We just released a FAQ Friday video with the subject ‘Why Do Mixers Use Yamaha NS10′?’.
In recent years we’ve been asked this question so many times! It’s a good one! Coming up as a young musician in the late ’80s and ’90s EVERY studio I went to had a pair of NS10’s!
Who’s is to blame for this you might ask?
Well the story goes it’s every great mixer’s favourite mixer, Bob Clearmountain’s fault, yes, the man himself. The folklore/fact is that Bob, being incredibly smart, wanted to listen and work on speakers that most people would hear his work on, yes, you guessed it, HiFi speakers. To this end he bought a pair of HiFi speakers from the time, Yamaha NS10’s!
Are they representative of HiFi speakers of the period (late ’70s, early ’80s) probably not, although a lot closer than a pair of Soffit Mounted Massive Speakers that most New York Studios would have had at the time. The simple fact is they are VERY pronounced in the Mid Range. An almost 7db lift around 1.5.1.7k and then fairly aggressive high mids on up, which although all very abrasive and ear fatiguing, is extremely good for mixing Guitars, Snare Drums and of course Vocals amongst other things.
The Low End
The low end is famously pretty bad, falling off dramatically below 100hz, so much so that a Subwoofer became a must have for people as digital came in and modern records started to have an extended low end.
The most famous quote about NS10’s we’ve all heard, many times before is ‘if you can make it sound good on a pair of NS10’s it will sound good anywhere! Is that true? Maybe? The point is the detail provided by the mid range and high end exaggeration makes it hard not to hear issues.
Are they pleasing to listen too?
Heck NO! (especially not for long periods!)
Are they the best things to work on now?
Hmm that’s where opinion takes over.
My personal opinion is this, I grew up on them and just like many other people I know them well, however if you’re either a young, new or inexperienced Engineer/Mixer why would you need them? Studio Speakers now are so good for the money, the choice is HUGE and the detail and depth provided by them is phenomenal, much better accuracy is here to stay and now, with a fairly well treated room of course, you can trust what you’re hearing out of many different (affordable and self powered, no need for a separate amp!) speakers, allowing you to have more confidence in what you’re hearing.
What do you think? Do we still need to use NS10’s?
Please leave any FAQ Friday Questions you might have on the video!
Thanks everyone, have a marvellous time recording and mixing.
Warren