How to Use Reference Monitors
- 1). Plug the two power cables into the "AC Input" jacks on the back of the monitors, then plug them into either the wall or a surge protector. Do not power them on just yet, for it is better to make all cable connections first.
- 2
Plug one end of each of the 1/4 inch audio cable or the XLR cables into the backs of the reference monitors.cable for electric guitar image by Yasen Pramatarov from Fotolia.com
Plug either two 1/4 inch audio cables, or the XLR cables, into the "Audio Output" jacks on the backs of the two monitors. - 3
Plug the other ends of the 1/4 inch, or XLR, cables into the "Main Output" jacks of your audio source.c?¡éble xlr image by S??bastien Maurer from Fotolia.com
Plug either the other ends of the 1/4 inch audio cables, or the other ends of the XLR cables, into the line mixer's "Main Output" channels. If you are bypassing a line mixer, or recording straight from your computer, connect the other two ends of the cables to the soundcard's "Main Output" jacks. If you chose to include a soundcard into this setup, connect it to your computer with the USB cable before continuing on to the next step. - 4). Plug one end of the 1/4 inch balance instrument cable into the "Main Output" on your instrument, then plug the other end either into your mixer's or your soundcard's "Channel Input" jacks. If you are not incorporating an external soundcard or computer into your setup, skip the following step and continue on to Step 6.
- 5). Plug one end of each of the other two 1/4 inch balanced audio cables into the soundcard's "Main Output," then the other two ends into two of the mixer's "Line Input" channels. Remember that this step is only for if you are planning to hook up a computer and external soundcard into your setup.
- 6). Position both of the speakers correctly. With you in the center, space the speakers back and apart from each other until yourself and the speakers form a perfect triangle. Raise them to a level where your ears are in between both the tweeter and the woofer, then slowly turn them inward, about 40 degrees, until they are sending signal along the two sides of the triangle. Form this triangle with yourself and the monitors, while trying to keep the speakers about 12 to 18 inches away from the walls.
- 7). Power on both of the monitors, your line audio mixer, and your soundcard and computer, if you chose to include one in this setup. The power buttons are normally located in close proximity to the AC cable jacks on the back of the equipment.
- 8). Slowly turn your monitors' "Output" level knobs to increase the amount of power being output by the internal amplifiers. It is best to increase the levels to a moderate-to-higher level, then adjust the instruments from the mixer to taste. This keeps the instrument and mixer levels from having to be slammed to a point where it causes distortion in the recording.
- 9
Play the instrument, or audio coming through the soundcard, to test the monitors.Guitar player #1 image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
Play the instrument, or some audio from your computer (if you are merely using a soundcard), to test the levels of audio going into the reference monitors.
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