Stands for studio monitors: characteristics and selection rules

For those who work in the studio, the equipment used to record and listen to audio materials is especially important. Headphones and speakers very often distort the actual performance. To prevent this from happening, studio monitors are used, which are installed on special stands.

In recording studios, you can see three options for installing monitors: wall mounting, installation on the top tier of the sound engineer's table, and the most optimal option is the use of special stands.

Speaker stands serve a number of important functions.

1. They allow you to fix the monitors at a comfortable level for the director. If necessary, they can be used to change the tilt level, which, for example, is not available if the monitor is fixed to a wall.
2. Provides a tight, but elastic fixation of monitors.
3. Provides protection against unwanted vibrations.

Studio monitor stands are categorized according to some criteria.

1. By type: floor, wall and table. It all depends on what purpose the rack will be used for.
2. In shape, they can be square, rectangular or even round.
3. By weight.
4. By material of manufacture. In most cases, the racks are made of combined materials: metal, plastic, textiles.
5. By color. Of course, this is not so important, but it is much more pleasant to work in a cozy and stylish studio.

In addition, the racks vary in size.

Experienced sound engineers already know which stands for a studio are better to choose, how some differ from others and what quality depends on. But if a person is a beginner in this business, and he has to independently equip a recording studio, the choice of all equipment, including racks, must be approached thoroughly. There are important details to pay attention to.

1. Rack weight. This point is the simplest, since the selection criteria are easy to remember: the more weight, the better it is. The fact is that due to the additional weight, unnecessary low-frequency vibrations are removed during the sound of an audio file.
2. Structural strength. Ideally, the stand should be as strong as possible to support the weight of even a very heavy monitor if necessary.
3. The presence of special legs made in the form of thorns. Not every rack has such legs, but professionals know that the smaller the area of ​​contact of the rack with the floor, the lower the risk of low-frequency vibrations. Spiked legs make contact with the floor scanty.
4. Tilt angle of monitors and height adjuster. Cost-adjustable ones are much more expensive, but if it was decided to buy a product with a fixed height, you definitely need to check whether it will be comfortable to work with.

There are a few more points that must also be considered when choosing. If, out of ignorance, a stand that is too light was bought, but at the same time it has a hollow tube, then you can try to fill it with sand or some other similar weighting agent. Some manufacturers intentionally leave the tube empty so that a little weight can be added to the rack if desired.

When choosing, be sure to ask about the reliability of the design. The manual always indicates the maximum weight that the purchased product can withstand.

An important detail when buying is cost. A fairly large number of models are presented on the modern market, the cost of which varies from 6 to 100 thousand rubles (you can buy for a higher price).

Racks can be attributed to elite models that have a fairly high price and appropriate quality:

• SoundKing;
• QUIK LOK;
• Ultimate Support;
• Tower Sonic.

Some buyers are surprised that sometimes the racks are much more expensive than the monitors themselves. This fact can be explained very simply - the quality of work in the studio sometimes depends on the racks.

See below for how to make a studio monitor stand.