Best Speakers for MIXING & MASTERING Audio.

Yamaha NS10

In my opinion YAMAHA NS10's are not the best speakers for mixing and/or mastering audio. I "grew up" on them, I should know. However, you may be me surprised at my next statement.

There's really no "BEST" speakers for audio mastering or mixing.

Here's why.

I've been an audio engineer for over 20 years and I've worked in many different recording studios with a variety of reference studio monitors aka speakers. I've also worked with some of the top names in my genre of music as mixing and mastering engineers, and I have came to the conclusion that Speakers used for mixing and mastering audio gain their popularity and credibility in various ways. 1) Great marketing and branding, 2) When a hit record is made using said speakers, 3) When a person of "authority" uses and speaks publicly about said studio monitor. There are many more reasons but these three I believe to be at the top.

Yamaha NS10's were not the only popular mixing and mastering studio monitors.

Have you ever heard of the KRK ?

The KRK Rokit 5 and Rokit 8 nearfield studio monitors.

KRK's have been around for as long as I've been an audio engineer. This picture shows the KRK Rokit 5 & Rokit 8, they also make the Rokit 7. Many audio engineers and recording studios believed them to be the best in their class of speakers. These bad bays had a bit more low end than the NS10s, that's probably why they were a staple in most reggae and hip hop studios.

Yamaha discontinued the NS10s in 2001. Realizing there was still a market for them, they then released the self powered HS50M, and after a few updates its now the HS series. there's the HS5, HS7,HS8. These sound nothing like the NS10s to me, remember I "grew up" on NS10's. I worked with them for more than 10 years, I still love them. However, they come pretty close.(HS5 pic below)

Yamaha HS8

Auratone cubes

Avantone, another giant in the pro audio space, most popular for their version of the classic cube style reference monitors made by Auratone (Original Avantone5C brown, Avantone mixcube black), Also makes a version of the NS10's. its called Avantone CLA 10, branded by award winning Producer/Engineer Chris Lord Alge.

AVANTONE MIX CUBE

CLA 10 The NS10 Replica

I haven't personally used the CLA10 but there are reviews on youtube you can check out.

Let me know what you think.

Bottom line is there's no BEST mixing and mastering speakers simply because it all boils down to a matter of preference. The room you are working in, and who introduced you to whatever monitors you are using also plays a role in this. Its kinda like fast food. Some people like McDonald's, some Burger King and some Wendy's. It is as simple as that. So my advice to you if you're in the market for mixing and mastering speakers.., go to your nearest pro audio store and listen something you produced, mixed or mastered on a few different monitors, compare them, then make your choice based on if you like what you hear coming from the speakers.

How to become a Music Producer.

First of all, what do you think it takes to be a music producer?

Another question you should ask yourself is, "What kind of music producer am I?"

Let me explain. There are different types of producers. There's the producer who pays musicians

and artists for services, and their main contribution to the finished product is the money used for the production. Then there's the producer who spends the money and can also communicate to musicians and vocalists his/her needs as far as the song production goes. And there's the producer who can play the instruments, knows the keys, and is very hands-on in the production process.

To be the latter, you need to know at least music theory and some fundamentals in music.

You can download for FREE, my "KEYBOARD BASICS" - Introduction to notes on a Piano/Keyboard pdf HERE.

Shams the Producer in the studio

I see too many young music producers/beat makers today not having a clue about keys or notes, just simple stuff. I'm not saying you can't make a hit record if you don't know; sure, you can. But, if you make a big enough record and you are called upon by a mega star to produce a track, wouldn't it be less stressful if you knew even a little bit of music theory so you could at least tell what key a song/beat is in?

Song production goes far beyond just fitting loops together, yes, it's a good start. However, you'll need to step up your knowledge in music if you really want to play with the BIG BOYS!

Does size really matter?

If there was an actual formula for making hit records then almost every artist, band, or producer would be making hits all day, every day, 365 days a year.

I remember when owning a recording studio gave you the illusion of having an "edge". Thousands, or even millions of dollars invested in huge state-of-the-art analog equipment and acoustic designs made the work environment look and feel like 'hit records' are guaranteed. Business was good for studio owners who would charge an hourly rate to artists and producers for using the studio.

Then, digital recording basically took over the industry. Now producers and artists can record and produce songs in a basement, closet, or bedroom studio for just a fraction of the cost. This obviously proves that size really doesn't matter.

Do you agree?

A typical "bedroom' studio.

(B-Rich Music Lab in 2008, formerly Main Street Studio)

I have come to realize that it's not about what you have, but what you can do with what you have.

There's no secret formula; a hit song/record is usually determined by the audience at large, the consumer, who is streaming, downloading, and buying the music.

My advice is just make music, a whole lot of music, good music, of course, and one day you will make a hit record.

Let me know what your preferred studio setup is in the comments. And if you saw value in this post, please share.