headphones or monitor speakers?

dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Sep 07 2006 10:58 AM

Do you prefer headphones or monitor speakers in a home studio setting?

Why do you prefer your choice? Please leave comment if you suggest a particular brand or model...

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1058
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 07 2006 12:48 PM

I always use both. In fact for a time I had two pairs of hi-fi speakers (trashy 60s and classy 70s), a pair of nearfield monitors and two pairs of headphones. Then I would make a cd and check the sound on as many systems as possible.
Nowadays I grew very acostumed to my nearfields and listen to them all day, playing my favourite music. So the hi-fis have gone (they were blasted from not using a limiter across the main out).
I still have 2 headphones, one very soft sounding Philips and one really analytic AKG.

KK

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

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krupanut

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
2 News Pins

Posted on Sep 07 2006 01:25 PM

Kawentzmann
I always use both. In fact for a time I had two pairs of hi-fi speakers (trashy 60s and classy 70s), a pair of nearfield monitors and two pairs of headphones. Then I would make a cd and check the sound on as many systems as possible.
Nowadays I grew very acostumed to my nearfields and listen to them all day, playing my favourite music. So the hi-fis have gone (they were blasted from not using a limiter across the main out).
I still have 2 headphones, one very soft sounding Philips and one really analytic AKG.

KK

Good advise KK,

The thing I recomend is don't just use headphones. Be sure to check your mixes on speakers.
Allot of things can get lost or be mix to hot with headphones.

I drive my wife crazy when mixing, listening to the mixes on the boom box then the stereo in the living room, in both cars etc...

—

The Thunderchiefs

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1058
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 07 2006 02:06 PM

The thing is: You mix for OTHER people, not for yourself. I always envision my listeners in a stylish mid-century mention near the beach, with a proper grand hi-fi, placing the speakers at least 3 meters apart, like the old manuals told you to. So to have a good stereo pan for them to enjoy, I have to listen for pan on speakers, too. That way thereâs always a little left in the right ear and vice versa. With headphones even the loudest peak would be in one ear only - how could I mix a track for living room- or car- or kitchen-listening that way? There are special Headphone-style microphones to be used to record sound that is listened to on headphones. Those recordings would sound boring on speakers. Which in turn means, on phones you get more excited, when the speaker listener is not especially thrilled. Some people put too much reverb on the music while wearing headphones, but this being a surfmusic list, that info is absurd.

Were do headphones come in then?
When you really want to know whatâs still wrong, like unwanted distortion, but you want do the eq, pan and levels on speakers.
Have you seen Brian Wilson, Joe Meek or Phil Spector with headphones? No. Maybe the engineer put one on to see if he should call the taperecorder service guy.

Mix for people! In rooms!

KK

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

Top

RevWillis

Joined: Apr 25, 2006
Posts: 83
SLC, UT
1 Link Pin

Posted on Sep 07 2006 02:25 PM

I also use both. Headphones can help you hear subtle stuff, noise problems, etc. And, they are portable if you are editing on a laptop. But ultimately, one has to listen through speakers, either good reference systems or maybe on several systems, just to get a better feel how the music sounds. One area that headphones have difficulty is the bass frequencies. Only good speakers can give an accurate feel for the bass.

—

www.revwillis.com
www.willisclow.com
www.slajo.com

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1058
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 07 2006 04:05 PM

Also, with headphones you lose the feeling for volume. You might damage your ears.

KK

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

Top

SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 07 2006 07:41 PM

I am all about both. I use headphones for the close "isolated" listening, where I can just focus on the small details, always at a lower volume. Then, when I think I've got it, I grab a listen on monitors, with a little higher volume, which generally gives me a better feel for balance and all that.

But really, the final test of how a mix is going to sound is to take a final run, stick it on CD, and run it out to the car, where you can here it how most people (sadly) listen to a bulk of their music.

~B~

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 08 2006 03:28 AM

SurfBandBill
But really, the final test of how a mix is going to sound is to take a final run, stick it on CD, and run it out to the car, where you can here it how most people (sadly) listen to a bulk of their music.

and don'ty forget to check how it sounds on an Ipod either.

—

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

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norcalhodad

Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
United States

Posted on Sep 08 2006 10:21 AM

I don't have monitor speakers, or a pair headphones. I mixdown on my home stereo. I do give a listen with my duaghters ear-buds, but rarely make any adjustments based on what I hear through them. I have nothing against monitors, just limited space and cash.

