Best "Studio Monitors" for a Sailboat?

[bulletsburning]

Hi all.

I'm a novice musician/producer. I just bought a sailboat and am converting it into my music recording/mixing/mastering studio. I need a quality studio monitor-like solution that can run off my boat's DC power. A car stereo+speakers+sub, perhaps?

I have limited space on the boat. The room I sit in to record/mix/master is 6' x 6' and 5' tall. I currently sit in one of the corners.

I want a system that can best re-produce the sound in the most transparent way plausible considering my limitations.

I also want enough bass to really be able to "feel" my sound. (I do a style of industrial rock with plenty of deep frequencies less than 100 hz.)

What do you recommend?

 

[chadnliz]

I say get a bigger room in a more appropriate area to do that work in and just enjoy the boat, its too small, likely will never sound good and wont perform the way you wish.......but thats just me

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi all.

I'm a novice musician/producer. I just bought a sailboat and am converting it into my music recording/mixing/mastering studio. I need a quality studio monitor-like solution that can run off my boat's DC power. A car stereo+speakers+sub, perhaps?

I have limited space on the boat. The room I sit in to record/mix/master is 6' x 6' and 5' tall. I currently sit in one of the corners.

I want a system that can best re-produce the sound in the most transparent way plausible considering my limitations.

I also want enough bass to really be able to "feel" my sound. (I do a style of industrial rock with plenty of deep frequencies less than 100 hz.)

What do you recommend?

You will probably be better off with headphones. How do you plan to run the rest of the equipment on DC? If DC is all you have you will need an inverter to run the rest of the gear. I agree that this sounds like a pretty insane plan.

 

[WmAx]

Hi all.

I'm a novice musician/producer. I just bought a sailboat and am converting it into my music recording/mixing/mastering studio. I need a quality studio monitor-like solution that can run off my boat's DC power. A car stereo+speakers+sub, perhaps?

I have limited space on the boat. The room I sit in to record/mix/master is 6' x 6' and 5' tall. I currently sit in one of the corners.

I want a system that can best re-produce the sound in the most transparent way plausible considering my limitations.

I also want enough bass to really be able to "feel" my sound. (I do a style of industrial rock with plenty of deep frequencies less than 100 hz.)

What do you recommend?

Your main problem is not speaker -- it's acoustics -- which will simply stink in that space no matter what speakers you use.

The only way to get speakers to work fairly well in this space is to cover large portions of the walls and ceilings with broadband sound absorbers.

-Chris

 

[Joe Schmoe]

David Gilmore's Astoria Studio is on a houseboat, so you might want to check out what he did. I'm not sure if it has to be docked and connected to the grid or not, though.

 

[Seth=L]

You will probably be better off with headphones. How do you plan to run the rest of the equipment on DC? If DC is all you have you will need an inverter to run the rest of the gear. I agree that this sounds like a pretty insane plan.

I agree, headphones would render better "mixing" results. But for just listening to music (and shaking yourself silly) you could still do an speaker setup.

 

[AverageJoe]

...The only way to get speakers to work fairly well in this space is to cover large portions of the walls and ceilings with broadband sound absorbers.

On the other hand, If you just crank 'em up and let the hull resonate...

You may not like the sound much, but Killer Whales seem to really enjoy Pink Floyd, while the best way to attract Dolphins is with Crosby Stills and Nash, America, or The Eagles (I think they like the acoustic guitars).

Disclaimer: Tests conducted in early 70's off Oregon and California coast. Your ocean may vary.

 

[bulletsburning]

On the other hand, If you just crank 'em up and let the hull resonate...

You may not like the sound much, but Killer Whales seem to really enjoy Pink Floyd, while the best way to attract Dolphins is with Crosby Stills and Nash, America, or The Eagles (I think they like the acoustic guitars).

Disclaimer: Tests conducted in early 70's off Oregon and California coast. Your ocean may vary.

LOL.

So I'm gathering this is my best bet:

1. Get a pair of kickass headphones to mix on. Any recommendations?

2. Wire a car stereo amp, deck, 2 speakers and a small sub to my boat's DC system. Any suggestions on brands, kits, etc..?

3. Sit in one corner of the boat's 6' x 6' room. Put the speakers at ear level in the adjacent two corners. Put the sub in the far corner. Sound good?

4. Put up foam padding behind the speakers and behind my ears. Right?

 

[bulletsburning]

Wow. David Gilmour does have a houseboat studio. Looks like its hooked up to shore on the River Thames.

Here's a video documentary:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1074248175740787653

And the wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria_%28recording_studio%29