Studio Monitors

Ok, I know this is probably a really basic question, but here goes. I've been using these crappy little, no-name speakers for a while, and my audio has always been "Hit and Miss."
I'm ready to upgrade to some nice JBL studio monitors, but the inputs are RCA. I'm assuming I need some sort of soundcard but haven't had any luck looking around for suggestions.
What do I need to do to get the 1/8th out on my mac to RCA? Can I just use some adapters from RadioShack or do I need a new soundcard?
My set up:
G5 Processor 1.8GHz PowerPC G5
L2 Cache 512K 512K 512K per processor
Frontside bus 800MHz 900MHz 1GHz per processor
DDR SDRAM main memory 256MB PC2700 (2) (333MHz)
DDR SDRAM main memory 128MB PC2700 (2) (333MHz)
8X AGP Pro graphics NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64MB DDR SDRAM
Hard drive(2) 250GB Serial ATA; 7200 rpm 160GB Serial ATA
PCI slots Three open full-length 33MHz, 64-bit PCI slots

These JBLs must be powered monitors, if they have a line level RCA input on them; you could just try a cable with 1/8" stereo out (tip/ring/sleeve) at one end and a stereo pair of RCAs at the other; it would have to be long enough, and you'd have to peel the RCA ends apart enough to reach your speakers.
You could also probably find a short y-adapter with the 1/8" stereo plug on one end, going to two female RCAs at the other. Then use individual RCA male cables from there to the speakers.
RCA isn't a professional, balanced audio connection, so a sound card wouldn't make much difference. Try the cables/adapters first, and see if you're satisfied with that.

Similar Messages

Studio Monitors - what to look for...

I'm going to say this right now - I'm NOT asking "hey, whats the best studio monitors I can get for x dollars." That's not what I'm interested in.
What I AM interested in is what TO look for, and what NOT to look for in buying a new set of stereo monitors.
I've decided I'd like to upgrade my studio monitors. I'm mixing on a pair of Event TR8 XL monitors - they're great, but i know there's better out there. I spent about $600 on the pair.
At this point, my limited knowledge of monitors only allow me to assume that more expensive means better, but I don't understand WHY, or what to look for. So, my question is this. What is more money buying me? Are there brands that are more or less reputable than others?
I'm really looking for general, or specific, advice on shopping for new monitors. Help me make an educated decision, there are too **** many monitors out there to choose from.
For what it's worth, I'd like to keep it under 1k. I'm interested in active near-fields, good for mixing, with decent clarity and few gimiks. Granted, nothing beats getting into a GC and listening to a few (which I intend to do in the next day or two), but I need a little more to go on when I take a look at these in person and listen to some of my mixes on them.
Thanks!
Chris

To add to the previous poster, I have a pair of old NS10's and I use them because I'm used to how they sound and how their sound translates to several other of my references, i.e. my SET/Bottlehead listening system, my car CD player, my table radio. One reason a studio owner would buy say Genelecs or Mackie HR 824's is because they have become somewhat of a standard and like the NS10's of 15 years ago, people know what they're getting once you're used the way mixes translate from them to other systems. That being said, get the Mackies, or Dynaudio BM5A's. Both those seem to be widely accepted and studio proven. That's a good place to start.

Why am I getting an intermittent buzz with preamp and studio monitors?

I've just gotten rid of my desktop computer speakers which plug into the mini-headphone audio out on my Macbook Pro (i7, 2.66, mid 2010). Instead, I've connected via firewire 800 to an older 8 ch Presonus Firestudio Project preamp, and have connected a new pair Fostex powered studio monitors to that for my audio (and scratch recording). When I first start playing music in iTunes it all sounds great. But after a while, I'l start to get these periodic loud electronic buzzes. It's not just in the background, it actually will cut off the song to make the loud sound for a brief second. Over time it will become more frequent, and at one point it got to the point that it was just a constant buzz, no audio at all. Unplugging firewire stops it. Since there are a number of components, I'm not sure what is causing the problem. Can anyone help?

