Avantone MixCubes: 1hr = I'm a believer

It's a valuable tool for me also, along with my small computer speakers. In a long, serious mixdown I can lose focus, and switching the main monitors to these little small band-limited things can quickly point things out to me that I can adjust in mere moments, that I was missing on the big monitors.

I don't use them a lot for general listening, though, only in long mix sessions, it seems like.

Seems like a better alternative to going out to the car stereo, or the living room hi-fi. Just do it in the same room.

I agree about the mid range focus being very useful, especially for setting levels, and checking that everything important in the mix can be heard in the most rudimentary way. I do think it's a pretty good real-world check, comparing to laptop computers, cheap earbuds, cheap car stereos that people listen on. Things that aren't the most full range anyway, that people still use for music.

I am also really pleased by its weird cool sound, in a way.  It's kind of fun to hear your fancy gear going through this little boxy sounding box, no crossovers or stereo field.  Mine is running in mono, as recommended by Mike Senior.  Super basic sound.

I swear by the old Auratones. I couldn't be without them now. What they do is allow me to hear the midrange problems that don't show up very well on a 2-way system due to the crossover point. If something doesn't jive on a speaker somewhere, I check again with the auratones and BAM, I've found it. Mix fixed.

Great. Now I'm lusting for a single Active MixCube

If you're planning to use them in Mono you only need one

People do use them as mono. I use mine as stereo. I suppose it's all in what you want/need.

If you have two, you can always switch on off at some point and turn the volume down low to double check masking. That is a UBK described trick.

Having both gives a bit more flexibility doesn't keep you from u sing just one.

I've had 2 pair of original Aurtones since 1981. They were the had-to-have speaker
and are still one of the sets in the main control room. You'd put the control room master module in
Mono and mute one speaker to check your mono T.V. mix. and also stereo boom box mixes, and still do.
In the Protools room, again one of the pairs, have them hooked up to a sub woofer.
(picture in "what speakers are you using" post)
Nobody can believe that it's the Auratones playing. Great little reference speaker.

I still am amazed at these things.

With them, I found a problem in a mix that I didn't hear with my main monitors. They highlighted a distortion and helped hone in on it since the top and bottom are rolled off.

So glad someone told me about them.

Well, no console here.... yet... but yes, all DAW's I use have a mono button. I do use it but need to use it more.

I think they do the consumer thing ok but I STILL like hearing my MacBookPro speakers and my apple buds. Between those references, I don't have to get up or go to the car. The the MBP speakers and buds are a last check, not my actively mixing choice.

Looks like they have some interesting products coming down the line.




Little Abbey, Mix Tower, & Abbey

Mix tower has a Mix cube built in. Im interested in the Abbey which looks like a poor mans barefoot..