Menu
Carvin Audio
0
  • Audio
    • TRC Column Array Systems
    • Subwoofers
    • Loudspeakers
    • Power Amplifiers
    • In-Ear Monitor Systems
    • Wireless Guitar/Bass Systems
    • Wireless Microphone Systems
    • Power Conditioners
    • Microphones / Direct Box
    • Speaker Parts
  • Guitar
    • KOA Acoustic Guitar Preamp
    • X1
    • Legacy Drive- VLD1
    • MACH100 100W Pedal Amplifier
    • WG5 Wireless Guitar System
    • V112E Extension Cab
  • Bass
  • International
  • Blog
    • Audio Info & Education
    • Guitar/Bass Amp Info & Education
    • News and Events
  • SALE
    • On Sale Now
    • Gift Cards
    • Newsletter
  • Rewards
  • Financing
  • SINCE 1946
  • Sign in
  • Your Cart is Empty
Carvin Audio
Carvin Audio
  • Audio
    • TRC Column Array Systems
    • Subwoofers
    • Loudspeakers
    • Power Amplifiers
    • In-Ear Monitor Systems
    • Wireless Guitar/Bass Systems
    • Wireless Microphone Systems
    • Power Conditioners
    • Microphones / Direct Box
    • Speaker Parts
  • Guitar
    • KOA Acoustic Guitar Preamp
    • X1
    • Legacy Drive- VLD1
    • MACH100 100W Pedal Amplifier
    • WG5 Wireless Guitar System
    • V112E Extension Cab
  • Bass
  • International
  • Blog
    • Audio Info & Education
    • Guitar/Bass Amp Info & Education
    • News and Events
  • SALE
    • On Sale Now
    • Gift Cards
    • Newsletter
  • Rewards
  • Financing
  • SINCE 1946
  • 0 0

Do You Need a Sub in Your Studio?

September 02, 2022

Do You Need a Sub in Your Studio

Debate has long raged about what’s needed in a studio to create great tracks and when it comes to subwoofers this is no exception. The truth is, whether you need a sub in your studio depends on a few key factors including your gear setup, your goals, your room, and your preference.

Here we’ll talk a little about why you may or may not want a sub in your studio.

Reasons Not to Add a Sub

It’s tempting to want more gear just for the sake of having more gear, but there are plenty of reasons you might not need a subwoofer in your studio:

  • Your mixes are already great and translate well across systems
  • You’re not mixing music with significant low-end content
  • Your studio monitors have a full frequency response
  • Your studio isn’t well treated acoustically
  • You don’t have room for a sub

Don’t assume that a subwoofer will improve the sound of your room or your mixes. If you’re building a new space and you’re not sure about a sub, it’s wise to get situated first. Properly treat the room, set your studio monitors, and do some listening and maybe a couple of mixes. If you feel like everything is sounding awesome and you’re hearing everything you need to, then you probably don’t need an additional component.

Additionally, if you feel like your monitors just aren’t big enough for the room, you may need bigger monitors rather than a sub. You can refer to manufacturer specs for guidance on what room sizes a set of monitors is designed to serve.

Reasons to Add a Sub

While some setups and rooms don’t need more bass, others can benefit greatly from a well-chosen and well-calibrated subwoofer. A few reasons you may want to consider a sub include:

  • Your monitors don’t have a full frequency response
  • You want to feel the bass in the room
  • You’re mixing things like hip-hop, R&B, or even 5.1 film sound with lots of low-frequency content
  • Your mixes aren’t translating well on the low end – especially if your mixes are too bass-heavy in other systems
  • You feel like you can’t hear what you’re doing in the low end.

Especially if your studio is small, subwoofers aren’t a necessity as much as a way to enhance an already well-treated room and well-designed setup that’s just missing something. Don’t assume a subwoofer can’t help you in a small room, either. Sometimes a modest space built in a small room with small monitors can use that extra fullness that a sub can add.

Remember that a sub shouldn’t drastically exaggerate the bass in your room – at least not if you’re hoping for translatable mixes. Instead, it should give you the extra fullness and depth you may be missing from your monitors and allow you to hear phenomena like masking and how well your mix might perform in a bass-heavy environment like a club. At nominal listening levels, you won’t necessarily hear the sub as much as feel it, but at louder levels, you’ll be able to get a real idea of what’s going on below 100Hz or so.

 

When it comes to what you need in your studio – whether that’s a subwoofer or an $80,000 console – you’re the only one that can judge, and there’s no wrong answer. Just don’t assume you need one, and by the same token, don’t assume you couldn’t use one.
  • Share:


Also in Audio Info & Education

The Difference Between Gain and Volume
The Difference Between Gain and Volume

February 01, 2023

One of the most misunderstood concepts in all of audio is the difference between gain and volume. It’s easy to misunderstand this distinction – after all in one sense they are the same basic thing. But there are key differences that are important to understand, especially when it comes to getting the tone you want. This is true whether we’re talking about guitar amps, studio recording, or mixing. Let’s clear it up here.

Read More

Do You Need a Sub in Your Stage Rig?
Do You Need a Sub in Your Stage Rig?

January 13, 2023

There’s no substitute for that chest-pounding low end, especially if your music is any kind of rock or electronica that seeks to get people moving. Whether you’re playing heavy metal, groove rock, or old-school techno, the combo of kick and bass is crucial for real impact.

Read More

Playing Along with Pre-Recorded Tracks
Playing Along with Pre-Recorded Tracks

September 30, 2022

Modern recordings can be complex and hard to duplicate on stage. Whether it’s because you’ve layered four guitars and only have one guitar player, you’re using loops and sampling creatively, or the sounds you make in the studio are impossible to create with live instruments, you may find yourself struggling to figure out how to recreate a beloved recording on stage.

Read More

Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more…

Contact Us    858-751-4884

International Sales

Warranty and Trial Period

Shipping

Manuals

Frequently Asked Questions

Thiele/Small Parameters

Schematics

Firmware Download

Become a Dealer

About Us

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all of the earth; make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp and the voice of the psalm." - Psalm 98:4-5

© 2023 Carvin Audio. Carvin Corp.
POS and Ecommerce by Shopify

American Express Apple Pay Diners Club Discover Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Venmo Visa