When you set up your private recording studio at home, one important component to focus on will be the monitors. Its importance comes from the fact that the device plays a very important role in determining how you hear the sound of the music you are making. And if you are planning to get a monitor for your studio, but wish to know how to select a good one, then the tips below should help you with making the choice.
Type Of Monitor
First, you have to decide which type of monitor you need. Usually, you will have to choose from one of the following – active monitors and passive monitors. Active monitors, also known as powered studio monitors, do not require an external amp since the amplifier is built into it. In fact, each speaker of the monitor has its own amplifier that ensures that the speaker performs at optimal levels. In contrast, passive monitors require an external amplifier but are very good when it comes to splitting the high/low frequency. As far as possible, buy active monitors since it is the one which is considered ‘modern’, and is used by most people.
Wattage
Another thing to look at is the wattage of the monitors. The higher the wattage, the more accurate adjustments you can make to your limiters, compressors etc., enabling you to craft the sound exactly the way you want. Lower wattage monitors are cheaper, but you will have to sacrifice the quality of the sound.
Driver
You also have to check out the driver of the monitor. Usually, the driver can be made from materials ranging from paper to aluminum and fiberglass. However, as far as we are concerned, the material of the driver is not the major issue. What you have to test out is how the driver sounds. As such, make sure that you hear the driver a few times so that you are able to judge which driver gives off the best sound.
Suitability For Music Type
The last factor to consider is the purpose of the recording setup. What will it be used for? Knowing this will help you choose monitors which are suitable for that task. For example, if you are engaged in large works like creating soundtracks for movies and video games, then you should ideally have a 7.1 surround sound system. In contrast, if your work is mostly limited to you just singing with a guitar, then you only require small monitors. And if you plan to work with rock bands and other such loud, noisy music, then you will need a monitor that comes with at least an 8-inch woofer.
So, remember to check for the above factors, and choosing a monitor for your studio will be an easy task. But if you still have difficulty in deciding a good monitor, check out the website at http://musiccritic.com/equipment/10-best-studio-monitors-speakers/, which details some of the best monitors you can find in the market. As such, all you have to do is to pick a monitor that suits your budget, and you can be sure that it will perform very well.