Macbook speakers for monitoring

Hi,

Any tips on small, fairly flat response monitors to use via a Macbook? I say 'fairly' as being compact and connecting via the headphone output they won't be ideal & I won't ultimately be doing final mixes off my laptop but would appreciate advice on the best speakers for monitoring-as-you-go. Cheers.

Invest in some nice headphones. If you're depending on portability. I have some AKG K240's. They're fairly inexpensive (around $80), and they work perfect. They have a nice flat response which allows you to get an idea of what you're mix will sound like when it does come time to finalize.

Hi, thanks, I have AKG's too, (K712's) but I can't stay with headphones on for hours at a time.

The problem with tiny PC speakers it that they're hyped on highs and lows.

You will never have a flat response on the go with them.

So you're best bet is to go to an electronics store and check out some bluetooth speakers.

You gotta listen to them.

check out the ikmultimedia iloud micro speakers, or (budget permitting) the eve-audio sc203s, or the small genelecs. the presonus eris is another small monitor (haven't heard it, tho...)

I stayed with headphones for hours at a time for years... It's not that bad. Similar headphones too (AKG K702). I'm not running Focal Spirits Pro's because i'm a brand whore.

 

For what is worth, one of the nicest sounding small speakers I heard were the Yamaha NX-50

i met with a music publisher about 4 years ago, he loved my work, but criticized my mixes (something i am generally well-regarded for, so i was pretty annoyed)... until he asked if i was mixing in headphones, and that was that. i ALWAYS mix on monitors now.

 

MIXING on monitors is essential (altho i still work a lot in phones, AKG K712). mixes in headphones sound great on iphones, in earbuds. etc. but mixes still should sound great FIRST on speakers...

Genelec 8010s for sure. They're a little bit pricey but very very compact, they even have a travel bag! They also sound enormous for their size and use the same design that the larger genelecs in that series do (which have nearly universal high acclaim)

what fisherking said.

you can hear a headphone mix.

I hear my own headphone mixes when i'm back on my monitors.

MIXING on monitors is essential

I agree when you get started. Then when you get a bit better at it, you can actually mix with headphones. I've done it with great results. Still I always check my mix on speakers and always have to do some corrections when doing so, especially in the low end. But I no longer subscribe to the "absolutely never mix with headphones" hard rule I used to follow and spread around.

MIXING on monitors is essential

I agree when you get started. Then when you get a bit better at it, you can actually mix with headphones. I've done it with great results. Still I always check my mix on speakers and always have to do some corrections when doing so, especially in the low end. But I no longer subscribe to the "absolutely never mix with headphones" hard rule I used to follow and spread around.

I call the headphone work "premix".

 

You can do the general compression, some EQing, and setup reverbs.

No headphones i tried could i get the balance absolutely right or reverb levels

No headphones i tried could i get the balance absolutely right or reverb levels

I agree, the reverb tails are another issue with headphones. I turn to my speakers for final adjustments of all my reverbs. And I often have to re-balance the low end.