Head phones for tracking - Need Power???

  • Thread starter Thread starter WERNER 1
  • Start date Start date
WERNER 1

WERNER 1

Member
I've just about got everything set up for my studio......I finally got my monitors (Wharfe's 8.2a's :) ), but I just started thinking about when I track and the whole headphone application thing.....

I would like to use headphones for tracking, and I've got a decent pair of AKG's, but where do I hook them up, and do I need an "amp" to power them???

I'm using a Delta 1010.

Thanks,
Rick
 
Are you using a mixer or standalone preamps? If you're using a mixer you could just monitor off the mixer's headphone output. If you're using standalone pres you might want to look into getting a small cheap mixer for monitoring purposes. Otherwise, maybe something like the Samson control room matrix product might be an inexpensive solution.
 
I will be using "Stand alone" pre's (I've got 6....well 6 channels anyway.)

So if I get a small mixer (I'm guessing it doesn't have to be anything nice in that it will not effect the actual recorded sound directly???) How do I incorporate this into my Delta 1010 / Recording rig???

Thanks,
Rick
 
Right, the mixer wouldn't be in the recording signal chain, so the quality of the monitoring chain is just dependant on how much you're willing to spend, and how much flexibility you want.

I'm not totally familiar with the Delta's monitoring software, but if its anything like the Echo Layla's monitoring software, you should simply be able to route any input on the Delta to any output for direct monitoring. In a simple scenario you route each input to its corresponding output (input 1 to output 1, input 2 to output 2, etc). What this means is that the signal going into input 1 on the Delta will be sent out to output 1 in addition to going to your recording software.

From there, you could use a mixer with 8 line-level channels (since its only for monitoring purposes you don't need mic preamps on all of the channels, or any for that matter). Using separate cables or an 8 channel snake (I won't recommend brands here because people take that sort of thing very personally apparently), route the 8 outputs of the Delta to the 8 inputs of the mixer. Set the main fader to unity, set the headphone output to a comfortable level, and use the channel faders to set up a monitoring mix. If you ever need to expand this setup to accomodate multiple musicians its as simple as adding an external headphone amplifier with multiple outputs.

Don't have enough room to accomodate an 8 channel mixer? Don't have the budget for one? Just not that concerned with a totally customizable headphone mix? An alternative, then, would be to route all of the Delta's input channels to a single output channel. This means you would require a mixer with far fewer inputs. In fact, a simple 2 channel mixer would suffice. In this case, I would route outputs 1 and 2 to the mixer. I would designate output 1 to be for "live" sources (ie whatever part I happened to be tracking at the moment) and output 2 to be for "playback" sources (parts that have already been recorded). Route all of the inputs on the Delta to output 1. Additionally, the Delta's monitoring software may allow you to adjust the output volume of each output channel, allowing you to create a customized headphone mix much like before, only doing it in the software rather than on the mixer itself. In your recording software set all of the tracks to playback on output 2 of the Delta. You can then use the mixer to pan them apart or together to your taste. You could have all signals play in both channels, or live sources in one ear and playback sources in the other. That part is all up to personal preference. Again, accomodating multiple musicians would be as simple as adding an external headphone amplifier.

I hope all of this makes sense and is helpful.
 
Thanks!!

Yeah, it all makes sense, but implimenting it may be another story as I'm just getting familiar with all of my new gear (And I've not done any PC based recording before. :o )

Right now I've got 2 outputs of my Delta set up as my Monitor outs. These two leads go to my Wharfedale 8.2a's (powered monitors)

It looks like the second option will work best for me right now, and I think I have access to a cheap 4-6 channel mixer.

Thanks for the good info!!! I'll have to take some time to chew on it and figure out how to do everything........but I guess I'll be that much smarter when I'm done (Or really ticked off if I can't figure it out! :) )

Thanks,
Rick
 
y go for the delta 1010 when you're only using 2 outputs?

Are you recording lots of sources at once? Seems like overkill if you're not.

I went the 1010 route and soon added a 24 channel analog mixer, from there I was submixing in softwear and sending the groups out to the mixer via the 1010 where I could EQ and add outboard compression & effects. Soon after I bought 2 delta 410s giving me 24 outputs to the mixer....all my editing was done in the box and the mixing done outside. My monitors (same wharfs as yourself) hooked up to the mixer outs, headphones plugged into the desk.

