ADAM S3A and metal productions

[Mulder]

Genelecs are probably the closest you'll find to "industry standard" monitors these days other than the NS-10's. I started out on NS-10's, then changed to Genelec's, which I REALLY didn't like. I found them too hyped or bright to have any kind of real control over the translation of mixes. I felt like I wasn't hearing important pieces of the audio, and then when i went back to NS-10's and ADAM's, all of the sudden, everything was clearer. The Genelec's obviously work for Andy and many other people, but I personally have a tough time with them. I've done decent mixes on them, but they were harder to do than they would have been with other monitors.

We are exploring (classical) surroundrecordings at my work, and Gennies didn't sound very good in that respect, the dualconcentric MEG-2's were far superior in terms of soundstage and accuray (although their lowend is lifted rather hefty to become flat). Turns out a TC rep told me -while explaining why their AIR-system was so great- that they investegated it and found that the phaseresponse of the Genelec's vary by their SPL.. I don't think they're really bad, but I prefer those MEG's, very impressive stereo'image and you don't have to have any goldplated ears to hear it, it's that obvious. I believe they're commiespeakers, originating from the DDR, but for some reason they can't be found on the net.. Well, for metal they won't be any good I guess, far too much low-end correction. But listening to reverb on those speakers is an experience on its own, soundstage goes really besides the speakers, not only in the middle of them.

 

[blackcom]

Ok, so you guyes don't "like" the Genelec 1031's, but what about the new 8000 series, especially the 8050, still hyped, or different?

 

[Impy]

I haven't tried em personally but what i've heard from people at uni is that they're less brittle and have better bass response than the 1000 series, should be a "nicer" monitor to work with.

 

[unsilpauly]

events are definetly one of the best values for your money as far as affordable studio monitors go. i have a pair of tr8s and i really think they sound good. i can listen to them all day long, no problem whatsoever. mixes sound the same everywhere(good or bad, lol) pretty true monitors id say.

 

[Exsanguis]

I haven't tried the 8000 series, but I also have yet to find a Genelec pair that I really like, so I'm not expecting much. As for the Wackies, I can't use them. Waaaay too smeared in the mids and a muffled low end. A lot of people like them, and I can't do anything that sounds remotely decent on them. Maybe it's me, dunno. As for my personal favorites, it's all about NS-10's, Auratones(sound like crap, but work amazingly well), and often a pair of Dynaudio's. The S3A's are great, but we don't have them at work, so I haven't logged nearly as many hours on them as I have on the others.

 

[vile_ator]

I agree on the Genelecs. Have mixed a lot of stuff on them and its always hard for me to get guitars right. I have some KRK V8's and some Dunlavy big mastering speakers and I switch between the two. I dont like the V8s. But I listened to the big brother E8's and wow! They rule! $4000 a pair I think.

I almost bought some Dynaudio BM6A's once. And I remember thinking Andy had the M1's. I wonder is he still has them and if not why.

The biggest mix mistake I ever made was on 20/20's.

I think NS10s and another pair of speakers with bass can get you whereever you need to go. I dont like subs.

Colin

 

[Jeremy Krull]

yea...

I think though, once a person finds a pair of at least passable monitors, that it's not really about the monitors but your ability to get the sound you want out of them without a probelm.

Sorry to hear about your "mistake" on the 20/20's, I guess that means they are the worst ever then lol

but in seirousness, I am thinking of plugging my little Event TR6's back in, because even though I've had no problem with by 20/20's for all these years, I am frankly getting sick of the enhanced bass response from those 8" drivers.

I agree about the KRK V8's too, not great for mixing. Really good for listening to tons of power metal on though, particularly the last Masterplan record (yes I know).

 

[Soundscaper]

all of you bashing the 824's probably never heard them in a REAL GOOD TUNED ROOM!
I'm not a big fan, but since I adjusted my roomacoustics, I can mix whatever on the 824's without doubting where I am.
Genelec's sound thinner in comparison. The main reason NS10's are working is because you don't hear the lowend, rather see it, and thus having less problems with the lows in the room.

just my 0,02 € btw

 

[Jeremy Krull]

I never intended to BASH 824's,

I was just stating that I don't really like them, and yes I have heard them in REAL GOOD TUNED ROOM lol

 

[Impy]

I wouldn't say i bashed the 824's i simply stated that i prefer the 624's, and i too have used them in proper rooms..

