I just received an OX Stomp pedal, it sounds pretty amazing with my Deluxe Reverb (using Suhr Reactive Load line out into OX Stomp).
OX Stomp has L/R output Jacks, which you can connect to your audio interface or studio monitors. I don’t have either, so I just plugged it into a normal stereo speaker (Marshall Stanmore). It sounds pretty good, but I suspect it’s not ideal.
I’m not planning to record anything yet, I’ll look into an audio interface and DAW in 2024. But to plan further ahead, it would be great if I had studio monitors that would work for both playing with OX Stomp and recording / playback later.
My “home studio” room is quite small, about 3m x 4m. I’ve read that 5" woofer would be enough. I’ve read quite a lot of comparisons with various brands and models, but I’d be interested in what you would recommend. There’s quite a good deal for Adam Audio T5V at the moment (£119 each) if they are any good. Genelec 8020D would be great, but they are quite expensive… Yamaha HS5 looks great, but I’ve read it’s very unforgiving (I guess what you want for mixing music), but it would be great if I’d enjoy listening to my playing / music with them as well.
Great question Ville! I’m a big fan of both the Adam and Genelec monitors… have personally owned and spent many hours mixing and listening on the old Adam A7’s, and Genelec 8010’s. Can’t really go wrong with either! I’ve been using a pair of Focal CMS50’s for a few years now and love those. They have some nice options on the back for tuning them to the room a little more.
Another great, and fairly cheap option are the Yamaha HS5’s.
For a compact solution and generally not needing much volume in a small room, I’ve been using a pair of iLoud Micro monitors by IK Multimedia. I’ve had them a little over three years and have been very pleased with them. Actually, I’ve been amazed by the breadth of their frequency response despite being so small.
I’m mostly using them whilst in front of a monitor, so not sitting very far away. I have them raised off the desk a little above ear height and I find the best sound (for me) to be off axis - i.e. the speakers pointed more straight ahead than directly at me.
Update: I finally invested in studio monitors. I traded some pedals that I didn’t really use and I got a good deal for a pair of Genelec 8030C speakers. They sound so much better than the HiFi speakers I was using before! So much more clarity and detail, my amp + pedals have never sounded this good.
The current signal chain is guitar > pedalboard > tube amp > Suhr RL > OX Stomp > Genelec 8030C’s. I can crank the amp or use a loud fuzz pedal, the volume is easy to adjust to bedroom levels.
I went with a slightly bigger Genelec speakers as I’m not using them on the desk, they are near the amp at the other end of the room. If you sit / stand in the sweet spot, it gives the illusion of the sound coming out from the amp itself. I’m getting some Genelec table stands to raise them up a bit.
Yesterday I got a UA Volt 2 and connected that between the OX Stomp and Genelecs. It gives more options to adjust the overall volume for starters. Next I’m trying to figure out how to record audio and video at the same time, either on my iPhone or laptop. I think you can do it somehow with the Camera App and GarageBand, perhaps mix it all together in iMovie? It gives me something to do in the Christmas holidays!
I know Volt isn’t anywhere near as great as Apollo, but I thought this will get me started. OX Stomp has reverb, delay, compressor, etc. so I don’t really need the extra processing power (yet). I just want to record some simple guitar tracks to start with.
I’m quite digging the marriage of very old technology (Fender 1964 tube amp circuit, Ge/Si transistors in fuzz pedals) and the very latest technology (Suhr RL, OX Stomp). It strikes a perfect balance to me, you still get all the benefits of the real tube amp + analog pedals, only the speaker / cabinet / mics / OX effects are digital.
I agree with the Genelec choice. I can’t remember the model number I have, but they have five inch speakers. They are really lovely. Surprisingly great bass in them. Just this year I upgraded my speakers and my headphones. It makes a world of difference when recording.
