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discouraging EDM dj's from buying studio monitors

Dear Fellow DJ's,

I don't personally have anything against studio monitors. I have bought them in the past and they sound good.

I just think that rugged PA speakers have the sound that we want and can also be used to throw down parties not only at home but in other venues.

One time I remember I had some really nice studio monitors and when I moved to a new place or even brought them to a beach party they were super fragile. Plus, they were near field monitors so it wasn't really meant for a party. Sure enough one of them got damaged and I had to send them back to the factory for repair.

Ever since, I sold the studio monitors and bought some nice powered PA speakers with metal grills. Not only are they accurate but they give all the music that live feel. Plus they are like tanks. I have played out more as a result even made a little cash. People ask me to play their house parties all the time and I tell them that if they pay me a little I will bring the sound and they don't have to worry about blowing out their home system.

I remember one time I was at guitar center and a famous local EDM producer came in just to hear his music out of real PA speakers because they accurately sound more like what the track will be heard at the clubs. He said that he had some nice Studio Monitors but with EDM tracks he produces he has to hear them through PA speakers to see how he can produce for big clubs.

Also, the price of powered PA speakers has dramatically gone down so really it makes sense to get PA speakers instead of studio monitors.

I would say that getting some decent PA speakers is more important than getting an ultra fancy mixer. Sure some of us have more cash then others and can have both. But even a little mixer with some nice PA's make for a killer sound system.

I say we get together as a group and start having block parties all over the world. I know in San Fran they do it all the time. Just google Bay to Breakers event. Local DJ's just set up their little DJ booth outside their house and people just start dancing in the streets.

Re: discouraging EDM dj's from buying studio monitors

quote:

Originally posted by tamtui I say we get together as a group and start having block parties all over the world. I know in San Fran they do it all the time. Just google Bay to Breakers event. Local DJ's just set up their little DJ booth outside their house and people just start dancing in the streets.

bay to breakers is an annual marathon event. sure some djs are in the street but its not closed specifically for dj-ing. its just more a part of the whole party vibe the race has.

Re: Re: discouraging EDM dj's from buying studio monitors

quote:

Originally posted by bigherm bay to breakers is an annual marathon event. sure some djs are in the street but its not closed specifically for dj-ing. its just more a part of the whole party vibe the race has.

i heard they were thinking about cancelling it a while back. wonder if they went through with that. i dont see how you could do that to such a staple of the city. i miss all the roads being block during that bay to breakers sunday morning. lol

Re: discouraging EDM dj's from buying studio monitors

quote:

Originally posted by tamtui Dear Fellow DJ's, I don't personally have anything against studio monitors. I have bought them in the past and they sound good. I just think that rugged PA speakers have the sound that we want and can also be used to throw down parties not only at home but in other venues. One time I remember I had some really nice studio monitors and when I moved to a new place or even brought them to a beach party they were super fragile. Plus, they were near field monitors so it wasn't really meant for a party. Sure enough one of them got damaged and I had to send them back to the factory for repair. Ever since, I sold the studio monitors and bought some nice powered PA speakers with metal grills. Not only are they accurate but they give all the music that live feel. Plus they are like tanks. I have played out more as a result even made a little cash. People ask me to play their house parties all the time and I tell them that if they pay me a little I will bring the sound and they don't have to worry about blowing out their home system. I remember one time I was at guitar center and a famous local EDM producer came in just to hear his music out of real PA speakers because they accurately sound more like what the track will be heard at the clubs. He said that he had some nice Studio Monitors but with EDM tracks he produces he has to hear them through PA speakers to see how he can produce for big clubs. Also, the price of powered PA speakers has dramatically gone down so really it makes sense to get PA speakers instead of studio monitors. I would say that getting some decent PA speakers is more important than getting an ultra fancy mixer. Sure some of us have more cash then others and can have both. But even a little mixer with some nice PA's make for a killer sound system. I say we get together as a group and start having block parties all over the world. I know in San Fran they do it all the time. Just google Bay to Breakers event. Local DJ's just set up their little DJ booth outside their house and people just start dancing in the streets.

Well, I mean it's like apples and oranges. They're two totally different uses going on with them.

What the hell is the point of this thread?

Next you're going to start a thread telling people not to buy fixed phones because they're useless when you want to leave the house.

so, your near field studio monitors didn't work at a party and you recommend we use PA speakers for that...

Thanks for the advice bro

Share the music

For a second there I had forgotten how friendly some TAs can be.

Thanks for the reminder.

In my humble opinion, i believe studio monitors are a bad choice for djs who are saving money to get new gear to go with their nice mixer. I mean it's so much more fun to play for a party than just facing a wall. With the purchase of PAs Djs will have more opportunity to be heard and share edm with some party people.

I guess what I'm saying that in the old days more djs wanted to throw down at a party but now many just want to be at home and build a studio. Nothing wrong with building a studio... Just wish there were more parties.

you do realize that some people who play parties use both monitors and pa systems right? No one is trying to be mean here, but your post was plain stupid. You should maybe do a little research before posting topics.

studio monitors keyword: studio

PA system: Public Address

I thought the names were pretty self explanatory.

not at all

quote:

you do realize that some people who play parties use both monitors and pa systems right? No one is trying to be mean here, but your post was plain stupid. You should maybe do a little research before posting topics.

Ok I will do a little research next time. Thanks for the advice.

I think that I'm being misunderstood.

