PASSIVE vs. ACTIVE MONITOR CONTROLLERS

That one have talk back ??

if it ain't Dutch it ain't much ! Goed werk jongen, niemand legt me wat uit over interfaces and controllers en wat denk je, jawel hoor moet gewoon weer bij mijn eigen volk terecht, hey goed werk jongen, ik ben ook een nerd, wil altijd weten hoe alles werkt VOORDAT ik duizenden pleuro's ga uitgeven, thumbs up enne .... keep rockin 🤟 Ik mag het wel wanneer ik EINDELIJK weer slimme en hoog intelligente mensen tegen kom 👍 Ik ga jouw volgen, van jouw kan ik tenminste wat leren

Would the Heritage Audio Baby Ram have these issues as well? The knob clicks, but I'm not sure whether or not that is just a design thing to match the feel of higher end ones. I had a JBL MSC-1 for years and now it won't turn on, so looking for something to replace it.

Nowadays I would look for an audio interface with 2 different Speaker Outputs and 2 different Headphone Outputs. And when I need just the possibility to switch Monitors, why do I need a volume knob? The One in my audio interface do the same job. So if I want to keep my interface, I would search for a passiv switch box - just to connect mor Speakers. All other Features are in my interface. There is one feature that is missing ever in the mid class controllers and that ist to adjust the volume of the connected pair of speaker to each other.

Update 2023: I'm done with non-VCA controllers. My JBL M-patch and Mackie Studio wore out. I'm using the Behringer Studio XL and the stereo field stays consistent throughout the throw of the volume control. I verified the drift with white noise/cancellation testing with all the other units. The Behringer is absolutely silent. My mixes reflect a solid L/R balance as a result. Personally I am sensitive to balance to the degree of less than 1/3 dB (tested). None of the other monitor controllers are worth the money.

Do you have any idea of the quality and features of this Coleman audio products for monitor controlling ?

+1

For those looking for an affordable, passive analogue monitor control that does not color your sound, I highly recommend the Baby RAM by Heritage Audio. It is one of the most essential pieces of my recording desk. 🤌🏼🥫

I'm thinking of getting the ART SCC instead but this was the first one I considered

Fascinating behind the circuits info! The Big Knob is a great switcher. However, ours only lasted a couple years before dimming the left side gain. Would recommend it for $50, but it will need replaced within a couple years.

Since when do you use the volume on a monitor controller all the time anyway? It’s primary use is for switching monitors. Once you’ve set up the volume you’re good to go.

Just fyi, I manage the studios at a university. This big knob has been in one of the studio for years now and we have no issues with it so far. And this is in a university setting where the gear sees a lot of abuse of the kids

this video is from 2019 and we are in 2022 now....IS IT BROKEN NOW? Because a lot of people saying it wont last more than a few months or a year....

Excellent video, thanks.
I wish I had viewed this video before I purchased the Mackie controller!
With my gear, the Mackie is not only attenuating the output signal from my interface to my speakers but is also noticeably degrading the overall sound quality.

I came back and watched this after 2years and it’s true. I used this BigKnob for two years and what he said was true. MF to this thing. Need another speaker monitor volume / monitoring device. Suggest me bro

Oh my God I got a headache listening to all that. Can't we just stick with turning the volume knob up and down?

Thanks for clearing this up for me. Good job.

Really great Video! I picked one of these up so I can A/B speaker sets coming from my symphony desktop, I planned to leave the max so I didn't think I would have any issue with L R difference . I don't hear any coloration in sound and think it does a great job for the price, but I noticed it introduced high frequency noise in my speakers. I opened it up to see the cheap circuitry and It got really annoying so I returned it and got the Heritage Audio Baby RAM. More then double the price but not worth putting the big knob it in the chain when I spent so much on Focal twins and mogami studio cables.

I've got the same Mackie Big Knob. Great device, allows me to A/B the DAW interface output between small 5" reference monitors, and 8" inch monitors with a sub.

Hallo from Utrecht Wytse! I'm at the point to need a volume knob, but also a headphone out. What do you suggest for such case? I'm now using a soundcraft K1 as monitor controller/preamp, but I want to move it next to the drums, hence I need a monitor controller!

what do you think about the spl volume 2?
What about dynamics changing when lowering the volume digitally?

