To set up KRK Rokit 5 monitors, plug them into a wall outlet using the included power cables. Next, plug your KRK Rokit monitors into your audio interface using TRS ¼ inch patch cables. Then power up your monitors and tune them using the KRK Audio Tools app.
Contents show
Setting Up KRK Rokit 5 G4 Studio Monitors
Studio monitors are an essential piece of a music producer’s toolkit. Producing music with only headphones instead of studio monitors can give you an unrealistic idea of how your mix sounds.
KRK Rokit 5 monitors are an excellent option for someone looking to invest in some quality studio monitors without totally breaking the bank.
In this step-by-step guide, I will show you how to set up KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors in your home studio.
What You Will Need
Here is a list of everything that you will need for this tutorial:
- A pair of KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors and the included power cables
- 2x TRS ¼ inch male to male patch cables
- KRK Audio Tools app
- Audio interface
- DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Not got your Rokit 5’s yet? Click here for the latest price.
Step One – Speaker Placement
The first step for setting up KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors is placing them correctly within your studio space. Your sound quality will take a massive hit without the proper speaker placement.
Both your left and right studio monitors should be about three to five feet apart from each other and pointed towards you to form an equilateral triangle between your monitors and you. Also, it would be best if you were sitting at ear height with the tweeters.
You can have your studio monitors on your desktop to attain these specifications, especially if you have a desk designed for music production or use speaker stands to mount your monitors.
Another thing that you need to pay attention to when placing your monitors is to ensure they are not on a surface that will rattle or shake when playing audio. If they do, this will hurt your sound quality and affect how your mixes sound.
Speaker placement is crucial when setting up your KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors because it plays a massive role in how they will sound.
Now that our speaker placement is complete, we can move on.
Step Two – Plugging In Your KRK Rokit 5 Monitors
Because the KRK Rokit monitor is an example of a powered studio monitor, the next step for setting them up is plugging them into a power source.
To do this, plug the female end of the included power cable into your KRK monitor and the male end into a power outlet.
Repeat this process for both of your studio monitors.
With our studio monitors now correctly plugged in, let’s keep moving.
Step Three – Connecting Your KRK Rokit 5 Monitors To Your Audio Interface
Now, we are ready to connect our studio monitors to our audio interface.
Start by taking one of your TRS ¼ inch male cables and plugging one end into your first KRK monitor. Now, take the other end and plug it into the correct monitor output on your audio interface.
Repeat this step for both studio monitors.
Remember that every audio interface is different and has different outputs/output configurations.
As you can see, my audio interface, the Focusrite Clarett 8 Pre, has the monitor speaker outputs clearly labeled.
Now that our Rokit Monitors are correctly connected to our audio interface let’s move on to the next step.
Step Four – Powering Up Your KRK Rokit 5 Monitors
All you have to do to power up your KRK systems is flip the power switch located on the back of each one.
Just like that, you have connected and powered up your KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors.
You will also notice that on the back of your KRK monitor, there is a volume knob and an LED control panel that you can use to make specific EQ changes to match the acoustics of your room.
Step Five – Fine-Tuning Your KRK Rokit 5 Monitors
The next step for getting your KRK studio monitors set up and ready to use is fine-tuning your monitors using the KRK Audio Tools app.
The KRK Audio Tools app features several tools that you can use to place your monitors and fine-tune them to match the acoustics of your room.
Let’s go over the different tools in the app and what they do.
First, take a look at the layout of the app. As you can see, the different tools are on the left, and if you click the question mark on the right, you get a breakdown of what it does and how to use it.
Spectrum RTA
The Spectrum RTA tool measures the frequency spectrum of the input audio signal to help you identify potential factors that can negatively impact your listening experiences, such as background noise and ambiance.
Level Meter
You can use the Level Meter tool to calibrate your studio monitors’ levels.
You can do this by generating pink noise from your monitors one at a time and adjusting each one’s volume accordingly.
Keep in mind that the KRK Audio Tools app will provide a more detailed walkthrough of this process and is completely free.