The update didn't apply correctly, which will be typically due to an interuption within your setup. You will have to connect to iTunes via micro usb to restore.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4367?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

External Studio Monitor??

I read the most recent thread regarding this subject but, suppose you are equipping a studio and money is not really that much of an object, then what would you guys suggest as a large screen external studio monitor. Currently we are using a professional JVC CRT monitor that really has worked quite well, just need something that will support the widescreen aspect ratio and will impress the client.
Thanks
John

If money is no object, get a very accurate, professional CRT monitor for critical monitoring and a larger, high-end presentation monitor/TV for comparison purposes.
-DH

HDMI cable/adapter causing feedback interference in studio monitors

Hi I just bought an HDMI cable/adapter to connect my MacBook Pro to my LCD tv and as soon as I connect my studio monitors through my MBox interface, I got really loud CPU feedback through my monitors. Any suggestions? really trying to have a nice studio set up here lol

Thanks for trying to help me out, rsannie. I had actually figured it out earlier, didn't get a chance to post. Under Sound, click Recording tab, click the device, click Properties, click Advanced tab, uncheck Enable audio enhancements. This was what was causing the interference/feedback type noise.
Just for the heck of it, to get better acquainted with the settings, I went to where you suggested but could not toggle that feature on/off. This feature looks like it deals with the external mic (the ones by the webcam) and not from a source fed through the minijack anyway.
~Paul
Lenovo ThinkPad T410s - 2901CTO
IBM ThinkPad T41p - 2373GGU

Can 15" LCD TFT studio monitor be used with my G4?

I've acquired a nice 15" Apple LCD TFT studio monitor and would like to use it with my G4 but have found that the connections are incompatible. Are there any adaptors i could get to resolve this issue?

To get the connector terminology, take a look at the first page of this illustrated guide:
HT1825- Power Mac G4: Display Compatibility
To find out what can connect to what, look up "Your Mac" \[Column] Vs "Your Display" \[Row] in the Matrix that follows page 1.
To find the identity of your display card, use Apple System Profiler.
Apple Menu > About this Mac > More Info > Graphics/Displays
Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder

Buzz/hum when connected to krk studio monitors

ok so i have an imac (3.06 ghz intel core duo). i had a klipshe 2.1 speaker system connected with no problems. then i bought a pair of krk rokit 6's studio monitors and just have a whole lot of humming now. so far ive connected headphones to my imac and no hum.... connected my ipod to the krk's and no hum..... connected my krk's to my macbook pro (while it was plugged into the same outlet as my imac) and no hum..... bought a m-audio fast track and connected the krk's through that to my imac and still it hums.... what gives? please help. thanks
shawn

Shawn, I am getting a 1 KHz whine through Behringer Truth monitors using M-Audio USB Fast Track Ultra audio/midi interface with an iMac i5 27-inch with LED monitor. The whine occurs continuously from the moment I open Logic Studio or iTunes, when the output is routed through the Fast Track Ultra. The whine does not occur when I use the imac output to imac's speakers. I also get an electronic scraping noise when I use the blue tooth connected magic mouse. I have installed ferrites on the monitor speaker wires with no reduction in the whining noise or electronic scraping noise. I have also ordered the USB with ferrite collar to see if the connection between audio/midi interface and the imac is the source of the noise. I am considering a Hum-X, as well, but I am getting into serious money taking stabs at a problem for which there ought to be plenty of competent technical support. The fact that this whine is at 1 KHz and not lower suggests that I am not suffering a typical ground loop. I am a former Pro Tools user who never had a hum or whine from my Digi and G4, which I am seriously considering recomissioning so I can make music again. I am spending way too much time and money making educated guesses and trying to diagnose a problem that all but kills the utility and purpose of this new system. I too am calling on all great engineers to step up with a diagnosis and solution.

