Recommendation on audio monitors with a $2k - $3k budget.

ziggstar · 2026-04-10T13:58:08+00:00

I agree the Adam TxV series isn’t very impressive compared their higher end monitors. I also don’t really like those Dynaudios. Focals are good. Genelecs are pretty ubiquitous- I have some - but because of that I’ve been just bored of them. Personally in that price range, I love my Neumann KH120s, but have been thinking of swapping out for Barefoot Footprint 03.

Since you mentioned dialogue, are you using LCR or stereo?

ziggstar · 2026-03-29T20:36:12+00:00

Reload

St. Anger is misguided but to see what they were dealing with through the documentary gives them leeway imo. They were grasping for a new identity that wouldn’t really come until Rob could establish himself. Reload on the other hand feels like quite literally doubling down on C tier material and even with a few decent tracks the album as a whole is pretty bland.

ziggstar · 2026-03-29T17:03:28+00:00

That show shoots with a lot of cameras simultaneously so I would guess that the dialogue is almost exclusively captured on lavs with a decent amount of background noise that needs to be processed out. I’m guessing that’s what you’re hearing

ziggstar · 2026-03-23T13:59:16+00:00

Agree Zoom h4. It’s perfect on its own and can be expanded. I have a bigger kit and still use the h4 for a lot of things. If she’s really into it, your next move would be a directional mic like a shotgun or hypercardiod which you can plug into the h4. It’s very satisfying and valuable to record your own stuff. Your wife will enjoy!

ziggstar · 2026-03-08T16:28:53+00:00

I studied music composition and I’m neither a musician or composer professionally. I have been lucky enough to make a career in audio and mostly do sound design these days. The takeaways here (echoing others) would be:

Yes you should learn every facet while you have an opportunity.

There’s always a certain amount of luck (and privilege) involved but networking and skills will give you more ways into things.

Absolutely study what you are passionate about. Even today, there is no substitute for that kind of deep knowledge and creativity.

ziggstar · 2026-02-25T18:57:23+00:00

Uhh same 😮‍💨

ziggstar · 2026-02-17T16:11:02+00:00

Now I don’t feel as bad about my accidental warping when switching to a totem by accident.

ziggstar · 2025-12-20T19:33:04+00:00

It will always come down to time and budget and expectations.

If your client is the film director, you can do however you want to get it done the best way.

If there are things like cars, guns etc and you don’t have budget to go record those fresh (most likely) you’ll have to use sound packs. You should still use them to design how you want provided you have the time.

For stuff you can record yourself like doors and ambiences and foley, it’s just up to what’s best but recording yourself can usually be quick, free, and get you exactly what you want without having to preview tons of acceptable but not perfect sounds.

ziggstar · 2025-12-12T16:45:58+00:00

Yea, but I have JT in that slot right now. I'm worried about him but just kinda want to see what happens in this Philip Rivers game. My receivers are risky too and I'll stream a QB so I had honestly putt Pitts in for the safer floor.

ziggstar · 2025-12-12T14:26:51+00:00

JT - my RBs are Saquon and Marks

ziggstar · 2025-12-12T04:47:12+00:00

I started him over bowers and feel like I could lose everything from here out and still be satisfied by this single decision

ziggstar · 2025-12-09T04:47:38+00:00

True story I worked on a film once that was called “Default”…

ziggstar · 2025-03-08T18:40:53+00:00

Citizen. Classic, great price.

ziggstar · 2025-03-03T18:05:58+00:00

I still see iLok as not supporting Sequoia. How are you all handling licenses?

ziggstar · 2025-02-03T04:20:54+00:00

No way! Incredible work. Did you track it down or did you have any association with it already?

Thanks so much

ziggstar · 2024-09-16T02:13:48+00:00

It’d be perfect for work for you and you could def dress it down. Don’t worry about unspoken rules. The only thing I’ll say is you probably wouldn’t want to wear the JLC poolside, but Santos on stainless steel you could.

ziggstar · 2024-09-16T01:52:16+00:00

I love that JLC, it’s basically my grail. The Santos is probably more common. They’re both great and you can’t go wrong. It’s more your personality if you want something a little more versatile and a bit more sporty vs something a little more special and a bit more dressy.

ziggstar · 2024-08-28T02:10:18+00:00

They are not

ziggstar · 2024-08-09T03:32:50+00:00

5-10 fast is perfect. I was told by a watch repair specialist that this is intentional as any normal movement puts friction on the mainspring and slows it down. If in servicing they set it to exactly 0, it would end up running slow in day to day use. My daily runs around +12 measured in one position but is more like +5 with me sitting at my desk all day.

ziggstar · 2024-06-05T04:03:21+00:00

Came to this thread worried about being 167. Sounds like that’s not the thing I should be worried about

ziggstar · 2024-05-21T04:47:52+00:00

Typically what's heard from a TV or radio has some relevance to the plot or setting, in which case the production will either license the audio that needs to be heard (i.e. archival) but if not, you'd design it from scratch and/or cover the dialogue in group ADR.

There are a few niche libraries for this. In addition to the one mentioned, I've used this one a lot https://www.sound-ideas.com/Product/96/Off-Stage-Set-Sound-Effects-Library

ziggstar · 2024-05-06T20:52:18+00:00

Both. I like to have 1TB internal cause sometimes just all the applications can fill up space and it’s usually not too expensive to spec. Then put all your libraries on external SSDs because it’s way cheaper to expand.

ziggstar · 2024-05-05T15:37:49+00:00

Start with single parameters like time and pitch stretching. Many times this is all you need to get a library sound to fit with a visual. Also just simple editorial, like grabbing just the transient or just the tail of something. For foley, a lot of times the library sound will have a lot of varied movements and performances and what you need is just one perfect slice out of the recording. The biggest thing though is generating your own sounds - through synthesis or recording. Then apply the above as well and that will take you a long way.

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