Monitor Align
The Monitor Align tool will help you align your studio monitors at a precise angle.
Have your monitors facing forward with no angle, and place your phone on top of either one to use this tool.
Next, tap the left or right monitor icon in the app and rotate the monitor until you have achieved the desired angle.
Repeat this process with your second studio monitor, and you will be all set.
EQ Recommendation
The EQ recommendation tool takes a frequency analysis of your room by generating a pink noise signal and then gives you a suggestion of which EQ presets to use on your KRK monitors.
To use this tool, press the play button on the app, and it will measure the frequency response of your room.
Once it gives you a recommendation of which EQ setting to use, you can program them into your KRK monitors by using the LED screen on the back of each one.
Delay
You can use the Delay tool to help you eliminate any time delay between your monitors.
Use this tool by holding your phone microphone as close as possible to the subwoofer of one of your monitors and pressing the play button to set a reference point of zero milliseconds.
Next, repeat this process but with your phone microphone in your listening position in your studio.
Complete this process for each of your studio monitors.
The delay time for each monitor should be as close to each other as possible.
Polarity
The Polarity Tool will help you verify that you wired your monitors correctly.
Use this tool by sending the built-in signal in the app through a cable to each of your monitors.
The screen will show an oscilloscope which will display either agreen ‘+’for correct polarity or ared ‘-‘for incorrect polarity.
If your polarity is incorrect, double check your KRK Rokit Studio Monitors’ wiring for any potential issues.
Settings
The Settings section will allow you to change various options within the app.
This app section will not help you place, calibrate, or fine-tune your studio monitors.
Step Six – Test Out Your Monitors
The final step for setting up your KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors is listening to some music through them to test them out.
If you have followed these steps correctly, your monitors should sound well balanced and in sync with whatever you listen to through them.
However, if you still have any issues, go through these steps again and see if you might have missed something.
How To Set Up Other Rokit Monitors
Another thing that I wanted to mention to you is that although this tutorial is mainly for the KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors, you can follow these same steps with any of the other sized Rokit G4 speakers.
The ‘5’ in Rokit 5 refers only to the size of the speaker, so this tutorial can also help you set up the other Rokit G4 studio monitors.
Related Questions
How Do You Connect Your Focusrite Audio Interface To Your Computer?
To connect your Focusrite audio interface to your computer, start by plugging your interface into your computer using a USB-type cable. Next, go to theFocusrite Downloads Pageand find the correct version of Focusrite Control for your audio interface.
Your Focusrite audio interface is connected to your computer once you have done this. However, I recommend that you downloadAsio4Allif you are a Windows user to help you get the most out of your device and fix any latency issues that you might be having.
How Do You Connect Studio Monitors To a Laptop?
The easiest way to connect your studio monitors to a laptop is by plugging them into a USB audio interface which can then connect directly to your laptop/computer. The type of connection from your studio monitors to your audio interface that you need to make depends on the specs of your equipment.
It is uncommon to see studio monitors that can connect to a laptop/computer without an audio interface.
What Should I Consider When Buying Studio Monitors?
Some of the main things that you will want to keep in mind when buying studio monitors are price, size, and performance.
Price is important because there is no sense in bankrupting yourself over music gear. Size is essential because there is no point in having big speakers in a small room or vice versa as this will cause issues with acoustics.
Performance is important because you want studio monitors that sound good and give you an accurate representation of your mixes.
Are you looking to upgrade your audio interface? Click here and check out our Top 12 Sound Cards For music Production.
FAQs
How to connect studio monitors to computer without interface? ›
Studio monitors and laptop without an interface
To connect a pair of studio monitors to your laptop or PC without an audio interface, you will need a 3.5mm jack to 2x XLR male cable. Cables are available in various lengths. If the cable isn't long enough, you can easily extend it using a regular microphone cable.
- Locate the sound card jacks on your computer. ...
- Plug one speaker into the other, if required. ...
- Plug the speaker cable into the green “Line-out” jack of a desktop computer. ...
- Plug the power cord from the speakers into an electrical socket and turn the speakers on.
