iPod docks or bluetooth speakers as reference monitors

[Magnetic Services]

Does anybody have one of those ipod docks (with speakers) or wireless bluetooth speakers permanently set up as a reference monitor? Like, all hooked up to your monitor controller/switcher and able to A/B/C it against other monitors while mixing?

I think this could be super useful, especially as those pill-shaped things keep getting product placement in pop music videos and all the kids are buyin' em.

Anyone out there know of a good way to do this, wireless or hardwired?

I guess even my old beat-up macbook could work, just by switching the headphone jack to be an input...

[Nick Sevilla]

I got a free Beats Boom box thingy which hooks up via iPod or 1/8"" stereo.
It is basically a LOUD mono speaker, sounds boomy as heck.

Also, the old standbys help a lot: the Auratones.
If you can get a mix to sound decent in one of those, you'll kick ass on anything else.

Cheers

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Also, the old standbys help a lot: the Auratones.
If you can get a mix to sound decent in one of those, you'll kick ass on anything else.

Cheers

Agreed. A good substitute can be had by plugging into the aux input of a Tivoli Audio radio.It's mono and the speaker is smaller than an auratone. I have one in my kitchen and it's always on when I'm cooking. I often check mixes on it because A) it a good "crappy" real life reference and B) listening to it every day means I know it really well.

I have an ipod doc that I sometimes check things on but I find it too shitty sounding to wire up in the studio for any kind of consistent use. I also check on my laptop speakers at some point but I can't really say that either of those two change my mind about the mix.

I recently added one of these to the home studio -


It's pretty useful (especially if you can find it cheap) and will do mono, left minus right (basically eliminating the centre of the mix), left only and right only. It's got a set of 3 or 4" speakers built in but you can also bypass them and use it as an amp to drive an external set. I've got mine hooked up to a set of auratones.

[kslight]

Be nice if I could just repurpose an old iPhone to do just this...was thinking about this the other day actually.

[Gregg Juke]

Yes. We've got something like this in the control room: https://www.fasttech.com/product/128410 ... ic-speaker ... Cheaper/crappier than those, probably. But it definitely gives a different perspective.

GJ