Currently I am getting the money together to get my gear. But, these days, money is tight.
I am set on buying the VCI 100 SE and Audio 2 or 4 DJ New.
However, what actually is playing the sound is where I have this MASSIVE problem.
On one side I have a BUNCH of people telling me good big monitors (like the Mackie MR5s or the M-Audio BX8s) will be more than enough to use as “speakers” for small events like an apartment party. The thing is money is an issue and these are a good value since eventually I am going to want to be producing music, so I will need monitors, but at the same time I want to mix.
On the other side I have a whole BUNCH of other people telling me not to use monitors as they can break if you push them too much. And have told me to get a PA system (in this case I looked at the Peaver PR 12s powered by the QSC850. Good idea, but I would still need to spend more money later on when i start producing.
Now which of the following would you all recommend buying used:
Also, if you could please tell me your opinion on the whole PA v Monitors to use as speakers for SMALL events like APARTMENT parties that would be great!
I bought my VCI(with current mapping) and an Audio 2 off of this forum and I have been nothing but pleased. But you never know what you are going to get from someone you don’t know.
Do yourself a favor though, and go midi. As a recovering vinyl addict, I’m hooked again and loving it.
I bought the exact set up you have listed (VCI 100se & Audio 2) second had from the buy and sell section here and have had no probs so again I can’t comment on other things to buy second hand but if you find the right deal you can save yourself alot and end up with the same end products that may only be a few months old?
p.s already had an MBP (from new) so can’t comment there either.
If you’re eventual plan is to produce your own tracks, you’ll get much more of a result from some nice near field monitors, that is, if in fact, you’re only using them in “small” house parties. If you know basic’s in audio and gain staging and have a halfway decent ear, you’re not going to “blowout” a set of decent nearfields. They’ll be distorting LONG before you blow them(unless you’re underpowering them). I’ve used the same set of Urei nearfields for YEARS and played parties much larger than “a small apartment” and had zero problems. That being said, the Mackie’s will rock a nice outdoor party and are MORE than enough for an apartment BUT not the cleanest, flatest sound for producing. Do you need the “cleanest, flatest” system to produce good tracks? No, as long as you check your mixes on various different systems, ie. your car stereo, computer speakers, your buddies home theater. Ultimately, you need to purchase based on what you TRULY feel you’ll use them more for. Besides, if you’re a good enough DJ or producer then you should make enough to buy the other speakers/amp eventually, right? OT maybe one of the moderators should move my post to the “I iz drunk thread”
thanks for the reply, I am planning on using them for apartment parties. Ill probably start using them for producing next year when I have time to learn ableton.
so…would u recommend the Mackies or M-audios (…i have heard horroe stories about M-Audios customer service though…)
Mackie’s will let you “rock the party” in a much larger space than the M-audio’s. M-audio’s will be cleaner in a nearfield mix down environment. I guess it comes down to the age old question of whether you’re a DJ or a remixer/producer? Just understand that “nearfield” monitors are made to give a “flat” response in a close environment. So if you’re using them as your DJ monitors and your mains they’ll sound best right in front of you but not as “flat” from a distance (ie. you may/probably have low and or high end roll off when off axis).
First, I don’t see any BR8’s on M-audio’s site, did you mean BX8? Also, when it comes to speakers, it’s a very individual and subjective decision. My best response would be to go to a place with both Sets of speakers and play some “reference material”(ie. KNOWN recordings that you’re intimately familiar with) through the same audio chain to both and see which ones you like better. Secondly, what Senheiser’s are you talking about, do you mean your headphones?
Understood, I was hoping to take advantage of that ($100.00 off) myself but have decided to wait on my purchase. As for your speakers, bring some “known” material to check both pairs, I personally, always use Pink Floyd’s DSOTM, The Higher Intelligence Agency’s track, Spectral and any dance track with a really deep or sub harmonic bass, that varies depending on what I’m currently feeling. As far a specs go, the M-audio’s have a better low end response 40Hz to the Mackie’s 60hz and have more power in the Hi and low amps but specs can be misleading, what they “leave out” is often times more important than what they tell you. Again, I’d go with the age old adage of “Sounds good, is good”. Also you never responded to the question about the senheiser’s, were you referring to your headphones? because, if so, I don’t think of headphones as monitors, just FYI.
In terms of the senheisers, im atalking about the HD 25 ll, and what I meant is that I am going to use them to cue up tracks and all that jazz lol. I am going to take 2 CDs loaded with EDM tracks that I know in and out. I tried the Makies, but ill try the M-audio. but would u suggest going with the MR8 instead of the MR5 if i can?
The “search” window in your browser does wonders http://www.recordingmag.com/productreviews/2009/02/25.html Here’s a review on the MR8’s where the reviewer also reviewed the MR5’s, and yes I’d get them instead of the MR5’s. You should bring something else besides just dance music. Maybe a well recorded rock album and something that’s just vocals or even symphonic, unless, of course you only plan on ever playing dance music on those speakers. Just a thought. Take your time, really listen to each set of speakers. Oh, and also make sure that if there’s EQ controls on the back of the monitors, that you set them all to zero to “even the playing field”. Good luck, let us know what you chose and how it works out.
OT maybe one of the moderators should move my post to the “I iz drunk thread”
Just understand that “nearfield” monitors are made to give a “flat” response in a close environment. So if you’re using them as your DJ monitors and your mains they’ll sound best right in front of you but not as “flat” from a distance (ie. you may/probably have low and or high end roll off when off axis).