- Use your USB or thunderbolt cable to connect the interface to your USB/thunderbolt input.
- Assuming that it is USB powered, check that the audio interface is receiving power, often indicated by a light.
Typically, though, phase is left at 0° for most applications. While seated in your listening sweet spot, play music with bass content that is familiar to you and then have someone switch the 0/180 phase switch on the sub to 180-degrees. This will let you determine if the bass sounds louder in your seating position.
What volume should a subwoofer be set at? ›If you're using the subwoofer in a stereo or computer system, just set the subwoofer volume so that it sounds the best from the chair you usually sit in to listen. The sound should be neither boomy nor thin. You can also change the subwoofer volume on the fly to suit whatever music or movies you're listening to.
What should subwoofer dB be set at? ›Most people find that 70 or 75 dB on your SPL meter at your listening seat is a comfortable playback level.
What is the 38% rule? ›What is the over-38 rule? It's a provision in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement that limits teams from offering contracts lasting four or more years to any player who is at least 38 years old or will turn 38 during the contract.
What is the 38 percent rule? ›THE 38 PERCENT RULE
The placement method used here is based on the "38 percent rule" which theorizes that the best listening position is 38 percent into the length of the room, when measured from either the front or rear wall. This offers the best compromise of peaks versus nulls for any given room size.
Get your monitors at ear level
The directional pattern of sound emanating from the speaker, known as horizontal and vertical dispersion, can vary greatly as you move away from the front and center of the speaker, so for the most consistent and best sound, set up so you're facing the speakers at ear level.
This means not meters away, and not inches from your ears – one to two meters should be just fine – the manufacturer usually recommends the ideal distance for their product. Generally speaking, the closer they are, the less influence from the room's acoustics you will hear.
How far should studio monitors be from the wall? ›
Move Your Monitors Away from the Wall
Why? Because you're hearing the bass buildup in the room, not the “real” bass coming out of the speakers. Place the speakers a minimum of 6 to 10 inches away from the wall — 2-3 feet is better; this will minimize bass buildup from the front wall.
For stereo imaging, the ideal monitor setup is for the listening position and monitor placements to create three points of an equilateral triangle with the monitors turned in to aim toward the ears at approximately a 30-degree angle to the center line.
Should you turn off studio monitors when not in use? ›Does Leaving Your Monitor Speakers On When Not In Use Damage Them? Long story short — yes, leaving your speakers on will damage them when not in use.
What is the best way to connect monitor speakers to PC? ›If your entry-level studio monitors only have RCA inputs, you'll need a 1/8″ to RCA cable to take the stereo output from the headphone jack of your computer and convert it to RCA. Simply plug the 1/8″ stereo jack into the headphone port on your computer, and then connect the RCA jacks to the speaker.
Which audio port for speakers? ›3.5mm Audio Jacks. One of the popular and most common types of motherboard audio ports is the 3.5mm jack. We use them to connect headphones as speakers. These ports accept the widely popular 3.5mm TRS Audio Connector.
Why is my audio output not working? ›Restart or change your audio device
The reason there is no sound on your computer could be that it needs a simple restart. Keep trying different audio devices and see which one provides your computer with sound. It may be that Windows 10 is directing audio to the wrong output device.
- Step 1: At the bottom right corner of your desktop, right-click on the "Speakers" icon and tap "Playback devices."
- Step 2: Tap on the "Speakers" on the displayed window. ...
- Step 3: From the disabled devices, right-click on "External Speakers".
Try unplugging/re-plugging, different ports on the computer, and different cables to see if it appears. Once your device shows up in Device Manager, check that it also appears in Sound Settings. If not, you probably need to reinstall (or just install) the latest driver (see Driver Reinstall below).
Can I plug my phone into audio interface? ›Connecting a phone to the audio mixer of your sound system can be very helpful in playing music at your event or on your livestream. Plug an adapter into your phone to go from it's lightning/usb-c port to a headphone jack. If your phone doesn't have a headphone jack, you will need an adapter.
