monitor management

[graveleye]

What are you guys using for monitor management? I finally find exactly what I need in the form of the SM Pro Audio M-Patch 4M, only to find they are pretty much out of business. Harmon apparently bought them out and that one isn't made anymore. I want something similar to it as it would make things much easier with the setup that I have. I have active Adam A7s, so I don't need a power amp for them, but I do want to hook up another set of passive monitors in my control room to a/b stuff which will require an amp. Something similar to the M-Patch 4M would be perfect from what I see to avoid having to do everything through the MOTU software + it has a talkback feature which is awesome. Ideas?

[29CountsNY]

I just added a Crane Song Avocet and could not be happier!
It's not cheap but it was worth every penny.

[EGS]

Pre Sonus Central Station is working great for me.

[graveleye]

that Crane looks nice but that's way out of my price range and probably does a lot of things that I don't even know I need yet!!

I am looking at the Mackie Big Knob at the moment. I really wanted something that has the hi-z jacks on it, but I haven't seen much out there with them.

[albee1952]

Another vote for the Central Station. Be aware that Presonus made a manufacturing change at some point and the older style with the 5 pin XLR connection for the power supply are no longer made(and that power supply is not available if it dies). The good news is that they are pretty dependable(still running the same one here for 6 years). The one I have that the PSU failed was hit with a power surge. I was able to buy a used one off craigslist for $200

[Hannibal Lecter]

Antelope Audio Satori

[brianjanthony]

I use the Dangerous Monitor ST.

I used to use the Presonus Central Station. I went thru 4 remotes with them and 2 units (still have one in storage if you want a cheapie but no remote).

The Dangerous has been going strong now for 3 years. That's about 1100 or so sessions. It never crackles, pops, hisses, or etc. Totally reliable. Now, I HATED the price tag. HATED it. But it's been totally solid so I'm glad I ponied up.

It gives me 3 sets of speakers plus a sub, assignable everything (volume/sub per speaker set for example), and I can monitor 4 sources (in my case, the mix going to each of my rooms). Talkback system is flawless. And those guys are ready and willing to answer any q.

[graveleye]

I'm seeing some good stuff and getting some good ideas. Thanks for the replies.
My monitors have XLR plugs on them, so I would like to have them on whatever unit I buy but I'm seeing either/or, and what seems to have only XLR doesn't also have the talkback mic. On the ones that have the standard 1/4" plugs, do you think I would have any quality loss going from XLR to 1/4" to XLR?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by graveleye

I'm seeing some good stuff and getting some good ideas. Thanks for the replies.
My monitors have XLR plugs on them, so I would like to have them on whatever unit I buy but I'm seeing either/or, and what seems to have only XLR doesn't also have the talkback mic. On the ones that have the standard 1/4" plugs, do you think I would have any quality loss going from XLR to 1/4" to XLR?

Why do you care about the output connector? It's going to be XLR or 1/4" TRS or maybe D-sub and you just use whatever cable is appropriate to get to your monitors. Lower-end manufactures are certainly going to save space and money and more likely to use TRS sockets. Worse case it costs you a couple of dollars for an XLR to TRS adapter or better still to cut off the XLR connector on one end of a cable and replace it with a 1/4" TRS. This should not be anywhere near the top of what you are worrying about in a monitor control system... there are usually lots and lots of things to think about there that are worth worrying about.

Grace m905 would be my pick... but I suspect outside your price range (but they do have a lower cost analog only version now).

[graveleye]

I care because in the old days it did matter if you were going from one type plug to another and if you used adapters, which I don't plan to, it made it worse. That's why.