Headphones for studio use
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Posted on Jan 24, 2009 01:29 pm
stratwizard
Member Since: Nov 19, 2008
I am planning buying a headphone to use while I record vocals at home, and to mix down my recordings. I need a headphone that would give me accurate sound (sometimes with the old ones I have I mix my song and when I play it somewhere else it has too much bass and the mix sounds completely different)... the thing is I would like to, if possible, buy it for like $30... There are just too many to chose from and I am confused. Any ideas???
And also closed back means that it doesn't take any noise in???? I just wanted to know if I understood it correctly... if so I think I would like suggestions that are closed back.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 24, 2009 09:42 pm Yes, closed back means it should not bleed into the mic. At least not much.
But to be honest here. $30 is not going to get you anything you will be able to mix with. They might be fine for recording with, but really not suited for mixing with.
Jan 24, 2009 11:09 pm What is the price range I should be looking at to get an accurate headphone that I can also use for mixing??? And which would you recommend?
Jan 24, 2009 11:48 pm There's really no such thing as headphones that are suitable for mixing... You can't hear phase relationships (that's awfully important), low end distinction and accuracy is out the window. If you could make consistent mixes with headphones, everyone would use them (no one uses them).
You can certainly *check* a mix on phones - You can use phones to "zero in" on anomalies and fades, etc.
But (ask anyone who has) it's nothing to make a mix sound great in headphones. Nothing to it. Just like mixing on computer monitors. But then put that mix on a decent set of loudspeakers and actually hear what it sounds like... Needless to say, you won't mix on headphones anymore.
That all said -
If you want isolation, closed back (Sony 7506's are a staple). If you want a certain level of accuracy, open back (Grado Prestige series - Even the cheap ones such as the 125's are decent cans).
You can track with them, you can "mess" with them, you can work edits with them, you can get some ideas and blah, blah, yada, yada. But you aren't going to get a truly realistic representation of what you're working on.
Jan 25, 2009 12:05 am In my experience, the first thing that happens when mixing with headphones is that the vocals get buried.
Using 'phones, it seems that anything in the center of the mix seems psychoacoustically louder in the center of your head, so the natural tendency is to turn it down.
Psychoacoustically: 18 letters. I win the thread.
Jan 25, 2009 01:12 am I didn't know that it wasn't possible to mix with headphones... I am still too green, thanx for the information.
Jan 25, 2009 01:39 am I shouldn't say it's "not possible" -- But it's "dumb luck" combined with a rather significant amount of skill if you actually wind up with something reasonable.
You wind up with perfect isolation - No where in nature will that happen - that, with the disjointed low end response and lack of anticipating phase issues - It's just not feasible to expect anything decent.
Not that some headphones don't sound wonderful and can be a pleasure to listen with - But with most headphones, the quality is 'there' in the cans. A pretty bad sounding mix can sound great (just ask anyone with an iPod and ear-buds) through the headphones and sound absolutely horrific on anything else.
And coming off that - Ever wear a set of headphones and press one can a little "closer" than the other? Low end goes up 4, 6, maybe 8dB in apparent level in relation to the other ear...?
Which ear is correct?
Is it correct somewhere in between? Are you short 3dB on one side all the time just due to the proximity to your ears? Your brain will "make up" the difference in many cases - Again, leaving the results up to "dumb luck" mixed with a certain level of experience.
Your monitoring chain (and the room they're in) will always be the absolute most important purchase you will ever make as far as a recording rig is concerned. But even the "cheesiest" (okay, cheesiest "within reason") monitoring chain will generally beat out even some of the finest and most accurate headphones.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Jan 25, 2009 03:15 am i find headies arent accurate in promoting the actual sound of a mix. they make things sound really good though and geled together, and when you start mucking around with the mix and then listen back on speakers, you realize you just made it worse.
thats my experience with em.
Jan 25, 2009 10:58 am That's a pretty typical experience with 'em.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 25, 2009 12:42 pm I mix almost exclusively on headphones and I'd agree it's not ideal for the reasons mentioned. I always check the mix on my speakers and tweak it some but with a good room and monitors I'm sure the mix would be better but, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Dan
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 25, 2009 01:30 pm If headphones are your only option, the 280pro from sennheisier (spelling?) are nice for tracking and would be around $100.
Jan 26, 2009 06:18 pm Thanks for all the help... I have narrowed down to two possible headphones but I haven't decided on which one yet; Sony MDR-7506 and Sennheiser HD280 Pro...
And for as far as mixing goes I will start saving money for some decent monitors :)
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jan 27, 2009 12:29 pm I was wearing a pair of the 280pro just a couple days ago. Felt very rugged\solid and sounded great, do you have anywhere you can demo the two?
Jan 28, 2009 08:11 pm I don't think so... I might try guitarcenter but I dont remember them having any demo units to try out
Mar 24, 2009 05:54 am I bought a pair of Fostex TR-50P headphones and they sound nice. Anyone had experience with em before? Any comments/opinions?
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 24, 2009 11:55 am I have the Sennheiser HD-280 pros. I love them, but there's one glaring issue with them. They don't represent the bass very well. They have a great sub-bass sound, like 80Hz and below. But there's kind of a hole in their response from 80-120 Hz. That'll tend to make you exaggerate the bass and when you listen on another system, you'll end up with a boomy bass.
But they sound awesome. Extremely clear, detailed, lots of dynamic range, and they can get VERY loud. Plus they're well-built and comfortable to wear for long periods. Listening to commercial mixes in these phones is really a marvel. They're not the nicest phones on the planet, but they're by far the nicest ones I've ever listened to. I love them.
They do bleed a bit, so when you're recording quiet things with sensitive microphones (like recording vocals or acoustic guitar into a LDC), you have to watch your volume levels in the headphones or else you'll get a good amount of bleeding into your track.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 24, 2009 01:29 pm I finally bought the 280pro, I will get back with more in depth impressions, but for $89 I am stoked at the moment. I will be getting more to track multi-musicians at once.