You see, I'm coming from the perspective of being a poor dj. Which I am. I can't afford to buy all the gear I want. I suspect that many TA's also are in the same boat. Although, some do have the cash to get what they want. Eitherway, we all have a budget for music and gear.

It would be great if I could afford some nice Dynaudio Acoustics Studio Monitors and some Mackie Powered PA's. But on my budget I can only get either one or the other. In fact, an option was to at least get one speaker because a pair might be a bit much for now.

So going shopping online and at the store I have to make a decision. Get some studio monitors for the house and for production purposes or get some PA's which I can take to parties. I went with the PA's because I think the ones I got are accurate enough to also use for production.

Little did I know at the time that by buying PA's it opened new windows of opportunities to play out for a crowd.

If you have both studio monitors and PA speakers then great. I envy you. I hope I can one day save enough to have both also. But if you are like me and trying to get by with what you can afford then PA's first would make a great choice.

However, the PA's sound so good that I even wonder if I will ever buy studio montitors again. That's my opinion.

get a girlfriend that is a musician and share the costs and gear, thats what i did

great idea!

quote:

get a girlfriend that is a musician and share the costs and gear, thats what i did

that is brilliant!

I'm going to call DJ Baby Anne right now.

or you could just play out every weekend like i do, no need to even worry about gear, just show up with your music and go

i don't even have monitors, i just mix in the headphones if/when i use my setup at home

i need to move

quote:

or you could just play out every weekend like i do, no need to even worry about gear, just show up with your music and go i don't even have monitors, i just mix in the headphones if/when i use my setup at home

Yeah I was already considering moving to Canada or some place where there is more EDM parties.

But for now my friends and I have to throw our own.

Studio Monitors have nothing to do with DJing.

They are designed to give a flat response in order for music producers to be able to create good mixdowns, masters etc. You wouldn't want to use them for everyday listening, would be too harsh on the ears.

Normal speakers are fine for DJing.

Cheers
Nem

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 You wouldn't want to use them for everyday listening, would be too harsh on the ears.

Please explain this statement.

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 They are designed to give a flat response in order for music producers to be able to create good mixdowns, masters etc. You wouldn't want to use them for everyday listening, would be too harsh on the ears.

In all honesty, good music sounds good on monitors
Only monitors I couldn't stand listening to for enjoyable purposes are Dynaudios, other than that, listening good music on good monitors beats any home speaker, and since they're more accurate than most of the speakers, it's even easier to mix on than on some muddy home shit.

Folks, I am not saying good music wont sound good on studio monitors, of course it will. But the fatigue on the ears is different.

High end frequencies are often much better represented on studio monitors and over time will cause your ears to get tired much quicker meaning that your ability to EQ will suffer and even lead to over compensation on the high stuff.

When you are producing you need to take breaks on a regular basis just to reset the balance.

Agreed, of course studio monitors are going to be more accurate but regular speakers are less of an effort on the ears.

Nem

regular speakers color the sound to make it more enjoyable and less fatiguing on the ears

the accuracy across the full spectrum including the high end is what nem was talking about when saying they'll sound too harsh to a lot of people

we're all so different. For instance I hate (with a fair degree of passion) Mackie SRM450's as they sound so harsh boxey and unrealistic but I like the HR824s for listening to.

My point is this is a specific choice. There aren't really studio monitors that I would use for a PA and I can't think of PA speakers I'd seriously use for studio monitoring, but the main point with this thread is that studio monitors serve a completely different purpose to PA speakers so I don't know why you'd try?

The exception that proves the rule?

Behringer B2031A - go damn loud and make a decent entry level studio monitor. Not quite a PA speaker but a pair goes loud enough for a decent party and I wouldn't sweat blowing them as they're cheap (300 per pair used) and take quite a kicking before they give.

Tamtui, I'd get them if I were you. You won't find another set of speakers that have this unique position that suits you.

SRM 450

Thanks for the advice DJ Rann. I guess if the studio monitor speakers aren't super expensive then it's less paranoia to scratch them or blast them for a party.

I have heard complaints about the SRM-450 being too bright.

But it's funny sometimes the mixer might be the culprit. Some mixers I have found push out a beefier sound. Sometimes a processor like an Aural Exciter might smooth out the highs.

If you get a chance check out the Qsc K series...they really sound amazing.

I agree SRM 450s sound like shit especially the high end. The HR824s do sound similar but they don't kill my ears as much.

i'm with you there brother, PA sound is the best...as far as block party...hell yeah!!! we always got something underground going on up here in the high desert( Mojave, Keene, La Paz, Barstow to Phelan areas)...just to keep the vibes alive in these hard times...watch out for the rangers though. peace

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 Folks, I am not saying good music wont sound good on studio monitors, of course it will. But the fatigue on the ears is different. High end frequencies are often much better represented on studio monitors and over time will cause your ears to get tired much quicker meaning that your ability to EQ will suffer and even lead to over compensation on the high stuff. When you are producing you need to take breaks on a regular basis just to reset the balance. Agreed, of course studio monitors are going to be more accurate but regular speakers are less of an effort on the ears. Nem

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Morello regular speakers color the sound to make it more enjoyable and less fatiguing on the ears the accuracy across the full spectrum including the high end is what nem was talking about when saying they'll sound too harsh to a lot of people

I believe it's the opposite. High end studio monitors actually fatigue your ears less. If I play a set for 2 hours on regular speakers or something like PA systems for clubs, and then play the same set on my Dynaudios, which one makes my ears more fatigued? The first ones. The Dyns are designed to provide a flat response which doesn't affect your ears drastically in the long run, at least that's been my experience

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