Why Monitoring Matters: Inside Sonatune’s 3-Way PMC Speaker Setup (and Why We Also Use Ex Machina Pulsars)

Introduction

Ask any producer or mix engineer what the most important tool in their studio is — and many will say it's not a plugin or a mic. It's their monitoring system.

Because you can’t mix what you can’t hear.

At Sonatune, monitoring is treated as a critical part of the creative chain, not an afterthought. That’s why we’ve built our rooms around a carefully tuned, multi-speaker PMC monitoring system, using three different PMC models for LCR, surround, and low-frequency extension — along with a pair of Ex Machina Pulsars, which we were proud to be one of the first UK studios to adopt.

Whether we’re mixing in stereo or Dolby Atmos, tracking live music, or checking masters for release, these monitors are what allow us — and our clients — to make precise, confident decisions.

Why We Chose PMC

PMC (Professional Monitor Company) has been a trusted name in high-end studio monitoring for decades. Their speakers are known for:

• Ultra-accurate frequency response
• Tight, controlled low-end
• Exceptional stereo imaging and depth
• Consistent performance across volumes
• Transmission Line technology for enhanced clarity

What makes PMC unique is how they combine clinical precision with a sound that still feels musical. You hear everything you need to hear — but it doesn’t fatigue you. And in a busy studio where sessions can run all day, that’s invaluable.

Our Three-Tier PMC Monitoring System

At Sonatune, we use three different PMC speaker types, each chosen for a specific role in our Dolby Atmos-ready, music-focused monitoring layout:

1. PMC for LCR (Left, Centre, Right)

Our main front-array speakers deliver:

• Wide, phase-coherent dispersion
• Natural transient response
• Balanced mids and extended lows

These are the backbone of any mix decision — helping us position vocals, fine-tune panning, and balance a track's core elements with confidence.

2. PMC Subwoofer

Tuned precisely to work with our LCR system, the PMC sub provides:

• Low-end extension with clarity
• Accurate representation of sub-bass content
• Essential detail for modern genres like R&B, hip-hop, and electronic

It's key when dialling in kick/bass relationships or checking mixes for streaming and club playback.

3. PMC Surrounds

For our Atmos and surround work, we use matched PMC monitors for rear fields to ensure:

• Consistent tone and voicing across the room
• Accurate spatial imaging
• Precise translation for immersive mixes and fold-downs

This setup allows us to produce true Atmos music mixes, not just simulated experiences.

Our Ex Machina Pulsars: Modern Precision with a Transatlantic Flavour

Alongside our PMC system, Sonatune is one of the first studios in the UK to bring in a pair of Ex Machina Pulsars — and they've quickly become a studio favourite.

These American-made monitors are designed for ultra-precise, modern mixing environments and are known for:

• Laser-focused imaging
• Fast transient response
• Highly accurate crossover design
• A slightly forward midrange and top-end that helps vocal and percussive elements pop

Why We Use Them:

• As primary monitors when tracking, especially for sessions where clear top-end and attack are key (e.g. drums, vocals, acoustic instruments)
• As a complement to our PMC system, offering a more American-style voicing — helping us test how a track will translate across different monitoring philosophies
• For critical referencing, especially on pop and rock projects, where edge and clarity need to be judged precisely

We often switch between the Pulsars and PMCs to cross-check mixes in real time — and artists love the clarity and punch the Ex Machinas bring during takes.

Why Monitoring Impacts Every Session

Whether you're recording vocals, tracking live drums, or dialling in a final mix, monitoring is what lets you hear:

• Mic choice and placement decisions
• Phase relationships between mics
• Fine EQ adjustments
• Compression response
• Reverb and delay tails
• Clipping, distortion or noise

Without an accurate monitoring environment, you’re mixing blind.

This is why so many mix revisions happen when producers hear the track outside the studio — because something wasn't translating. With PMC and Ex Machina monitoring, we don’t just hear more — we hear the truth. And that saves time, rounds of feedback, and uncertainty.

Monitoring in Stereo, Surround, and Atmos

Our full monitoring setup supports:

• Stereo recording, mixing and mastering
• Immersive formats like Dolby Atmos
• 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound workflows
• Live cue feeds and control room-to-booth communication

Whether you're a band wanting to hear your take with total clarity, or a producer building spatial audio releases, our monitoring system gives you the transparency and flexibility needed to trust what you're hearing.

Final Thoughts

In a world full of plugins and emulations, monitoring is still the most important part of any studio — because it shapes every decision you make.

At Sonatune, our hybrid system of PMC and Ex Machina Pulsars creates an environment where you can hear your music the way it’s meant to be heard. Whether you’re tracking, mixing, or just listening back — this system doesn’t just show you your sound. It sharpens it.

Ready to hear your music on a truly world-class monitoring system? Book a session or tour at Sonatune.