soundcard and monitors

[elementsrtyte]

So right now I'm using a stock LAPTOP soundcard and my boom box speakers. Yea pretty shitty, but it works alright for now. I'm getting more into mixing my shit so it sounds better and I was leaning towards buying a set of rokit rp5s or somethin. but then somebody told me that a soundcards more important? any advice on what to do?

oh and while i'm at it. should i spend 300-400 on monitors when i don't have a suitable environment for them (my dorm room, which I'm pretty sure does not have the right acoustics to make full use out of them) or should i step a level down and get some cheaper, monitors?

oh and an additional note, I'm not doing any recording of vocals or anything either, as that plays into consideration when buying a soundcard i'm sure.

 

[Kontents]

So right now I'm using a stock LAPTOP soundcard and my boom box speakers. Yea pretty shitty, but it works alright for now. I'm getting more into mixing my shit so it sounds better and I was leaning towards buying a set of rokit rp5s or somethin. but then somebody told me that a soundcards more important? any advice on what to do?

oh and while i'm at it. should i spend 300-400 on monitors when i don't have a suitable environment for them (my dorm room, which I'm pretty sure does not have the right acoustics to make full use out of them) or should i step a level down and get some cheaper, monitors?

oh and an additional note, I'm not doing any recording of vocals or anything either, as that plays into consideration when buying a soundcard i'm sure.

based on what you said about a boom box for speakers... get the monitors first then get the soundcard.

Monitors can be used to catch the correct or "true" sound vs. having a Computer speaker system, anything other then monitors is probley going to alter the correct sound of the beat.

 

[StressWon]

I would go wit Monitor headphones if your in a dorm room. As for the soundcard,,,I would want to upgrade soon. For now, i think some headphones are a good solution. You can get a pair from Sam Ash for like 100 bucks. Sony has some nice ones.

 

[DJ Redrum]

If you decide to go with a pair of monitors you would also need to upgrade to a new soundcard for the RCA connections, i'm not to sure how laptops are though on their soundcards and if there much different so i'll pass on that one.

What is your budget?

 

[elementsrtyte]

nah i wouldnt have to upgrade with monitors, i can just get an adapter, i think i already have rca -> headphone anyways. so thats open.

and shit i had a nice pair of mdr-v600s that one cup just stopped working, so i'm reluctant to buy another pair of headphones cause i know they don't last as long as i'd want themtoo.

and my budget is, well lets just say i don't want to buy anything more than i have to. rokit rp5s were my limit, but i'm wondering if something of that caliber is even necessary if my acoustics aren't set up right in my room. if i can get away with something like $200 i'd be happy.

 

[LDB]

nah i wouldnt have to upgrade with monitors, i can just get an adapter, i think i already have rca -> headphone anyways. so thats open.

and shit i had a nice pair of mdr-v600s that one cup just stopped working, so i'm reluctant to buy another pair of headphones cause i know they don't last as long as i'd want themtoo.

and my budget is, well lets just say i don't want to buy anything more than i have to. rokit rp5s were my limit, but i'm wondering if something of that caliber is even necessary if my acoustics aren't set up right in my room. if i can get away with something like $200 i'd be happy.

I'm gonna keep it real with you E. Unless you have years of experience mixing and you know the do's , don'ts and mathematics behind it without actually having to hear every nuance a few hundred bucks will not get you in the game. The sound card matters, the monitors matter, some good "monitor" earphones matter and the listening environment matters to a certain extent (depends on what you're mixing really). A descent room without a lot of echo and your monitors positioned at the right angle & height in relation to your ears will suffice in most cases. Room treatment is a plus but not all together a must have ya dig! A good sound card geared toward music production is a must IMO. I don't care what name brand monitors you buy, if the sound reaching those monitors isn't true it means nothing. The average stock pc sound card is not capable of generating the true sound that you'll need to get a good mix, but if you know certain elements of mixing you can get by with it.

Now the monitors....are they going to be powered or not? Powered....no external amp needed. Passive.....you'll have to drop some money on a good "clean" sounding amp. Doing shit right takes money fam....there's no short cut for certain things!