Tracking thru speakers?

[CoolCat]

I understand reasons for mixdown with reference speakers...
not headphones, not stereo speakers,
not plastic digitally ready pc speakers, or PA systems.

with Home recording i generally used cans to track everything,
but in a studio once the Eng
had me track to speakers(no headphones).

Any inputs on tracking with Ref. Monitors?
is this common practice for the Eng behind the glass- no headphones for tracking?

seems the ref.monitor /mixdown theory
could apply to tracking also.

don't recall any pictures with Eng/ wearing headphones...

was one Eng with NS10's and he had toilet paper taped over his ears.

 

[ez_willis]

was one Eng with NS10's and he had toilet paper taped over his ears.

HeeHee , I've heard the toilet paper over the tweeter trick, never over the ears though..

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

You should make most sonic decisions (ie, about EQ, or mic placement) by listening thru monitors, not headphones (for the same reason mixing on cans is not recommended - headphones tend to color sound differently, so if you change tonal characteristics based on what you hear in the headphones, it likely won't sound right on the monitors)....

You use headphones for tracking during overdubs, but only after you've set-up your signal chain having handled mic placement/selection/EQ/etc via the monitors.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

I always track with monitors when I can. In fact, I'd say monitors are more important when tracking than when mixing. For example, I do more "eq adjustments" when tracking by moving microphones around than I do with EQ knobs at mix time. I need monitors when making those EQ decisions.

Well recorded tracks are mostly "mixed" before the mixing ever starts just by virtue of having the correct sounds recorded. In reality, mixing starts right when the recording starts, so you better have good monitors right off the bat.

 

[kgirl72]

This is probably a really stupid question, but when I try to track through, say, my stereo speakers, often there is a feedback that occurs, as I have everything in the same room. (I have no monitors for now) So, in the "same room scenario, is it best to track something with them muted, then playback, make your judgements, make your adjustments, track again, and continue in this fashion, even though time consuming and hardly "efficient"? Would true monitors not feedback? I imagine they still would while using the software monitoring function, as I have to.

I've never really concerned myself too much with mic placement, but it would definitely be nice to actually hear the differences in what this might do for me, as the only way I've heard this would have been through cans.

Thanks,
K.

 

[Farview]

This is probably a really stupid question, but when I try to track through, say, my stereo speakers, often there is a feedback that occurs, as I have everything in the same room. (I have no monitors for now) So, in the "same room scenario, is it best to track something with them muted, then playback, make your judgements, make your adjustments, track again, and continue in this fashion, even though time consuming and hardly "efficient"? Would true monitors not feedback? I imagine they still would while using the software monitoring function, as I have to.

I've never really concerned myself too much with mic placement, but it would definitely be nice to actually hear the differences in what this might do for me, as the only way I've heard this would have been through cans.

Thanks,
K.

In your situation, I would suggest headphones.

 

[CoolCat]

tracking

i think if you can setup up the tones and such thru the speakers.
"then" put on the headphones for actual tracking was recommended/or an option. if it howls and growls may have to be creative (lower volume, angle the amp, hang a blanket? and take notes- which is what i always forget).

i've had most problems with electric guitars w/effects...sound great thru the
phones, but then don't transfer well to the monitors/speakers.

there was an old thread on this Tracking thru monitors, but I can't find it..yet.