Creating songs with headphones on
I wondered how many here work on their music mostly with headphones.
Late at night I often work on tracks and use my headphones. Interestingly enough if it's a brand new track I check it out in the morning through the monitors to see what I've created. Sometimes I just hit delete and other times I'm pleasantly surprised. Meaning I have no idea what sort of monster I've created at night. Things sound totally different with my phones then through the monitors. I can create a mix that sounds brilliant through the phones but terrible through the monitors. Rule of thumb I never work on any mastering level changes with phones (well not much). When working on an existing track it's much easier just to lay down new parts and check them during the day to see if they fit.
I have descent phones Audio Techinca's. They've served me well and have a very nice balanced sound. It's time for an upgrade soon though. What do you guys use?
Late at night I often work on tracks and use my headphones. Interestingly enough if it's a brand new track I check it out in the morning through the monitors to see what I've created. Sometimes I just hit delete and other times I'm pleasantly surprised. Meaning I have no idea what sort of monster I've created at night. Things sound totally different with my phones then through the monitors. I can create a mix that sounds brilliant through the phones but terrible through the monitors. Rule of thumb I never work on any mastering level changes with phones (well not much). When working on an existing track it's much easier just to lay down new parts and check them during the day to see if they fit.
I have descent phones Audio Techinca's. They've served me well and have a very nice balanced sound. It's time for an upgrade soon though. What do you guys use?
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For headphones for mixing/recording, I go back and forth between Audio Technica ATH-M50's and SONY MDR-7506's. (I also own, but rarely use KRK KNS-8400's. All of these are closed-back to avoid audio leakage waking children and spouse. I also have a pair of GRado SR-80is, which are open-back and have an entirely different sound quality.
My routine is similar: DO the stuff on phones, but switching back and forth between different ones when I can tell my ears are getting "tired", then listening over various speaker systems when I am able.
I used to use my Focusrite VRM Box, which "simulated"different monitoring systems over headphones, but they failed to update the hardware / firmware / software, and it is not compatible with USB3, which is all my new Mac Mini has...
_Dave_
My routine is similar: DO the stuff on phones, but switching back and forth between different ones when I can tell my ears are getting "tired", then listening over various speaker systems when I am able.
I used to use my Focusrite VRM Box, which "simulated"different monitoring systems over headphones, but they failed to update the hardware / firmware / software, and it is not compatible with USB3, which is all my new Mac Mini has...
_Dave_
"F" the ineffable!
My music is available on iTunes, Amazon, Youtube, Spotify and CDBaby - more info:
http://2little2late.org/am0eba/
- esselfortium
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I use my Sony MDR-V600 headphones a lot when composing and mixing. I prefer using headphones because they help me better pick up on the particulars of stereo panning and width. I'm accustomed to using the MDR-V600s for a lot of music listening, so they're comfy and familiar. It is a bit too easy to overaccentuate the treble frequencies when using them, though arguably any one listening setup will have its weak points that need to be counterbalanced by other, different listening setups with their own qualities.
Last edited by esselfortium on 04 Sep 2015, edited 1 time in total.
Sarah Mancuso
My music: Future Human
My music: Future Human
- DeltaHotelVictory
- Posts: 69
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I use BeyerDynamic DT-880 headphones. Highly recommended. Very good response across the entire frequency range and you are really able to hear all the nitty gritty stuff that is going on. For example, they do an excellent job when you try to tune your kick drum to the rest of your song. On hi-fi headphones, this is really hard because they often overpower the bass and muddy everything up. They are very comfortable too.
I always use them to work out my ideas into a song. Then, I do the first mix as well as I can, also on the 'phones. Towards the end of the mix, I switch hence and forth to my lame ass multimedia speakers with subwoofer. This will balance out my overall tone, as I tend to mix rather bass-heavy (because it sounds more awesome to the human ear) and the subwoofer and my neighbours will tell me right away if the bass is too much. Then, I tweak a bit more on my headphones, leave it to rest for one or two days and then start the mastering. Again, I do mastering on my cans for 80% of the time, and switch over to my multimedia speakers and stuff like iphone headphones to check that I am not overlooking anything.
