Studio Monitor solutions w/ interfaces

[TruestPain]

Not sure if this is the right area to post this in.


My question out of curiosity while im at work. How do you hook up multiple monitors such as 4 to 6 monitors? Does it matter on the interface such as for example an mbox pro, ect?

Also... anyone know what are the best studio monitors either in pairs or bundles, for a reasonable price range?

[Craig F]

your talking audio monitore aka speakers?
are you wanting muti stereo pairs or a surround system?

[TruestPain]

I may go with multiple speaker pairs... but I am interested on a surround platform as well.

[Craig F]

you could but I would recommend getting a monitor management box http://www.sweetwater.com/c417--Monitor_Management
that way you get Dim and the all important Mute buttons
also pair switching and ideally it will have some trim controls for each pair

[albee1952]

The most I have seen is for selection among 3 sets(Presonus Central Station).

[Emcha_audio]

A liquid saffire 56 has 10 physical outputs at the back. Meaning you could have up to 5 sets if you wanted to. It also has the dim and mute button, and allows for up to 7.1 surround.

[TruestPain]

When these hook up in the interface.... Is there one connection that plugs into your computer via usb OR does that plug in directly into the interface?


The settup I have now... works with mbox 2 (which i'm going to upgrade soon possibly the mbox pro 3rd gen),

However, with the current settup I had, it came with a monitor bundle, the input/outputs plugged into the interface, while there was a seperate wire that went from the speaker/monitors into a usb port on the computer.

[TruestPain]

I think what i'm trying to say is.... While having the ability to settup multiple monitors....

Would they all plug into the interface, AND will it be one or two usb connections that would have to be made onto the computer so that sound runs via usb instead of soundcard.


I hope i'm being clear, i'm not exactly savvy on the technical terms.

[albee1952]

Using an interface(like the Saffire) as a speaker selector will be kludgy at best(you will be changing output paths inside your sessions, or feeding multiple outputs at the same time and fishing for controls to swap from set A to B to C to.....you get the idea). Maybe more questions will help narrow the field? How many sets of monitors do you REALLY expect to use? To me, anything over 3 sets, really requires a custom solution(which is not out of the question at all as it might actually be solved by purchasing a selector panel like GC uses in their speaker demo room). I am quite happy with the Central Station(its not perfect, but its passive signal path means zero coloration). I run 2 sets of monitors AND a subwoofer(but it can just as easily select between 3 sets of speakers).

[TruestPain]

@ Albee.... realistically... Most likely 3 total... 2 monitors and a subwoofer. But the subwoofer I could most likely do without, I have not decided.

I'm pretty much reconstructing my entire settup from scratch after ex amount of years now.... I've made a transition to mac applications/system, I'm making the transition into PT 10, and I am most likely going to acquire the bundle with the mbox pro 3gen interface, home-made recording booth area, and was curious to when I do install a better settup of monitors compared to the ones I currently have, how many I could wire in simultaneously nsync with one another.