17" Studio Monitor Display with single, vertical color line

My 17" Studio Monitor just recently developed a single, vertical color line in the display. No matter what I am viewing the color line is there. Re-boot doesn't remove it. Neither does un-plugging the computer.
Anyone know the cause and/or remedy?
Thanks for any help!

There is an adapter called a DVIator that you will need ..or something similar. It will turn turn the ADC connection into a DVI connection ..then you would need something to turn regular DVI into the Mini DVI connection to fit into the iMac.
Personally, I don't think it would be worth the cost ..the DVIator alone is like $100. I'd just buy a new screen for that price. Preferably one that was a little closer to the same brightness of the 24" iMac's screen. I had my old Studio display next to my new 24" iMac and it looked so old and dingy I wouldn't be able to stand the difference using it as a second monitor.

21 Inch Graphite Studio Monitor - no picture but clicking...

My 17-inch studio display CRT monitor (which was working fine) recently died, and I purchased a used, but 'swear-to-goodness-still-functioning' 21-inch studio display CRT monitor from Ebay to use with my G4/ACP Graphic/desktop Power Mac.
When I installed the new monitor, (connecting the three cables: AC power, VGA and USB), and restarted the computer I saw a clear (but horizontally compressed) band of picture about 4 inches wide running from the top to the bottom of the monitor for the first 30 secs of startup. Then the click of a relay and the picture disappears to leave a black screen. After that, all that happens is a constant 'fluttering' sound from the back of the monitor.
I tried restarting and zapping the PRAM, but no change.
Would welcome any suggestions on what to try next....
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) Mac OS X (10.4.7) Graphite Studio Monitor 21 inch

Thanks for the advice. I found another solution, but will bookmark yours in the event of future trouble.
I connected a small PC monitor to my G4 using the VGA connector, and restarted it. It started up fine. But when I went to reset the refresh rate, every option but one was grayed out. Dead End.
Then I restarted the G4 in SAFE mode (holding down SHIFT key during startup). This time I was able to change the refresh rate to 72, and reduce the resolution. Then I unplugged the PC monitor and plugged in the 21 inch studio monitor. It WORKED! I restarted the G4, and it found the correct refresh rate for the monitor. Victory!
Thanks again for the advice!
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) Mac OS X (10.4.7) Graphite Studio Monitor 21 inch

Studio Monitor (Graphite/Clear) to Macintosh G3 (blue/white) connection

I have a Apple 17inch Studio Monitor (Graphite/Clear) that I'm connecting to a Macintosh G3 (blue/white) what kind of adapter do I need? The monitor cable has a male end with 3 rows by 10 pins plus a flat pin on the side. The G3 port is a 3 row by 5 pin female socket.

Welcome to the Apple Forums, recently revised just for your visit!
Does your Studio Display have its own AC power cord? If not, what it really needs is a display card from a G4 or an alternate power supply. I think Dr. Boot sells one, but it runs about US$100.
There is a lot of word-salad surrounding the various interfaces, and what can work with what. I suggest this article, which may help make more sense of it:
58692 -- Power Mac G4: Display Compatibility.
The Blue & White G3 is like the G4 PCI graphics.

Computer monitor affected by studio monitors?

Recently I have been trying to record some audio and I had to change the midi settings. Now whenever I turn on my studio monitors (m-audio av40) the computer monitor glitches or turns off for a moment. I never had this behavior before when turning on the studio monitors. What changed?
Those little icons on the right side (sound,mic,apple face). Is that what's doing it?

There is mganetic interference from some sources...speakers...etc Try moving your monitors. If you do some google you'll find that certain Mac Pros are more prone. Some have some have firmware updates to help harden them.
http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&src=support_site.home.search_sugge sted.search&locale=en_US&q=magnetic%20interference%20mac%20pro

Does anyone use Optical Audio out to connect studio monitors?

