Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by TapeOpLarry » Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:54 am

I'll have to try this speaker/wall thing in my home office studio I guess. It goes against all the "perceived wisdom" dumped on us for years, but I find this happens now and then. At least I never stuck egg cartons on my walls.
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by mwerden » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:18 pm

TapeOpLarry wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:54 am
At least I never stuck egg cartons on my walls.
There's still time...
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by vernier » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:36 pm

Mastering gear, a personal concoction that includes custom and modded. And mostly just listening, not much knob twisting.

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by digitaldrummer » Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:08 am

MoreSpaceEcho wrote:
Wed Mar 17, 2021 8:38 am
I did that in my previous studio too, same result: much better as close to the wall as possible. Here's a couple links on the subject:

http://tripp.com.au/sbir.htm

http://arqen.com/acoustics-101/speaker- ... erference/
MSE - thanks for these. Did the calculations and it got me realizing I potentially have more issues than I need in my listening position, so I am working on some thicker absorption (I only have 1" of OC703 right now) to place on the wall in front of my mix position. And I may try moving the desk a little closer to the wall. might be a couple weeks but I'll see how it goes.
Last edited by digitaldrummer on Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by MoreSpaceEcho » Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:47 am

Cool. Good luck! Keep in mind that to really treat low end in a serious way, you're going to be measuring your treatment in feet not inches. But certainly just finding the best spot for the monitors is a good place to start.

I really recommend getting REW and doing some tests to see what's really happening in your room, what happens when you move the speakers and/or listening position, and what differences treatments make. It's a slow, unfun process, but so worth it.

I know "room treatment!1!!" is a tired cliche, but I just can't overemphasize how much of a difference it makes. If I'd had a room like I have now 20 years ago I would've progressed sooooo much faster and had much more fun along the way. Don't get me wrong, I had a ball, but now, actually being able to hear wtf I'm doing and trust that it's going to translate just fine, everything is just so much easier and quicker.

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by Magnetic Services » Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:09 pm

In case OP is wondering, REW is Room EQ Wizard, a free acoustic measuring program: https://www.roomeqwizard.com/

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by alexdingley » Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:09 am

Yep! I’m very eager to have some time to noodle with REW. Bought a usb measurement mic, and I’ve done a room-shoot with it, but I’m gonna try to do some more tests.

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by jmann » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:26 am

Can you recommend a measurement mic? I'm assuming I need something specific to the purpose, not just my Oktava MK 012 in omni...

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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by The Scum » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:27 am

The DBX is pretty good, about $100, and from a trustworthy company.

The Dayton and Sonarworks are similarly priced, but I've got no experience with them...I believe they both include calibration data, also. The Dayton is recommended by the REW folks.

Personally, I steer clear of the Beh & Nady options.

I've been using an Earthworks Tc20...my first "good" mic from about 20 years ago.
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by The Scum » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:57 am

There's a DBX 480M on ebay for $100...it's actually an Earthworks M30 with a different nametag. That's a steal!

(The newer DBX RTA-M is also a fine mic, just not an Earthworks.)
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by digitaldrummer » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:18 pm

I just plopped down a whopping $20 for the Dayton Audio iMM-6 - I'm sure it's not the most accurate thing in the world, but if it gets me 90% then I'm 90% further than I was. and it was only $20. and I get it delivered tomorrow via the retail killers.
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by digitaldrummer » Wed Mar 31, 2021 2:34 pm

after I received the dreaded error code = id10T (in my head), I sent back the IMM-6 and ordered an EMM-6. REW doesn't run on Android and I had not researched alternative apps very well. Turns out there are not many good options for Android (I can use the built-in mic for SPL sound meter apps and a few other things).

I have the new absorbers ready to go but I really want to do a before and after so I'm trying not to just rush out and install them (but I do need to get them out of my garage soon).

anyway, here's a couple shots of the assembly just for fun...

The batts turned out to be 16" across - I misread the package which said "2x4" but I think that was referring to the stud size.
batts.jpg
batts.jpg (190.02 KiB) Viewed 2766 times
anyway, I had already cut 24x48" blue foam board so I cut the rockwool to fit and then applied liqid nails construction adhesive and dropped them on and let them dry. Then once that was dry, I cut more pieces and used 3M spray adhesive to glue the second layer on top (not shown here). I also forgot to take pictures, but I ran picture hanging wire through the back of the board, through some fender washers, then back through the board and made little loops in the wire - later I popped these through the fabric and connected another piece of wire - strong mounting!
glued-on.jpg
glued-on.jpg (150.61 KiB) Viewed 2766 times
and yes the electric knife once again cut through them like butter (originally got this for cutting OC703 - don't use it for the turkey after this)
knife.jpg
knife.jpg (148.26 KiB) Viewed 2766 times
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by digitaldrummer » Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:07 pm

received the EMM-6 today, so tomorrow I shoot the room... make some changes and then do it again (hopefully).
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by The Scum » Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:22 pm

No one ever shoots the room just once. :)
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Re: Differences in monitoring: mix rooms vs mastering suites

Post by digitaldrummer » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:43 pm

I agree with that.
Started last night and had some difficulty figuring out how to get the loopback (with my Apollo 16) but finally got that worked out. Then today did a bunch of measurements, swapped some absorbers, moved the desk, and didn't see that big of difference. Now I have sh*t scattered all over my studio from moving stuff around, and after buying the measurement mic, material for new absorbers, and then wasting a day I don't feel like I accomplished that much. I guess instead of hijacking this thread completely I'll go start a new one. :lol:
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