I always use them to work out my ideas into a song. Then, I do the first mix as well as I can, also on the 'phones. Towards the end of the mix, I switch hence and forth to my lame ass multimedia speakers with subwoofer. This will balance out my overall tone, as I tend to mix rather bass-heavy (because it sounds more awesome to the human ear) and the subwoofer and my neighbours will tell me right away if the bass is too much. Then, I tweak a bit more on my headphones, leave it to rest for one or two days and then start the mastering. Again, I do mastering on my cans for 80% of the time, and switch over to my multimedia speakers and stuff like iphone headphones to check that I am not overlooking anything.
- submonsterz
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I use numark hf 125 only 8 uk pounds brand new . I don't see the point in spending mega bucks or making tracks pro quality unless I was looking to sell it like some pipe dream.
- EnochLight
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I'm on my second pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40FS. Had to replace the first because my cat chewed through the cable.Jmax wrote:What do you guys use?
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- jfrichards
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Sony MDR-7506
I hear you on that one my dog has destroyed a number of things those far including sections of the dry wallEnochLight wrote:I'm on my second pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40FS. Had to replace the first because my cat chewed through the cable.Jmax wrote:What do you guys use?
- submonsterz
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Wouldn't it had been cheaper to either rejoin the cable or at least replace by putting in a new cable is such an easy fix . Just requires a bit of soldering anyone can do simple enough . .EnochLight wrote:I'm on my second pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40FS. Had to replace the first because my cat chewed through the cable.Jmax wrote:What do you guys use?
- EnochLight
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My dog actually chewed through the power supply cables (both!) to my studio monitors. If it wasn't for the fact that I keep them on a wireless switch to turn off the power strip when not in use, my puppy would have most certainly died with a mouthful of 110 volts.Jmax wrote:I hear you on that one my dog has destroyed a number of things those far including sections of the dry wall
The "fs" series of the Audio Technica headphones are actually all field serviceable (pads and wires), so there's no soldering required at all. But mine were many years old and the head band was starting to decay/tear, so it was time to replace them anyway. My cat chewing off the wire was just the straw that broke the camel's back.submonsterz wrote:Wouldn't it had been cheaper to either rejoin the cable or at least replace by putting in a new cable is such an easy fix . Just requires a bit of soldering anyone can do simple enough . .
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite | Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD
I mostly do everything with headphones...
- submonsterz
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I got two bull breeds here one of them the youngest chewed anything as a pup I had to repair my kitchen wall he managed to chew threw the plaster and into the bricks behind it not alone many of my out board gear cables . And he chewed the cable to my outside spot light too while it was actually on he must have got the 240 from it cause he made a bit of a scream lol he bit right through leaving the cable totally in half. god knows why as it wasn't an obvious thing dangling as temptation it was fixed all up the wall tight . Dogs are menaces when they want to be lol.
Those damn cats! I'm a headphone producer and I use Beyerdynamic DT770's. I listen to everything through my headphones so I'm very used to them and I also have a VRM BOX.
I'm happy to compose/arrange using headphones but when it comes to final mix and mastering I will always go to my studio monitors for a more 'real' representation of the sound. That being said, all my headphones are cheap Sennheisers, so not brilliant for accurate work of any kind. If I had a decent pair of cans I may think differently however.
15 Year Old Sennheisers does the trick. I have to tape up the wires occasionally.
But it also pays heaps to occasionally run the mix through room monitors at low volume. Low volume serves 2 purposes :
1) Reduces room reflections
2) You get to hear how the most important parts are coming through with the stereo separation of low volume.
But it also pays heaps to occasionally run the mix through room monitors at low volume. Low volume serves 2 purposes :
1) Reduces room reflections
2) You get to hear how the most important parts are coming through with the stereo separation of low volume.
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Shure 1440 and JBL 308
same here, the headphones that is, not the chewing cat I'm quite happy with the headphones, have them a long time already. Just the 'fake leather' is crumbling apart and I find it everywhere.EnochLight wrote:I'm on my second pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40FS. Had to replace the first because my cat chewed through the cable.Jmax wrote:What do you guys use?
edit: oh, I see, you also had the issue with the decaying headband... so annoying!
