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How important is a good amp in music production?
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Narcosia
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
3
Posted : Oct 17, 2003 11:26
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I am using a pair of Tannoy PBM 6.5 reference monitors for making music. I hook these near field monitors up to a hi-fi stereo amplifier and my soundcard output into the amp.
Now, this amp is pretty decent, but is by no means the best stereo amp in the world. I'm just wondering how important the amp is? Obviously it has an important function to power the monitors but could my amp be colouring my sound and affecting my mixes? I would like to hear what you know about amps and what not?
n/b) on my amp I always have the EQ set to zero for all bands (no excentuation or attenuation for any frequencies - well, none that I know of)
Of course, one day, I will purchase a pair of active near fields and bypass the need for an amp but until then I want to know if my amp will do, and if I can still have accurate reference from my monitors.
Thanks.
Joey |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : Oct 17, 2003 12:42
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Hi
Each electronic device has a frequency response.
Especially speakers...
This means not every frequency on the input is given to the output in the same volumerate as the other frequencys...
in other words a truly "linear- transmiting" device doesn't exist..
But of course modern technique comes very close.
Also amplifires behave like this. So you can be sure that an amplifire alway colours your sound.
If your amp is good then you will have data sheets with it, where you can see how which frequency is transmitted.. it should be a diagramm with frequency in the horizontal and attenuation in the vertical... if there is a linear line it is "good"..
But anyway everybody gives out interpolated curves for his device.. so most of all you can't really rely on that...
You speaker also should have such a curve..
so if you want you can compare the curve of your amp and of your monitors... if you see that both curves have a gap around 300Hz then you know that your overall sound will be very injured around 300Hz. Because even both devices don't transmit this part well...
But if one has a gap there and the other one has a little hill there.. then they compensate each other.. resulting in a more linear overall transmission..
That exactely the advantage of active speakers.. the more expensive models have been trimmed like this to be more linear then possible with just a passiv speaker...
Another point would be the "phase" of the amp.. but this goes to far...
For sure, with an active speaker you are alway on the sure side...
every unknown combination of amp and speaker can have unknown influences to your sound...
But after all:
ALL THIS IS JUST THEORY
in practice, you just have to know how you setup sounds... you have to KNOW how you have to make your mix so that it sounds well on other speakers.
Listen to favourite productions on your speakers and just make your production sound similar on the same speakers and there you are.
 Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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subconsciousmind
SCM
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
1033
Posted : Oct 17, 2003 12:48
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Forgot...
The environment. your room where your in will affect you frequency linearity also very stongly.
If you have a rather good amp it is more recommendable to work on your rooms accoustic behaviour...
The EQ of the amp..
I have Dynaudio BM6A which claim to be among the most linear nearfield monitors on the market.
I love them.. but they also have switches to increase or lower bass or treble... I increased bass because I tend to mix to much bass.. so if I hear it too loud I will mix it more quiet..
Just as an example that after all it is a matter of taste...
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch |
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