—

>

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dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Sep 07 2006 10:58 AM Do you prefer headphones or monitor speakers in a home studio setting? Why do you prefer your choice? Please leave comment if you suggest a particular brand or model... Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1058 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Sep 07 2006 12:48 PM I always use both. In fact for a time I had two pairs of hi-fi speakers (trashy 60s and classy 70s), a pair of nearfield monitors and two pairs of headphones. Then I would make a cd and check the sound on as many systems as possible. Nowadays I grew very acostumed to my nearfields and listen to them all day, playing my favourite music. So the hi-fis have gone (they were blasted from not using a limiter across the main out). I still have 2 headphones, one very soft sounding Philips and one really analytic AKG. KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
krupanut Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 492 Austin Texas	Posted on Sep 07 2006 01:25 PM Kawentzmann I always use both. In fact for a time I had two pairs of hi-fi speakers (trashy 60s and classy 70s), a pair of nearfield monitors and two pairs of headphones. Then I would make a cd and check the sound on as many systems as possible. Nowadays I grew very acostumed to my nearfields and listen to them all day, playing my favourite music. So the hi-fis have gone (they were blasted from not using a limiter across the main out). I still have 2 headphones, one very soft sounding Philips and one really analytic AKG. KK Good advise KK, The thing I recomend is don't just use headphones. Be sure to check your mixes on speakers. Allot of things can get lost or be mix to hot with headphones. I drive my wife crazy when mixing, listening to the mixes on the boom box then the stereo in the living room, in both cars etc... — The Thunderchiefs Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1058 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Sep 07 2006 02:06 PM The thing is: You mix for OTHER people, not for yourself. I always envision my listeners in a stylish mid-century mention near the beach, with a proper grand hi-fi, placing the speakers at least 3 meters apart, like the old manuals told you to. So to have a good stereo pan for them to enjoy, I have to listen for pan on speakers, too. That way thereâs always a little left in the right ear and vice versa. With headphones even the loudest peak would be in one ear only - how could I mix a track for living room- or car- or kitchen-listening that way? There are special Headphone-style microphones to be used to record sound that is listened to on headphones. Those recordings would sound boring on speakers. Which in turn means, on phones you get more excited, when the speaker listener is not especially thrilled. Some people put too much reverb on the music while wearing headphones, but this being a surfmusic list, that info is absurd. Were do headphones come in then? When you really want to know whatâs still wrong, like unwanted distortion, but you want do the eq, pan and levels on speakers. Have you seen Brian Wilson, Joe Meek or Phil Spector with headphones? No. Maybe the engineer put one on to see if he should call the taperecorder service guy. Mix for people! In rooms! KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
RevWillis Joined: Apr 25, 2006 Posts: 83 SLC, UT	Posted on Sep 07 2006 02:25 PM I also use both. Headphones can help you hear subtle stuff, noise problems, etc. And, they are portable if you are editing on a laptop. But ultimately, one has to listen through speakers, either good reference systems or maybe on several systems, just to get a better feel how the music sounds. One area that headphones have difficulty is the bass frequencies. Only good speakers can give an accurate feel for the bass. — www.revwillis.com www.willisclow.com www.slajo.com Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1058 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Sep 07 2006 04:05 PM Also, with headphones you lose the feeling for volume. You might damage your ears. KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 07 2006 07:41 PM I am all about both. I use headphones for the close "isolated" listening, where I can just focus on the small details, always at a lower volume. Then, when I think I've got it, I grab a listen on monitors, with a little higher volume, which generally gives me a better feel for balance and all that. But really, the final test of how a mix is going to sound is to take a final run, stick it on CD, and run it out to the car, where you can here it how most people (sadly) listen to a bulk of their music. ~B~ Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Sep 08 2006 03:28 AM SurfBandBill But really, the final test of how a mix is going to sound is to take a final run, stick it on CD, and run it out to the car, where you can here it how most people (sadly) listen to a bulk of their music. and don'ty forget to check how it sounds on an Ipod either. — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
norcalhodad Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 537	Posted on Sep 08 2006 10:21 AM I don't have monitor speakers, or a pair headphones. I mixdown on my home stereo. I do give a listen with my duaghters ear-buds, but rarely make any adjustments based on what I hear through them. I have nothing against monitors, just limited space and cash. — > Top

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headphones or monitor speakers?