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You have to consider the frequency response is almost always wider with phones unless you get really good monitors. I have to keep that in mind when creating songs and mixing because my phones can hear below 30hz but my monitors have a 37hz rolloff which is normal for what my genre of listeners equipment does and club gear so I use my monitors to gauge my low end accuracy. I want my music to sound good on speakers and phones so I mix on both.
- OldSchoolSkunk
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I had Used SHURE 840s my second pair died when a wire went bad on the Left headset.. so i only had one side working.. well i tried to fix it.. didn't work out.. i'm sure a better tech person could rewire that L Headphone.. but the 840's were great decided to try out BeyerDynamic DT990 PRO those have amazing range although they are not noise cancelling like the 840.. The DT990's deliver good reference levels. And they are super comfortable. So I might just get another pair of 840's track and mix with those and then check it with the DT990's
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 280 Pros that I use mostly for tracking; I almost never mix on headphones. I'm a big believer in mixing at the lowest levels possible; if you can hear the relevant elements of your mix at low volume, it will almost certainly work when you turn it up, and your ears won't get so fatigued. My studio isn't soundproof by any means, but it is acoustically treated, and luckily very little sound escapes (or intrudes upon) the room when I'm monitoring at moderate levels. Even when I lived in an apartment, I much more frequently just worked at low volume than over headphones... I just find them uncomfortable.
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I used a pair of ATH-M30's for a long time and think they're surprisingly good for the money. I still have them and use them occasionally for general music listening, although I really need to replace the cushions; they're totally falling apart now lol.
A while back I came across an awesome deal on a pair of KRK KNS-8400's and really like them. They seem more accurate to me than the M30's. And there's not as big of a difference when I switch from them to my main monitors, which is nice. They're pretty comfy too.
A while back I came across an awesome deal on a pair of KRK KNS-8400's and really like them. They seem more accurate to me than the M30's. And there's not as big of a difference when I switch from them to my main monitors, which is nice. They're pretty comfy too.
I have a pair of ATH M50s. I did a lot of research before buying them and they seemed to be the best "bang for the buck." To get better quality I would have had to pay basically twice as much. They're not as good as pair of $1000 headphones of course, but in the price range nothing else touches them.
My most recent: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7504378
I vouch for this, i compose and arrange in headphones too, but mix/master in Monitors. And even with the monitors, i'm always jumping between 2 or 3 different sets.RealmUK wrote:I'm happy to compose/arrange using headphones but when it comes to final mix and mastering I will always go to my studio monitors for a more 'real' representation of the sound. That being said, all my headphones are cheap Sennheisers, so not brilliant for accurate work of any kind. If I had a decent pair of cans I may think differently however.
Anyway, the OP states he's doing a lot of work at night and the song sounds "funny" in the morning. This might not be only related to the headphones but also to your ears. Ears are more rested in the morning, and not too used to the different sounds of the crasy day, no matter what you. So in the morning, bass will be heavier, highs crispier, and most times, my mix will be completely off, if i had a bad night. I've noticed, that the mixes come out nice, if i only work at mixing, but if i compose or arrange for 2 hours in a row and then start mixing at 1 am, whatever i come up with at 3 am will be crap. Best to only arrange or only mix. Also i feel this happens more with heaphones, i.e. ear fatigue in my case is worse with headphones than with monitors.
- angorapostfrosch
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AKG K271 MkII & AGK K550, which are closed overear cans, are working for me. I am also using the HM1 RE from time to time for finding problems which are not obvious with normal headphone monitoring. Works quite good when you found the HRTF profile that works for you. Got feedback from the tutors of my mixing course: "You seem to know your monitors very well". If that is their honest opinion...
I am also using those cans for everything else. Music, games, movies, everything with the same system. So I guess my brain is just used to referencing to 100s of hours of listening various genres and levels through those cans.
Would like to do some room treatment and get some nice near field monitors, but the lack in portability and the amount of time and money...
I prefer putting that into some nice hardware instead, now that I got my first analog hardware synth
I am also using those cans for everything else. Music, games, movies, everything with the same system. So I guess my brain is just used to referencing to 100s of hours of listening various genres and levels through those cans.
Would like to do some room treatment and get some nice near field monitors, but the lack in portability and the amount of time and money...
I prefer putting that into some nice hardware instead, now that I got my first analog hardware synth
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