I am planning to snatch a Mac Mini as my studio upgrade. I am also planning on buying some studio monitors (as opposed to just regular speakers). I was wondering what people use to get great, accurate results for under $600. The Mini can achieve optical audio out, apparently. Are there studio monitors that use digital, optical audio as a means to connect? How do fellow Logic home studio users have their audio out set up?

Scroto Saggins wrote:
well, optical is digital (right?), so wouldnt it be the only way to get the best, uncolored sound out of a Mac? what other (better) options are there? I started this topic because I dont really notice studio monitors that use optical, and I am wondering why? Whats the downside?
Because the ones that do, are way over the budget of most people on this forum.
I have this pair :
http://www.jblpro.com/catalog/General/Product.aspx?PId=28&MId=5
They retail at around 1500 per pair. They are not the most expensive ones out there, rather the less expensive ones with digital inputs.
Cheers

IPhone incoming call started studio monitor, but no image

I placed my iPhone about 6" in front of my 15" apple studio monitor. When the phone rang, it activated the power switch on the face of the monitor. The computer started up as if I had touched the power switch, but the screen was black. The cpu powered up, but there is no image on the screen whatsoever. Power button light on the face of the monitor does not flash, it stays lit. If I touch the power button, then the lamp flashes and I can hear the cpu go to sleep. If I touch it again, the cpu comes back to life, the lamp stops flashing, but there is still no image displayed. The machine will not turn off unless I unplug it. Nothing changes after replugging the chord. Touching the power switch restarts the machine, but monitor is still blank. I have no way to try to adjust settings to fix what ever may have been inadvertently changed by the iPhone signal. Anyone have any suggestions???
Message was edited by: armyworms4all
Message was edited by: armyworms4all

Check the mute switch near the external volume controls. If orange is showing it is muted.

Do I need to have studio monitors?

Being one day in to logic (Oh man is it overwhelming), do I need studio monitors? My problem being is that I start to create a track and then when I go to playback, I get nothing from my speakers. Do I need to change a setting or am I a complete idiot? Like I said, I am BRAND FREAKING NEW to Logic. Please help!!!

There may be a few reasons for this. Check your audio settings and they are set to the right audio you are using, such as core audio or some other such as a sound card. Also check the settings for audio in and out on the mixer and make sure they match your set up. If you can post your set up it would be easier for us all to comment.

How do I connect studio monitors to my Mac?

Hello all,
I have recently been in the market for sudio monitors for my Mac. I've narrowed it down to the Yamaha HS5. Ideally, I would have to of them. I would like to know how they would connect to my iMac since I've never dealt with studio monitors before. Would I need a quarter-inch jack? Would I need adapters? Pre-amps? I really have no idea what is needed.
Thanks!

You'll need to split the stereo signal coming out of the Mac into two mono signals (L+R) using something like this HOSA Stereo 3.5 mm Phone Male - Two Mono 1-Tip and 1 ...
Then you would run a mono cable from the splitter to each speaker.
You'll need to check the manufacturer for the size of the connector on the speaker to size the cables correctly.
regards

Multiple output using hi fi speakers and studio monitors???

Hello,
I just purchased a Samson C-control to work as a switcher between my hi-fi speakers [connected to my amplifier] and my studio monitors. I've got everything set up right...or so I think...but, am not getting any sound out of the hi-fi speakers. The meters on the C-control are lighting up but there is no sound coming from the hi-fi speakers...which leads me to believe that the problem lies with my setup within my Mac. There is sound coming out of the studio monitors though when I activate their switch on the C-control.
thanks!!!

Volf, that doesn't appear to be a US model, and this is the forums for Toshiba USA. You may want to contact Toshiba in your region. If it's a European model, you could check the Toshiba Europe forums.
jdw174, can you confirm your model number? I don't recognize the format. Check the label on the bottom for the full model and part numbers.
- Peter

Studio Monitors

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for