Headphones vs Speakers

[JerryD]

When I started recording I started out with headphones. I need someone to talk me into
getting studio speakers instead to mix my tunes.

Would this help my mixing if I move away from using
the headphones and get a speaker system instead?

[hongteck]

If you stop using your headphones and start using speakers ... you'll hear how others who will be listening to your music on speakers will hear. That in itself will help you in your mixing cos you know what is going to be heard, its as simple as that.

I'm sure the other guys here have more to add. for a start do a search on the topic in this forum. there are heaps of notes being exchanged.

Happy Mixing !

[SPINSTERWUN]

You also have to remember that consumer headphones and speakers are designed to make music sound better than how it really sounds.

Save up a little money, then invest into some quality reference monitors.

You will be happy you did....

spin

[LongWaveStudio]

your mix will sound much more accurate if you use some lovely monitors to mix with. the bass will be much easier to mix. it's also easy to judge the placements of certain instruments (i.e. drums). i do stick a pair of headphones on at the end of the mix to hear what it would sound like, to see if the bass is causing problems, and to see how effective the panning is.

get some monitors. dont get ns-10's though!! use them to check mixes once you've done the mix! if a mix sounds good through ns-10's....you've done a good job:-)

[VOXVENDOR]

The yamaha NS-10's have 2 opinions... 70% of people love them, %30 of people hate them.... I have gotten the impression from this bbs that the %30 of haters are here.... As a Lover and user, I can say that they are extremely "true" monitors.. Yeah they sound "crappy".... You wouldn't want to sit on your couch in your living room, and listen to tunes on them.. I get my best mixes on them... I have tried others which sound sweeter, yet still go back to the NS10's cause they are the Truest speaker, in my opinion, and %70 of the recording worlds opinion.... Everyone around here also says the the SSL consoles are shit........ Remember Jerry, there is a reason that almost EVERY worldclass studio uses NS 10's and SSL boards....There just not bought cause they look nice. Next, ones down, I would say, The Yorkville YSM1's.. but still shoot the extra $120 and get the yamahas... they are "industry standard" for near field monitors.....
This post is purely experience with use and personal opinion, so read all the posts here on this thread over the next week, and they will point you the right way.

Joe

[LongWaveStudio]

absolutely. the ns-10's are very true monitors. i couldn't mix with JUST a pair of those though. they sound great if used with far/mid fields though. i always use ns-10's to check everything sounds right in the mix. i mix with Genelec's though. i wouldn't recommend them for someone ussing JUST those. i've got ns-10's in every studio here.great for checking mixes.

ssl consoles are not shit....hehe, not at all...

[Gidge]

Quote from Dragon.....

"When you hear good monitors, instruments may jump out at you without warning, you may hear subtle things you never heard before, or hair may suddenly grow in strange places on your body. But they won't necessarily make you want to dance, because they don't emphasize frequencies at either end of the spectrum (or the middle, for that matter) the way "listening speakers" tend to do."

[VOXVENDOR]

Originally posted by LongWaveStudio
i always use ns-10's to check everything sounds right in the mix. i mix with Genelec's though. i wouldn't recommend them for someone ussing JUST those. i've got ns-10's in every studio here.great for checking mixes.

ssl consoles are not shit....hehe, not at all...

yeah, having a few different monitors is great to be able to switch back and forth... I have seen million dollar studio's even checking mixes on a little clock radio speaker....

I know SSL's are not shit, But I hear so many people say that around here.. I guess it's people who can't afford to own them that say that... I can't afford one either, but I still drool over them, and buy my lottery tickets every week....

If I Had the $$$ I would definately buy one, theres a reason that almost every worldclass uses them.

Joe

[LongWaveStudio]

i mainly use little speakers to check bass with. my monitor rig is...

Genelec 1035B (1100w power,main monitors)
Genelec 1029A Nearfields
Alesis M1's
Yamaha NS10's (yay!)

got the addition of the Mackie HR824's in the mastering room. Beauty for mastering. i can't mix on them though :-)

i know this is the wrong forum...

do any of you want to buy a Sony DMX-R100 48 channel digital mixer. i know you're home recordists, but im hoping maybe a rich home recordist is around..hehe

sell for $14,000 with Otari RadarII...

like i said, i know this is a home recording board, but thought id try...

-Romesh
long wave studio

[Nashstudio]

WOW positive posts about NS10M's!!

I have listened to so many monitors in my control room and others, from 20/20's to Tannoys to well just about all the common ones on the market today and NOTHING sounds as close to the true sound as the NS10M. Everytime I plug something else in it sounds muddy and just not right. The only thing you really have to learn with NS10's is the bass response, there is none LOL.
If it sounds bassy on those you are jacked when you play it back on a system. Other than that, on a mix there isn't a more painfully true monitor I have heard that tells it like it is better. Like its been said, make it sound good here and it will sound Great! on playback. The only downside to NS10's I have ever had is listening to the client who doesn't know any better keep telling you to turn up the bass.

One of the 70%, ;-)

[Blue Bear Sound]

There are many excellent nearfields available now, that unless you're already accustomed to the NS10s er... um, "sound", there is no need to subject yourself to their particular brand of "musicality." Many neglect to mention the high fatigue factor with NS10s....

If you use them and like them (well, at least adjusted to them!), great! But no matter what monitors you buy, you have to learn how to translate mixes on them anyways, so you might as well no be hurting your ears while doing it!! Don't foget, you'll be sitting in front of your monitors a long time, and grimacing & wincing everytime you have to listen to them just won't be cool!

You know me... I HAD to say something!

YMMV.......
...Bruce

[VOXVENDOR]

Bruce....
The only fatigue I get, is when Im recording punk acts.... Damn, I hate the smell of weed... I've banned it, but the fuckers still sneak it in!

Joe

[VOXVENDOR]

Originally posted by Nashstudio
WOW positive posts about NS10M's!!

The only thing you really have to learn with NS10's is the bass response, there is none LOL.
If it sounds bassy on those you are jacked when you play it back on a system. Other than that, on a mix there isn't a more painfully true monitor I have heard that tells it like it is better. Like its been said, make it sound good here and it will sound Great! on playback. The only downside to NS10's I have ever had is listening to the client who doesn't know any better keep telling you to turn up the bass.

I heard from my local dealer, that the 10's are designed to be used with a sub (maybe a fib on his part)..... .I hate subs in the studio, Tried it a few times, and I just can't mix right with one.

Joe

[giaschel]

In response to the original question as to why mix with monitors instead of headphones, I keep putting this link from time to time:

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...25660B0016AA15

(section 3: Monitors)

I hope this can be helpful.

[JerryD]

Thanks for the good input. I love this BBS. Cool site.

[JerryD]

Rip makes a lot of sense in some of his articles. Good stuff.

Thanks.

[giaschel]

No sweat