Common question here at inSync Tech Central: "Is it okay to use my home stereo speakers for my studio and/or keyboards?"
While the answer is yes, most musicians and engineers find that they are far happier with, and have much better results, using professional quality studio monitors or keyboard amps. But you can get by with using your consumer speakers while you save up for "real" monitors if you remember a few caveats:
- Home stereo speakers are designed to sound good to consumer ears, and to enhance the music played through them. This often means that they will have "hyped" bass and treble response. While this may sound fine for playing CDs, etc, it can be disastrous if you are relying on these speakers as a "reference" for mixing or mastering. Be aware of how your speakers are coloring the sound before you trust them for any mixes (this is true of virtually all speakers, but especially so with consumer models).
- Home stereo speakers are designed with the limited dynamic range of pre-recorded and mastered music in mind. Even compact discs, good as they are, have a limited dynamic range when compared to an uncompressed, miked acoustic instrument, the human voice, or an electronic keyboard. Be very conservative in your volume settings or BLS (Blown Speaker Syndrome) may result!