This also gave me 24 preamps at my disposal, pretty good ones at that on the old Allen & Heath saber I picked up for cheap on eBay. As my recording grew and I was recording several musicians at once I opted for a heaphone amp, nothing fancy...a Behringer HA4700, not renowned for their QC but this is one of behringers better pieces of equipment if they have any.

depends on your setup. read and search all you can and keep asking questions. Saved me throwing mone away on stuff I didn't need

Good luck
 
Actually my thoughts were to be able to record 4-6 (8??) tracks at a time - Drums to be precise. I really didn't want to use a mixer and then be stuck with the initial mix. The rest of the time I couldn't see recording more than 2 or 3 tracks at a time (close/room micing of amps or dual micing acoustics...that sort of thing...)

The outputs of each channel are transfered through the din(?) cable to the sound card correct??

Maybe it's overkill to a degree but when I was originally looking at the M Audio 24/96 I kept thinking what a pain in the butt that would be to have to always be reaching around the back of the PC to hook things up......and that's when I started looking at the 1010 with the rackmount module :D Now I could be way off base on my thinking here as I'm as "Green" as it gets in regards to PC recording (I've done alot of 4 track stuff over the years, but no PC :( )

So Lemon, you having the 1010 what is your recomendation for my usage of the 1010 and headphones?? Keep in mind that I have my Wharfe's as my dedicated PC speakers as well (If that makes any difference??)

Thanks again for all of the input so far, and sorry for being such an idiot! :o

Rick
 
well I always used the mixer for the headphone thing but you're prolly looking for something like THIS , although that's probably the same price you could pick up a good 2nd hand analog board for...something like that only cheaper

wish I could be more help but since I stopped mixing in the box I've never thought about going back there or the problems that arise when you do.....monitoring latency, isolation etc
 
here's a thought....

get a pair of cheap PC speakers with a headphone out on the front and put them on the second pair of outs on the delta. You could switch to them while tracking with the cans then switch back to the outputs on the wharfedales while mixing.....

that WOULD be the cheap way


another thought after posting......

this might be more appealing, have the first two outs of the delta connected to your wharfes, connect the second two outs to a HiFi Amplifier with a headphone socket. You could even set up some HiFi speakers on it for A/Bing your mixes with the wharfes. Just switch between the outs via the delta control panel

There's a few options to get you thinking :D
 
Hey, now you're talking......I've got that set up right now.....well sort of..

Yeah, I'm using # 1 & 2 outputs for my Wharfe's.......so I'll try and hook up my receiver and headphones later tonight after my music rehearsal, vocal rehearsal, and my 10:40 PM hockey game.........dang I've got tooooooo much stuff going on! :)

Rick

PS - a buddy of mine is going to bring that cheap'O Behringer 6 channel mixer over as well.

Rick
 
I forgot to ask, Am I thinking correctly in the way I want to record the Drums??

I've got 6 pre's, so I thought I'd run between 4 and 6 mics on the drum kit. I've got a couple of DBX 163x's I'll probably run between the pre's and the Delta on the snare and kick as well. ....but basically running out of the pre's into the Delta which will give me individual tracks for each mic that can be individually adjusted in my recording software (CEP 2.0 / AA 1.5 )

Does this sound like a good or dare I say the best way to do this?? :)

Rick
 
yep, that's how I'd do it with that equipment. You're off to a flyer!

good luck with it

Alec
 
"You're off to a flyer!" - Is that a Scottish saying??......I don't get it. Maybe it's like my "Off like a herd of turtles..."? :D

New Development - I was speaking to another buddy of mine about some PA issues we were haveing and we got into my headphone delema....

It turns out he's got a Samson Q5 Headphone amp ( http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--SAMQ5 ) that he was getting ready to put on ebay. I think I could get it for about 40-50 bucks (I think they listed for about 130.00 new) Does this sound like a good option?? I was thinking that it would be good for when I record drums or other things where I would be doing the tracking on one ouput of the Headphone amp, and the drummer or whom ever could use one of the other outs for their headphone feed.??? I know that everyone would be sharing the same mix, but each of the 5 channels has it's own out put.

Would this put me "ahead of the game" a bit, or is there a better way to go about having mulitpule headphones with adjustable mixes???

Thanks agian for all of your input and insight thus far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D


Rick
 
off to a flyer = hea start or, ahead of the game yeah. The headphone amp will work. I was st trying to throw you some ideas for cheap or no money but at that price you can't go wrong.
 
:cool:

I still like the idea of having a couple of the out's going to my receiver so that I can do a "real world" comparisson between my stereo speakers and the Wharfe's. :)

I could still set up the headphone amp as well, and then I would be able to give the Head phone amp/ lineouts and my A/V receiver a different mix :D

There's way too much thinking going on right now........my head hurts! :(

Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top