 

[Exsanguis]

I have heard the 824's and 624's in VERY good rooms, and still didn't like them. I've A/Bed tons of speakers over the past year and a half, and the Mackies time and time again didn't translate well, were muffled, cloudy, and essentially didn't make the reference audio or my mixes sound any clearer or better. To each his own, but don't make retarded assumptions that just because we're posting on a "metal recording forum" and that we don't like your precious Wackies means that we're all a bunch of bedroom amateurs.

 

[adrianvillan]

Its all preference guys. no hard feelings..I just did some wicked panning with my Events. Closed my eyes and you can practically see the sound move. Stereo imaging is sweet!!! Im happy with mine. But whatever works for you then use it. In a few year we might be asking what are the best hearing aids

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Its all preference guys.

HEH HEH HEH

 

[Soundscaper]

"bashing" :hotjump: sounded heavier then what I wanted to say btw.

I just spend a whole day in front of a pair of Mackies and it's a sunny day overhere...

 

[Soundscaper]

To each his own, but don't make retarded assumptions that just because we're posting on a "metal recording forum" and that we don't like your precious Wackies means that we're all a bunch of bedroom amateurs.

You meant Mackies I assume?

To each his own, you're right about that part of your post :Spin:

 

[Matt Smith]

I had the Adam P11As and sold them. Of course, the S3As are about a million times nicer and more expensive than those. I just could never get the low end right with them, and I'm sure 90% of it was my room. I also didn't like the Mackie 824s, but a lot of that was my mixing space at the time, too, plus inexperience.
Anyway, finally I was just like, "Screw this, if Andy Sneap and Bob Rock can mix on NS-10s, I don't need monitors this expensive." So I sold the ADAMs and bought some NS-10s, a Bryston, and a Distressor with the leftover cash.

My mixes improved a ton. It probably does have a lot to do with the NS-10s' lack of bass response working better with my room, but whatever it is, it's working. I added a cheap home theatre sub but it doesn't tell me much. Once I get the room treated right, I may see if I can pick up a cheap used pair of 624s for a second pair. I think that would be more than enough for me.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I did hear the S3As at Michael Wagener's place a couple of times, and they always sounded great.

 

[Jeremy Krull]

"Screw this, if Andy Sneap and Bob Rock can mix on NS-10s, I don't need monitors this expensive."

You really think that matters? hmmm

I mean just because those guys are going to get a great sound out of them, doesn't automatically mean you will get the same sound (and no offense but a lot of the time it just seems like you're asking what other people use and practice in the studio like it will rub off on you or something), everyone always argues montiors but the more I think about this, it has a crapload to do with your ears too.

Like take for example, a producer I'm close with, someone who has licensed music to quite a few TV networks including MTV and such, as well as producing albums for a multitude of bands, he's mixing on Altec/Lansing computer speakers, and a large pair of home entertainment full coverage speakers, like huge, up to a person's waste, from the floor.

Also, sometimes I get weary of super expensive monitors, because a lot of the problem I've seen encountered at my college is people are like "oooooh omg Genelec 1031's I wanna mix on those because they are more expensive and sound better than the NS-10's". And then, when they end up getting a mix they think sounds good on those (after doing well, not as much work as they'll need to, because the Genelec's sound good to begin with), only to find that on conventional stereo listening gear, it sounds like shit. The NS-10's I might even take over the 1031's because a person generally has to really work hard to get a good mix from those, but they are an accepted standard, and if something sounds good on shitty NS-10's, chances are it will sound good period. I think that was part of the allure of having the Auratone crap monitors in my control room, because I know they sound TERRIBLE, but it's a point of reference.

hope some of that made sense...

 

[Exsanguis]

The NS10's aren't supposed to sound good, and they don't only work if your room has bass problems. There's something about the crappy sound of those speakers that makes mixes translate very easily(so long as you learn their bass response, which doesn't take that long and proves helpful in the future). I love em.

 

[Jeremy Krull]

yea, that's the beauty of shitty speakers, they make you think your stuff is sounding real bad, so you try harder and harder to get the mix out... it's a beautiful thing.

 

[blackcom]

...But how come any of the "big boys" like Andy Sneap, Fredman, Danniel Bergstrand and so on never use ADAM, K+H.......??