do i need nice headphones or monitors???

[picker17]

I'm just starting out and I was wondering if I need a nice set of headphones (nicer than best $20 sony "dj style" headphones) and if so, what would be a good buy for a beginner recording off of a come computer through a USB interface. I was also wondering if I needed a decent set of monitors. I already have a logitech 2.1 computer speaker set that sounds pretty good. Could I use that as monitors or would I also need a set of them. Does having nice headphones negate the need for monitors or vice versa? Thanks so much!!!

 

[Anomaly Design]

You should do a search on this. The short answer is that headphones are a no-no. Your going to have to dish out a little $$$ to expect ANYTHING, but go for the monitors if you can.

 

[Mindset]

Don't use your computer speakers to monitor anything, they'll give you inaccurate sound any ways. They'll add in all the lil things that make the music sound good, when you need a accurate flat sound. Decent ones are expensive imo... I have these cheapo studiopro 4's for $150.. should have spent more.. So yeah, do not skimp on these.

 

[mikeh]

As already indicated, near field monitors (vs. stero system speakers) are designed to give a clear representation of sound. Consumer speakers (stereo system speakers) are normally designed to boost bass sounds- in essense to make the audio sound "good" rather than to be "accurate"

Often headphones do the same thing - make music sound good - not accurate. In addition, headphones tend to make the stereo placement more pronounced and the sound of effects (reverb, etc) more pronounced - thus you can not make effective mixing decisions with headphones.

Headphones - in the studio - can be used for tracking (in particular vocals or other sounds that would be compromised by the sounds coming out of room speakers) - and possibly as a reference check while mixing, bu headphones should not be used for critical mixing decisions. That is way near field monitors are considered a must in the studio.

 

[timkibler]

This was my major mistake when I started out, just around a year ago... got some cheap gear, the wrong gear, and completely neglected others, because I didn't think they were necessary until later...
You're already doing well by asking/researching.
Take my advice, save yourself a rude disappointment later, and wait, save up for, or if you can afford them now, get good monitors.

 

[dgatwood]

You will want a decent set of headphones when tracking, though. Don't use them for mixing, but for tracking, monitors are equally a no-no.

Make sure that your headphones have good low frequency response so you can hear hum, rumble, performers bumping the mic stand, etc. Make sure that they have good high frequency response so you can hear hiss caused by cheap mics, cheap pres, poor gain staging, etc. For the most part, what's in-between will take care of itself.

 

[robbyrobmusik]

Just in case you are wondering. I would spend at least somewhere in the $50-$70 range for some headphones. I just spent $25.00 thinking i was a big spender and noticed that I didnt select the correct ones. These seem to leak alot into the mix. Read and try to make a good first decision.

 

[picker17]

Thank yall so much for the advice!!! I'll definitely get me some monitors!! What do you mean by the word "tracking" in "headphones are used for "tracking"?

 

[mikeh]

Tracking means when you do the initial recording. When you record a guitar part - that is "tracking" - which means "recording a track" (vs. playback/mixing).