Studio Monitors

You need a couple of speakers (12 or 15") on sticks.. What do you have available now?
You'll know it's too loud if:
A) you get horrible feedback
B) you can't hear the instruments (but that should not be a problem).

The most likely issue you will run into is that you CAN'T GET THE VOCALS LOUD enough without getting feedback.
Common issue with practice rooms.
If this happens, you need to find a balance between instrument levels and vocals.
One solution is to go with IEM's and do away with speakers.. but that's next steps.

 

Since you're not having to compete with live drums, how loud you play is totally up to you. If you'll also be recording and mixing there, actual "studio monitors" would work, and double for mixing purposes. You wouldn't (shouldn't) be able to crank them up and get thumping drumbeats.

If you want to rock out, a powered monitor wedge would be better. Our soundguy uses active peavey 12" stage monitors that are plenty loud enough and sound good.

 

I don't think the studio monitors are going to cut it for you.

First is the the smaller amount of air they're going to move compared to PA speakers (say, 8" monitors vs. 12" speakers) - the studio mons won't sound "as loud". Second, the power and efficiency of studio mons is going be less than with PA speakers - e.g.. my Mackie MR6's are ~120W and max SPL for the pair is about 110dB. Compare to a pair of typical lower cost PA speakers (e.g. Mackie Thump12) - 1000W and max SPL around 130dB.

Because you'll be competing with a guitar amp, the studio monitors will run out of headroom quicker than PA speakers and will go into distortion and fartiness much quicker than the PA speakers. Also given that you're running you "beats" thru the monitors - and presumably bass guitar - the low end frequencies will kill the studio monitors quicker than the PA speakers. The PA speakers will also allow you to perform for a crowd - the studio monitors, not a chance.

You can likely get a used pair of 12" PA speakers for about the same price as a decent set of new studio monitors.

Now, if you go with a wired IEM solution with a multi-channel headphone splitter, you'll have way better control over any band volume issues than with speakers of any type and you'll be able to hear yourselves more clearly. Headphone splitter ~$200; individual IEMs - less than $150 each. In the same neighbourhood as a decent pair of powered monitors.

 

Maybe a headphone distributor amp is a good option if you aren't mixing. You can all listen through your DI's and a mixer and get a good mix to play along with. Cheaper than iem setup.

 

I have studio monitors in my home studio/rehearsal space (frankly, it's a tiny room). I have the Fender Passport Studio.

I don't like my bass in them (although I like it in headphones attached to same mixer/sound interface), but for vocals and beats (we use loopers and sometimes electronic drums) it sounds nice so far for several years. In the same room we have acoustic drum kit and a 80-watt bass amplifier.

 

I wouldn't drive my studio monitors that hard. Maybe if your volumes are very low.

 

err, technically it's 150W, so I'm not surprised. It depends on the room acoustic and placement of speakers, I believe. 5-6" is the smallest size for studio monitors, but some folks prefer them to the next size (8") because they tend to be less boomy in typical rooms. your situation may be the opposite.

I've also had good results with sending loopers and e-drums through my bass amps (well, not all, but I had good luck with TC and Roland). I do prefer separate speakers for vocals/drums and bass when used in my tiny room though.

 

Does anyone knows which are the smallest Studio Monitors with TRS input available today?

 

You really need to get a pair of powered PA speakers and put then up on stands,
EV, Yamaha, RCF.
Use them in the practice space and then take them to the gig as part of the PA or stage monitors.
Trying to use an pair of 8 or 10 inch studio monitors for this will result in blown studio monitors.

A hardwired IEM system is not that expensive to get up and running.

 

I disagree with those saying to put speakers up on stands, due to feedback is harder to fight in a small room. I would go with stage monitors (wedges), one in front of each player with only the things that player can't hear in them. 10" speakers should be fine.

 

My zydeco, blues, r&b thing uses Yamaha Dhr-12M wedges for vocals, keys and guitar. We rehearse with a full kit so it is not quiet. Not gig volume, not that far off though. Separate mixes and each mix has live anti-feedback filters in use. Soundcraft Ui-24r mixer has that built in. This is essentially the same configuration we gig with.