earphones vs speakers

[ofmice]

When I use earphones with PT, the sound is very good, loud. But when I use external speakers, the sound is weak and crappy.

What causes this?

Other recordings played through Windows Media Player sound good and loud through the speakers.

But when I put it into PT for editing, then it sounds lousy through the speakers, but good with earphones.

I have LE8, Mini MBox, sony viao i5, windows 7.

[Charles D. Ballard]

Most headphones are designed to make things sound good. Though regular home stereo speakers are also designed to make things sound good, they are less forgiving than headphones.

Proper monitoring speakers are designed to truly represent the actual audio which should point out any problems.

My advice (without purchasing more equipment) is to mix for the speakers and the headphones will sound good, too.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Charles D. Ballard

Most headphones are designed to make things sound good. Though regular home stereo speakers are also designed to make things sound good, they are less forgiving than headphones.

Proper monitoring speakers are designed to truly represent the actual audio which should point out any problems.

My advice (without purchasing more equipment) is to mix for the speakers and the headphones will sound good, too.

Good advice, but there's more to it. First off, what speakers? Then, how is the room treated for acoustics(the best speakers in the world can sound like crap in a bad room). Have you checked all your wiring(if the speakers are out of phase due to bad cables, then you're screwed).

[ofmice]

all other recordings sound good and loud through these speakers, including from Windows Media Player.

only when it's coming from PT does it sound weak in volume through external speakers. I bounced a disk from PT, and this CD also sounded weak in volume.

Can't figure this out. thanks for the help.

[Charles D. Ballard]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Good advice, but there's more to it. First off, what speakers? Then, how is the room treated for acoustics(the best speakers in the world can sound like crap in a bad room). Have you checked all your wiring(if the speakers are out of phase due to bad cables, then you're screwed).

Very true.

So, are you saying that you are listening to Windows Media Player through your Mbox Mini (connected to an amp and speakers) and it sounds fine, but when you listen to Pro Tools through your Mbox Mini (connected to an amp and speakers) you're having a problem even when listening to the same file, but when you listen through headphones plugged into the Mbox Mini both Pro Tools and Windows Media Player sound fine?

[themadarchitect]

Originally Posted by ofmice

When I use earphones with PT, the sound is very good, loud. But when I use external speakers, the sound is weak and crappy.

What causes this?

Other recordings played through Windows Media Player sound good and loud through the speakers.

But when I put it into PT for editing, then it sounds lousy through the speakers, but good with earphones.

I have LE8, Mini MBox, sony viao i5, windows 7.

Is "loudness" the issue or is it quality degradation?