Studio Monitor Speaker Setup – The Very Basics

Before you set up your studio monitors, look over this check list of important basics

by Craig Anderton

If your studio monitors aren’t set up properly, you won’t be able to really hear what you’re doing. Studio monitor placement is important, and the most popular speakers for home studios are the nearfield studio monitors. Let’s look at some tips on how to set up studio monitors.

How to Set Up Studio Monitors

Studio Monitor Placement: Studio owners will tell you that studio monitor placement is very important. Set your studio monitors up so they’re at ear level, at two corners of an equilateral triangle with your head at the remaining corner, and about 3 feet (one meter) from each ear.

Studio Monitor Setup & Sound Reflections: Avoid placing the studio monitors where their signals can reflect off surfaces before they hit your ears. For example, place the monitors to the side of an audio mixer, not behind it. The studio monitors should be placed here to prevent the signals from reflecting off the audio mixer’s surface. When setting up studio monitors, be careful not to place the monitors too close to a wall, and definitely avoid placing the studio monitors in corners as that can cause bass buildups.

Monitor Volume: : Monitoring at soft levels doesn’t just save your ears, it sends less energy out into the room, which means fewer reflections off the walls. But monitor at a consistent level, as the ear responds to frequencies differently at different levels. Then before signing off on a mix, check it out at both low and high levels. By doing this, you will make sure the mix works in either context.

Studio Monitor Decoupling: If your studio monitors are sitting on a table or speaker stand, vibrations can be transmitted from the speaker through whatever it’s sitting on. Place a layer of neoprene or a similar material (a thick mouse pad works) underneath the speaker to help provide some acoustic decoupling. If you want a more effective solution, try some studio monitor decoupling products at Sweetwater.

Craig Anderton is Editor Emeritus of Harmony Central. He has played on, mixed, or produced over 20 major label releases (as well as mastered over a hundred tracks for various musicians), and written over a thousand articles for magazines like Guitar Player, Keyboard, Sound on Sound (UK), and Sound + Recording (Germany). He has also lectured on technology and the arts in 38 states, 10 countries, and three languages.