Single Monitor Listening?

[alex1fly]

I have a home project studio that uses two M-Audio studio monitors for listening, and a home audio subwoofer for checking low frequencies.

I want to upgrade my speakers to something like Adam A7x, KRK Rokit 8, Mackie HR824, pretty much one of the speakers sets on this link here: http://www.junodownload.com/plus/2011/0 ... -monitors/

I can't afford 2 speakers right now.

My question is, are there drawbacks (or advantages) to using ONE speaker as your monitor source instead of two? Panning left/right will obviously be less noticeable.... can anyone think of other issues I might run into if I buy a single speaker?

Much thanks... its just a home project studio.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

Personally I would just save for a pair. I have $200.00 monitors I use regularly, it's not the monitors if my mix sucks.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

ya you need two monitors for determining reverb and how each left and right send mixes together. nobody listens to mono...

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

ya you need two monitors for determining reverb and how each left and right send mixes together. nobody listens to mono...

Au contraire, some clubs and venues use mono, many producers mix in mono as one stage in their mixing process.

Good thoughts! My speakers are just worn down, man, the enclosures rattle and one of the speakers is blown. I'm wondering more about acoustics and sound waves, a single speaker's sound waves going into both ears, as opposed to a left/right speaker sound waves going into left/right ears......

In theory, I'd rather make music on one super badass speaker than 2 crappy ones. In theory too, I wish I had more money with which to invest in my projects. Anyone in the market for a Tele? haha

 

[ginormous]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

A possible interim solution, until you save up for the best pair you can afford (speakers, I mean... I have no knowledge of whether your sig other wants a new set of bumpers ).

Use ear buds for left/right placement in the mix.
Get the mono speaker for overall balance, and get an idea of the general EQ.

That's ol' school for ya... always thinking of the lowest form of playback (a tiny transistor speaker, tuned into an AM station).

 

[DankStar]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

A possible side effect could be dressing as though you're from the 1920s. And you may have to wear a monocle to acheive the full effect.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

Seriously?

You will NEVER make a good stereo mix with just one monitor. I would have thought that was self evident.

Listening to the mix in mono is always a good idea though.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

A possible side effect could be dressing as though you're from the 1920s. And you may have to wear a monocle to acheive the full effect.

lol

yes, and

ur mixes will sound good through ancient navy airbase soundhorns

I just "roughed it" for years using $15 headphones and $60 Maudio studiopro3s factory second from MF

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

You should mix in stereo but always check your mix in mono. Why? It'll reveal things like phase cancellation and other issues where frequencies are stepping on each other.

 

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: Single Monitor Listening?

Also it can be hard time trying to adjust your stereo imaging with a single monitor. Heaphones tend to fake the stereo image so I don't recommend checking the image with them if you have ones.