personal preference and how the shoe fits the foot. Similarly, most folks determine which monitor to purchase based on how the speaker sounds to them. So it becomes a very subjective proposition.

We should know a few things first before we can give a good answer.

1. What's your budget?
2. How large is the room?
3. Is the reproduction of frequencies below 80Hz important to you?
4. Will you be creating final mixes on them? (You've given us an indication already)

You'll probably end up with a good set of nearfield monitors, but they are designed to provide very good imaging in a "sweet spot" which is the point where the listener will sit in which the audio will arrive simultaneously from both speakers. To find the sweet spot, you make an equilateral triangle with the speakers and the listener's head. If the monitors are spaced 5 feet apart and pointed diagonally towards the center, the listener's head should be roughly 5 feet from either monitor.

I have my personal faves such as Yamaha and Adam. Others swear by Genelec. Others will swear by "insert manufacturer of choice". The truth is a good audio for video mix can be created on average speakers. I used to use Yamaha NS-10s and Altec Lansing computer monitors to create very good broadcast quality mixes.

Freelance Sound Technician/Mixer