Ken,

You have an impeccable taste in monitors! :O)

(These were by far the best for the price when I bought mine 3? years ago, glad they still are.)

Just get two 1/4" to 1/4" stereo cables (3-conductor).

The XLR connectors you see on the back of the monitors can accept either a male XLR or a 1/4" stereo plug.

Hey thanks - I had no idea XLR female could accept 1/4" phono but it looks like they can (there's an off color joke in there somewhere I'm sure lol) - agree these monitors look like the best value out there, since they're powered and have clear/accurate sound.

I also got an at shotgun mic and a rode flexible mount arm (works great!) for the input side of it... bhphoto likes me ...

-k

If I read your set-up correctly, I would get yourself a little mini-mixer to bridge between your edirol and monitors. Having a volume control within easy reach is very handy for those times when you get unexpcted surprises. ALso, allow quick control, say if phone rings etc, or a multitude of reasons.

I had no idea XLR female could accept 1/4" phono

That is not universal, just common in pro audio to allow use of the 1/4" cables that many musicians especially tend to have around already.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-Xenyx-802-103845053-i1153499.gc

Here is a link for a small and sweet little mixer I got for $59 @ Guitar Center with a couple of XLR inputs and a few 1/4" (L & R) inputs and 1/4' L/R out to your speakers.

My only complaint is that it doesn't have an 'on/off' switch on the unit itself so I have added a switch at the end of the cord where it meets the power strip so I can shut it off when I'm not using it.

For field recording and for using with a laptop I picked up a
"Rolls MiniMix A/V 56c" for $79 which can run on battery power if you need it from:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--RLLMX56C
I use this one to connect my laptop to my monitor speakers.

I mostly use my mixers as a way to control input volume and to be able to plug anything in and be able to record to my computer via SoundForge or Vegas.

Thanks for the tips everyone, much appreciated.

Quick question, unless I've got it wrong, doesn't the Edirol UA-25 have an output volume control on the front panel already? (I'm new to all this stuff, trying to figure it out)..

http://www.trickblogs.com/edir_ua25.jpgUA-25 picture[/link]

Looks like I'd plug in the 1/4" phono jacks to the output jacks in the right rear of the unit, and then control output volume using the potentiometer/dial knob in the front panel, lower right where it says "Direct Monitor"... (is that right?)

And hey, thanks for the tip on the Behringer mixer, it's also at zzounds so I'm buying one.. and heck I'm getting an SR 16 for the heck of it, too... something to play with between video editing tracks, and that mixer would be great, to go between ua-25 and the alesis monitors... nice finds!


thanks,

ken

(buying all this audio/video gear takes me back to my performing days, when I played my roland d-50 keys and yas-62 alto horn in clubs all over so calif, in jazz,top-40, rock/reggae bands... the alesis mmt8? sequencer and hr16 drum machine, still working today, 20 years later! were great... gotta figure out all this gear.. geez I miss my 'playing in bands' days... that was a lot of fun.. i still have my digitech dsp-128+ effects unit, it's great for drums re adding reverb etc, huge difference wet vs dry signals, all that stuff.- looks like this http://www.midiguy.com/Usedgearpics/dsp128.jpg.. my d50 is still in mint condition, with the rest o my gear, tho no time to play )..

"Quick question, unless I've got it wrong, doesn't the Edirol UA-25 have an output volume control on the front panel already?"#

Looks like it - unless it has some control over another function.

In which case, just make sure it's within reach just in case you ever need it. :)

Hey I'm in sound *heaven* .. these Alesis M1 Active Mk2s kick total ass... (just got em installed today)... I wish I'd bought these types of monitors years ago.. right re edirol ua-25 front volume knob (tip, just got from roland tech, be sure to set sample rate to 48 not 96 on back or you cant do both record/playback without manually switching it each time on the back)..

These monitors sparkle, they're so much more crystal clear than the klipsch/logitech multimedia 3-piece sets I'd bought from newegg... these alesis monitors are a must-have...

also got an sr-16 drum machine from zzounds and that behringer mixer, very very great gear - thanks everyone! Alesis still rocks.

A big thanks to Spot for wising me up to the need for these, in his great video for the web new DVD, had a lot of stuff even I didn't know, like these monitor recommendations and the need to use these vs pc spkrs... I'll keep learning from Spot, Vic, Harlan and Jeff Fisher and you guys and hey I might actually "get it" one of these years..

These monitors ROCK. I wish I'd bought em years ago.. I used to be a gigging musician (jazz/t40) all over LA for years, I know great monitors, these are them. And a bargain since active.. saweeet! Buy em now.

to video/audio profits,

Ken