Monitoring with headphones

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cyclonus5150

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I'm wanting to use headphones for monitoring my mix and would like some suggestions.


Thanks!
 
When I suggested that this was OK, I was inundated with replies that I was crazy. I guess it is not a good idea. Apparently my recording situation does not apply to most others, many of whom are experts.
 
Sometimes headphones are necessary, especially if you have a family, it's midnight, and that family is sleeping. they're not ideal, but neither is a tiny bedroom or basement wiith parallel walls and awful acoustics. Unless someone is paying you big bucks, the only one who can say whether they work or not is you. Having said that, you really need test out a lot of sets before buying. Don't take anyone's word for it - it's too subjective of a purchase. Go to a shop, listen carefully to all of them with a couple reference discs, and choose a set. It'll take you a while to adjust to how work done with them translates to your monitors/stereo, but after a while you should be able to use them productively. Just make sure you base your decision on YOUR ears...
 
I find headphones quite useful for mix monitoring. Much that goes on here is very basic and headphones work fine for that process.

Since most CD results will be played over speakers, monitoring the final mix that way does make sence. One can do that via monitors connected to PC, or via a CD that plays over good monitors elsewhere.

Ed
 
I am stuck using headphones for most of my work, as I have no monitors. I also use my PC speakers to double-check things. The biggest issue (and this is physics) is taht headphones isolate each ear, which can sound cool, but when mixing, you will not perceive many phase cancellation problems because the soundwaves from the two sources (the two cans of the set of phones) never physically interact with one another. It can sound gorgeous and full on the headphones, then you burn your CD and say "Where the hell did that acoustic guitar go?" when you listen to it on a stereo.
 
headphones are made to make things sound bigger and boomier, basically. or, well, most are. there ARE reference headphones that cost a crapload, but they're designed as a secondary or thirdary form of referencing your mix.

But yes, when you're contemplating putting your mix down as a two-track master, listening to it on a bunch of different headphonees (nice big full-cup headphones, earbuds, cheap radioshack headphones, etc etc) along with various car stereos, boom boxes, dvd players, etc etc is always a good idea, and I always listen to my mixes through headphones AFTER i got done doing a mix that I think is "good" just to hear it from another angle.

But mixing purely on headphones? Recording suicide.
 
I am stuck in a bit of the same situation as cstockdale . I don't currently own any monitors...which leaves me with either headphones or computer speakers.
Eventually I will solve this problem by purchasing some monitors but than problem of my licinv situation somes up. I live in an apartment building and have quit hours... I thought I could get around this problem by mixing with headphones but it looks like after reading this post that might not be the best idea.
 
In my small basement studio with nearby stone walls, I get better results with headphones than I do with even halfway decent monitors. YMMD
 
Use the headphones, hear the difference. If you burn it to CD and listen to it, it may have less bass, or like stated earlier, phase cancellations. You can learn to use headphones though, by pumping in a little more bass than you think, etc.
 
Derek Verner said:
In my small basement studio with nearby stone walls, I get better results with headphones than I do with even halfway decent monitors. YMMD
Click to expand...
You can buy a lot of rock wool for the cost of a good pair of cans.
 
Yeah I'm pretty much in a situation that requires me to use headphones too. Plus I'm itching to get going on a project and don't want to have to worry about saving up for new monitors. I'm just going to try the headphones out keeping in mind that I need to overcompensate with some elements of the sound. Thanks for all of your input. Maybe I'll just get all of the recording done using headphones and then take my project into the studio for mixing. Sound like a plan?
 
While somethings are hard to detect with headphones (phase cancellation has already been mentioned), the process is somewhat relative.

Mix a result with headphones and then burn the CD. Take it somwehre with a good sound system and listen. Note the obvious issues (too much bass, too little bass, etc). After an iteration of two you'll see what basic changes you need to make using phones so the result comes out fairly well the first time.

Ed
 
choose wisely

u get what u pay for with headphones, but u shouldent have to pay more than 50 bucks for a quality pair.

just make sure their something with large drivers and a wide frequency response, it should have specs on the box.

i have a pair of koss ur.20 headphones i got from best buy for 40 bucks and they suit me fine.
 
I also have the KOSS unit and they do work well. I also have a low cost pair from Radio Shack that sound just about the same. Sometimes you can find a low cost set that work really well.

Ed
 
Okay, I'm in a sticky situation.
I have the choice between P.A speakers for mixing, or headphones!?

What is the recommendation for this one?

Ta, Scott
 
im no expert but p.a. speakers are not much better than headphones, studio monitors/speakers are made for the purpose
of reproducing the exact sound your equipment is making,its not trying to improve it like a standard stereo speaker would.

if u have the money and are serious about your recordings throw down the money for some studio monitors, or find some good headphones.
 
I agree. PA speakers are not monitors. I would go for the phones plus reasonable quality PC based speakers. The combo should give you a pretty good guide of what to do.

Then if you have access to a good sound system, take CD there for final check.

Ed
 
Most P.A. speakers are designed to reproduce the range of the spoken human voice and supress anything else. When I want to reprodice the sound of a P.A, System in a sound track, I cut most of the lows and highs and add a little reverb.
 
Oh great!
Thanks guys,
I might look into getting some studio monitors.
Scott
 
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