To monitor means to keep tabs on something. When it comes to monitor speakers, or studio monitors as they're commonly referred to, this has to do with the critical listening involved in mixing and mastering audio. Unlike HiFi speakers however, studio monitors aren't made to make music sound better.
Active Studio Monitors or Passive Studio Monitors Plus a Monitor Amplifier
Most popular studio monitors are active monitors, which means they feature a built-in amplifier and can be directly hooked up to mains power and your audio interface. Active monitors also offer the assurance of amplifiers and drivers that have been tuned to one another, and protection circuits to prevent you from blowing your speakers. There are also passive studio monitors: the benefit of these is that you're free to pick a custom combination of speakers and amps.
Studio Subwoofers
Studio subwoofers are essentially speakers that are designed to reproduce bass only. These units make a great addition to a set of nearfield studio monitors that lack low-end coverage; an easy way to turn a 2-way monitor set-up into a 3-way system. In addition to enlarging the frequency range, subwoofers increase the dynamic range and allow your studio monitors to focus on the middle frequencies for extra definition. For most set-ups, a single subwoofer will do. After all, it's almost impossible to detect sub-150 Hertz frequencies in small to mid-sized rooms.
Studio Speakers or DJ Monitors
DJs use special monitors to beat-match, since standard PA speakers aren't the most reliable option for live sets due to the slight signal delay caused by the longer cables needed to hook them up. That's why there are always one or two monitors set up in the DJ booth. These monitors need to pack quite a bit of power and must be able to reproduce extra beefy bass. Unlike in a studio setting, the lows don't necessarily need to sound accurate - what's important is that they can be felt. Some monitors - like most models made by KRK - are loved by DJs for their pronounced bass reproduction. That said, there are plenty of deejays who like to flesh out their DJ booth with active full-range PA speakers.
Studio Monitor Stands and Studio Furniture
Accurate stereo sound and a balanced frequency response hinge on proper speaker placement, which in turn hinges on a set of solid studio monitor stands for the correct set-up height. The height is important since the highest frequencies are extremely focussed. Since the walls are always close in small rooms, it can be a better idea to place your studio monitor on your desk, but if you've got plenty of room, a set of floor stands are always recommended. It's also worth knowing that upgrading your studio monitor stands with purpose-made studio monitor isolation pads will counter unwanted resonance. If you still need a studio desk, check out our array of studio furniture.
Studio Monitor Controllers
Studio monitor controllers are available in various shapes and sizes. The most basic models come equipped with nothing but a large volume knob that can come in handy if your audio interface is set up out of reach. Another reason why you'd want to pick up a monitor controller is the option to switch between different sets of monitors, and more extensive controllers will even include options like mono mode, a mute function or a talk-back microphone. All that being said, if you're running a single pair of studio monitors and you've got a volume control within reach, you won't have much use for a monitor controller.
A Stereo, Mono or 5.1 Monitor Speaker Configuration
While stereo sound has been the mainstream audio format for decades now, it remains essential to see if your mixes hold up in mono so you're assured that they sound just as good played back through something like a portable Bluetooth speaker. As such, it's never a bad idea to deploy a small mono speaker in addition to your stereo studio monitors. Also, a lot of music streaming services offer surround sound nowadays. If you're into producing 5.1, 7.1 or perhaps even 7.1.4 surround-sound projects, it's worth investing in a surround-sound monitor system.
2-Way or 3-Way Near-Field Monitors
Most speakers feature two drivers that make up a 2-way configuration: a woofer and a tweeter. After the input signal is split up into high and low frequencies by a crossover, the lows are routed to the woofer while the highs are sent to the tweeter for the optimal division of the frequency-based tasks. Either way, the woofer of any two-way monitor gets a lot thrown on its plate which can potentially lead to fuzzy sound reproduction. That's why three-way speakers exist. These monitors are equipped with two crossovers so the frequency spectrum is divided into three ranges: high, middle and low. In addition to more detailed mids and tighter lows, a 3-way-configuration offers a number of benefits, but it also comes with a few drawbacks. The extra crossover means there's a higher risk of crossover-based distortion, not to mention that an additional internal amplifier significantly racks up the cost when compared to 2-way speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Studio Monitors
What's a Good Studio Monitor?
A good studio monitor allows you to hear every detail in your mixes - including little flaws - so you can make the right calls during the mixing and mastering phase. As such, a solid studio monitor should offer a balanced frequency response and detailed, uncoloured audio.
Which Studio Monitor Should I Get?
Always pay attention to the size of the room you're setting up in. Larger spaces require bigger studio monitors, and vice versa. Check out our Studio Monitor Buyer's Guide for more tips and advice.
What Are Studio Monitors?
Studio monitors are speakers that have been specifically designed for mixing audio. They offer as neutral a sound as possible as well as the most phase-correct signal possible, enabling you to spot imperfections in your mixes and make sure that your tracks sound good no matter what kind of speaker system they’re played through.
What’s an Active Studio Monitor?
Active studio monitors feature a built-in amplifier that does away with the need for an external amplifier. The integrated amplifier module has been specially designed to match the monitor’s output capacity.
Should I Get Active or Passive Studio Monitors?
Almost all of the studio monitors in the most popular price ranges are active monitors. Nowadays, passive monitors are almost exclusively found in huge recording studios where the speakers are installed in the walls so the mixing engineer can choose between different external amplifiers and doesn’t need to take out the (usually very heavy) monitor when there’s a technical issue.
Do I Need an Audio Interface to Use Studio Monitors?
Not necessarily. Studio monitors are fed a line signal, which can come from any line source (e.g. a computer, synthesizer, CD player, etc). That said, since audio interfaces are equipped with much higher-quality components, they are highly recommended. After all, when you’re mixing audio, the end result is as good or as bad as the weakest link in your set-up. This is why it’s also recommended that you use balanced audio cables rather than unbalanced audio cables, which are more prone to interference. Almost all audio interfaces are equipped with balanced outputs.
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