What cable do I need to connect monitors to audio interface? ›In our opinion, a pair of 1/4″ balanced TRS cables is the simplest, highest quality option for connecting studio monitors to an audio interface. Use one cable to connect your left speaker to the interface's left output and another to connect the right speaker to the right.
Why is my computer not detecting my audio device? ›
Check device and driver status in Device Manager
An outdated audio driver can cause sound errors and issues. Use Device Manager to check if the audio device is disabled, and then install an available driver update. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
Answer: Yes, a good audio interface provides sound quality improvements over the options you have available in your desktop or laptop in various ways. These improvements include the bit depth and sample rate, better DAC conversion, balanced outputs, mic preamps and headphone amplifiers.
Do I need an audio interface if I have a mixer? ›With a good mixer, there's no need to worry about a particular sound overpowering others. These days you'll be able to find mixers with built-in USB or Thunderbolt, which eliminates the need for a separate audio interface. There are also music production programs that offer virtual mixing minus the hardware.
Why is my KRK speaker not working? ›Verify that the power switch on the active speaker is in the 'on' position. Check to see if the AC mains voltage is matched to the correct operating voltage requirements. If the AC mains voltage is higher than the selected voltage it is possible that the fuse needs to be replaced.
Do all USB-C ports support audio? ›A device with a USB-C port may support analog headsets through an audio adapter with a 3.5 mm jack, providing four standard analog audio connections (Left, Right, Microphone, and Ground). The audio adapter may optionally include a USB-C charge-through port to allow 500 mA device charging.
Do all USB ports support audio? ›A USB port itself cannot be used as an audio port. You can connect a USB audio device like a headset for obvious reasons. Likewise a USB external audio card works by transfering digital audio data and converting it into an analog signal.
How do I set up 5.1 studio monitors? ›The general rule is that your center monitor should be dead center in front of you, the left and right front monitors are placed 30 degrees to either side of center, and the surround left and surround right monitors are, respectively, at 110 degrees left and right from the center.
How does the KRK app work? ›It uses the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm to generate its frequency analysis view of amplitude vs frequency. This analysis can be used to detect various factors that affect the listening experience in your environment. It includes a signal generator that can generate sine waves, white noise, and pink noise.
Do KRK monitors have Bluetooth? ›Built-in LF and HF EQ let you adjust the monitors' response to the room and your personal preferences. Along with the 1/8” Aux and RCA stereo inputs, Bluetooth capability means you can connect wirelessly to your smartphone, computer, or other Bluetooth-capable audio devices.
What level should studio monitors be at? ›As for height, ideally, the tweeters should be at the same height as your ears when you are seated, typically about 47-55 inches (120-140 cm) from the floor. Speakers can be placed slightly higher and tilted down towards you if you need to clear the top of your computer monitor.
How do I aim a studio monitor? ›
For stereo imaging, the ideal monitor setup is for the listening position and monitor placements to create three points of an equilateral triangle with the monitors turned in to aim toward the ears at approximately a 30-degree angle to the center line.
Should I EQ my studio monitors? ›If you aim to imitate the frequency balance of your favorite records in your mixes, then you're on track to successful productions and you don't need EQ in your monitoring chain. But if you don't like what you hear, or you think there could be improvements, then it's worth considering this issue further.
Why is my speaker connected but no sound? ›Make sure that the speaker has a BLUETOOTH connection with the BLUETOOTH device. Pair the speaker with the BLUETOOTH device again. The volume of the speaker or BLUETOOTH device may be low. Adjust the volume to a moderate level.
Why are my speakers on but no sound? ›Check sound settings
Check to make sure your audio devices aren't muted and haven't been disabled. Select and hold (or right-click) the Speakers icon on the taskbar, and then select Open Volume mixer. Note: If you don't see Speakers displayed, it may be in the overflow area. Select Show hidden icons to check there.
If your KRK Rokit no longer powers up, it could be due to a blown fuse. Immediately underneath the power cable socket is a fuse holder which contains two fuses, one of which is a spare. Remove the holder and check to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, it will likely look burnt.