One of the most exciting moments in recording comes when the finished mix is played over the studio monitor speakers. The sound is
so clear you can hear every detail, and so powerful you can feel the
deep bass throbbing in your chest.
You use the monitor system to listen to the output signals of the console, audio interface, or recorders. It consists of the console monitor
mixer, the power amplifi ers, loudspeakers, and the listening room.
The power amplifi er boosts the electrical power of the console signal
to a suffi cient level to drive a loudspeaker. The speaker converts the
electrical signal into sound, and the listening-room acoustics affect
the sound from the speaker.
A quality monitor system is a must if you want your mixes to sound
good. The power amp and speakers tell you what you’re doing to the
recorded sound. According to what you hear, you adjust the mix and
judge your mic techniques. Clearly, the monitor system affects the
settings of many controls on your mixer, as well as your mic selection
and placement. And all those settings affect the sound you’re recording. So, using inadequate monitors can result in a poor-sounding
product coming out of your studio.