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How to Connect Active Monitors

Active monitors are speakers used by musicians in a studio or in a live environment to hear back what they are recording or playing. The difference between an active and a passive monitor is that the active one contains its own source of amplification, while the passive one requires the addition of an external amplifier. Active monitors are easy to connect, since no other device must be connected for amplification.

Things You'll Need

  • Monitor
  • Mixing desk
  • Jack-to-jack cable
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose where you're going to place your monitor. You'll want it in the optimum position to provide the best playback possible.

    • 2

      Connect one end of your jack-to-jack cable to the audio "in" port of your monitor.

    • 3

      Connect the other end of your jack-to-jack cable to the "monitor auxiliary out," "control room out" or "auxiliary out" channel on your mixer, depending upon the type you're using. You can also connect an active monitor directly to the sound card of your computer if you're recording electronically. You'll need the correct lead for your sound card's "out" ports; you can buy this from a computer hardware store or online.

    • 4

      Play a track and experiment with the position of your active monitor.

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