You answered all the questions about monitor controllers that worried me. Thanks.

Thanks for the nice demonstration. I wanted to get this 2X2 passive monitor controller. I have a question,
Can I connect a pair of monitors and a subwoofer in 'A' output and a pair of monitors in 'B' output?

Output 'A' = mon out- sub in- sub out -speakers in.
Output 'B' = mon out- speakers in

Please guide me regarding this method

I have Adam audio t5v monitors and Adam audio T10S subwoofer

Or.... Get an RME soundcard with an ARC USB control... And forget about ANY interference, never having to buy a super expensive monitor controller (unless you really need a million outputs for monitors) :)

what do you think about digital controlers like RME ARC USB (for RME stuff)

I mean.. my interface has nice knobs on the front for monitors, headphones, etc.. they can be assigned a little also. Definitely recommend the focusrite 18i20 3rd gen. I only would not buy it if I knew I needed more than 18 inputs over time. It can expand to 18 but not more unfortunately.

Hi..

Does it matter how hot I go from my interface to the big.knob passive controler ?

This video was so geeky I loved it. This is valuable content 🤘🏼

Thanks man! Trying to find a video like this for days!!!

you must be hollands lol

Thank you

Congratulations for making an interesting cool show out of a volume knob !
I had one, it is from SPL !
SPL is a great company and very underrated I think !

My friend that is just another useless invention (for amateur home studios) that they came up with to make more money convincing you that you really need to spend some extra money on a volume knob where you already have a volume knob. No more, no less.

I wish I could have seen this video before buying Big Knob Passive. For me the biggest problem is that there is a signal loss of around 6db. Even with the knob fully turned up my unit loses 6db. What about this unit? Heritage Audio Baby RAM

one of my worst purchases since I been recording hate the Mackie Big knob ...killed my mixes please don't listen to these comments an believe this piece of sh*t works

mackie is very bad if needed that heritage audio make some awesome ram system ;)

A Dutch Steven Wilson...

There is no passive unaffected audio. As soon as you insert anything in a signal chain that is analog, you affect the audio slightly.
Passive unpowered devices affect it worse because there is no power to bring the audio signal up to original levels. Passive you lose signal a little bit every time there is another connection.
Powered audio devices better because they maintain the original audio signal better.

Did not get one cuz the comments on thomann on changing the sound, dont want that then you get expensive speakers... so I got an AUDIENT soundcard with the volume knob on top ! Perfect !
But now 2 years later i find myself using the software for the card onscreen ( have it up on all times om my top screen ) to change volume, dont even have to let go of the mouse. even more Perfect !

I own one of these, honestly never noticed any coloration, since passive, or level issues like you pointed out. Would a passive monitor controller like this only cause the up to 1db difference in volume from L to R, or does this cause phase issues too? 1db isn't great, but fairly minor in the real world over that spectrum in imperfect rooms, but phase issues can be devastating for mixing and mastering.

In such a simple monitor controller, the potentiometer can be easily replaced with a better one when it wears out. Sometimes simple is better. Thanks for this review. I've read some reviews from people claiming it filters your top end but seriously if you, and I consider you an audio freak, and I mean that positively, could not make it go filtery, then it should be good. I'm gonna get this one.

Man! Can you just say if you like it or not! Does it work OK? I bought one and it does the job well! I don't really care about the geeky stuff! I'm a musician not a scientist! Really give me a break. Just give it a thumbs up or down!

very good content, between Big Knob passive from mackie and big knob studio plus that is the same, do you think that worth it the difrence of price, or they have the same performance and I will only notice difrence in quality sound if i buy an expensive controller?

Thanks, great info!

I just want a monitor controller to adjust the volume and a button to mute the speakers when I want to use my headphones without the controller affecting the sound quality.

Any recommendations?

Im on my third Big Knob right now. The new versions are not as good as the old.

Very helpfull. Thank you!

Great video. You’ve helped me in my decision making more than any other gear review

Can I use this between my amplifier and my passive monitors? 

if not, is there a kind of big knob device that can attach to my amplifier directly? thing is my amp doesn't have a volume knob... just 2 buttons - and + which is annoying!