Headphone vs. Monitor Producing

[Guest gNAT]

I've only ever made music through my headphones and am wondering about buying a pair of monitors. To those of you that have experience producing music both through headphones as well as using monitors, how does it compare? Does it affect the type of music you make or the sonic palette that you are using? Thanks for your thoughts...

[Guest MrSparkle666]

I always heavily switch back and forth between the two during the entire tracking and mixing process. I honestly think everything would turn out like shit if I only had a single way to monitor. My philosophy is that you don't need great monitors or headphones to do a good mix as long as you know the sound of your system well, and always check things in different cans or speakers during the process. Also, in my experience the room makes even more of a difference than the speakers, but most people neglect that.

 

Definitely get some monitors, or a decent hifi system. Things sound totally different out of speakers, and can drastically influence the direction of a mix.

[Lucas]

I always heavily switch back and forth between the two during the entire tracking and mixing process. I honestly think everything would turn out like shit if I only had a single way to monitor. My philosophy is that you don't need great monitors or headphones to do a good mix as long as you know the sound of your system well, and always check things in different cans or speakers during the process. Also, in my experience the room makes even more of a difference than the speakers, but most people neglect that.

 

Definitely get some monitors, or a decent hifi system. Things sound totally different out of speakers, and can drastically influence the direction of a mix.

 

This

 

when I can't turn my monitors on, I just use my headphones and the next day when I hear what I've done I'm like

 

so now when I can't use my monitors I just don't mix. If I really want to make music I just compose a little bit. Anyway I don't like to make music with headphones because I don't feel the sound and the music the same way.

 

I don't know if you already had the chance to compare your mixes on different (and various) kind of systems (from cheaper ones to rather expensive ones) but this is always enlightening.

 

If you can afford it, you would really appreciate to own some entry level monitors (as Mr Sparkle said, the room you'll put them in matters at least as much as the monitors themselves, but anyway you'll have to progressively discover the sound of the whole system and eventually know it).

 

Don't forget that the mix is a way to make your track sound the more homogenic it can on the more systems possible. Which is actually a kind of hell ; so listening to your mixes on the more systems you can is often a good start.

 

good luck !

 

 

PS : don't listen to the self proclaimed truth from people advising you to buy a given entry level monitors pair. Just buy a Yamaha HS50 one.

 

(just kidding. I guess it depends on the headphones and maybe the other systems you already own. They have to be the more complementary they can)

[soundwave]

both will do but you'll have more trouble getting an accurate bass with headphones alone

[Guest Promo]

I always heavily switch back and forth between the two during the entire tracking and mixing process. I honestly think everything would turn out like shit if I only had a single way to monitor. My philosophy is that you don't need great monitors or headphones to do a good mix as long as you know the sound of your system well, and always check things in different cans or speakers during the process. Also, in my experience the room makes even more of a difference than the speakers, but most people neglect that.

 

Definitely get some monitors, or a decent hifi system. Things sound totally different out of speakers, and can drastically influence the direction of a mix.

I agree with this mainly except to say I'd never use headphones for production. Also when you say it is good to know your system or speakers I would add that its still important to have reasonable speakers that have clear mids & highs and good bass response. For instance you simply cannot make music properly on laptop speakers or pc speakers.

[foresense]

bit of both, but mostly because my room is very reverberant and I'm moving out soon.

[Guest MrSparkle666]

For instance you simply cannot make music properly on laptop speakers or pc speakers.

 

I used to say the same thing, but there are some pretty decent high end PC speaker setups around these days that are passable. Any speakers are better than headphones alone. I've also heard decent mixes done with surprisingly shitty monitoring. Never say something can't be done. There are always those who will prove you wrong.

[TechDiff]

yeah having both is a good way to go.

 

The advantages of headphones is that they are not affected by your surroundings and environment like monitors are. Means that if you get fairly confident using your headphones ypu can rely on them wherever you are.

 

But as people have mentioned here, a good set of monitors will provide a more accurate bass response, and a more realistic stereo field. Only trouble is that monitors are so dependent on several external factors.

 

if oure gonna shell out for some speakers, could be worth juggling your budget a little bit. spend slightly less on the speakers alone, and a bit of consideration towards what you are going to put them on, and what room you are going to put them in. Good speaker stands, and isolation to avoid low end energy being transferred helps a lot. Also, making a couple simple bass traps will significantly improve the sound you get from them.

 

Putting a lush set of speakers on a resonating surface in a horribly resonant room is a huge waste of money, putting a semi lush set on some isolation stands in a treated room will be more accurate.

 

I've got into the habit of doing sound design on monitors, making music on headphones, and mixing on monitors. I enjoy the feeling of privacy that headphones gives me, find it easier to get lost into what I am doing if I'm not worrying about my housemates getting annoyed with the same section going over and over.

 

It's like having 2 hats, composer hat and engineers hat. headphones are composer hat, they are accurate enough so I know what's going on, but not enough to distract me from writing music and getting worried about the mix.

[acid1]

Produce with headphones, verify with monitors.

[xy_politics]

I'd say avoid using headphones whenever possible. As mentioned above somewhere, countless times I've got carried away building up a track that sounds stunning on headphones, then switched to speakers and realised I've been wasting my time.

 

Something that sounds good on speakers should still sound good on headphones, but it really doesn't work the other way around. This even applies if you have shite speakers and wonderful headphones.

[acid1]

I disagree whole heartedly, but I lack the motivation to argue.

 

I suppose its like painting a picture on on a dirty canvas vs a clean sheet of construction paper.

[Guest Promo]

For instance you simply cannot make music properly on laptop speakers or pc speakers.

 

I used to say the same thing, but there are some pretty decent high end PC speaker setups around these days that are passable. Any speakers are better than headphones alone. I've also heard decent mixes done with surprisingly shitty monitoring. Never say something can't be done. There are always those who will prove you wrong.

Fair point but I use to make music with pc speakers and terrible headphones both with no bass (I must have been mad lol) and well lets just say my mixes were pretty awful!

[Braintree]

my room is very reverberant

 

Put more stuff in it.

[Guest hahathhat]

i got a good set of monitors and a living situation where i can make noise at any hour. rarely use the cans nowadays. only time i do is if i'm trying to sample some kitchen pan clangs or whatnot; helps to hear through the mic so you know what you're getting.

 

in general, i find ear fatigue/tinnitus/etc. seems to build up faster with headphones.... and it's nice to let music fill the room.

[Guest Adam]

I'd say avoid using headphones whenever possible. As mentioned above somewhere, countless times I've got carried away building up a track that sounds stunning on headphones, then switched to speakers and realised I've been wasting my time.

 

Something that sounds good on speakers should still sound good on headphones, but it really doesn't work the other way around. This even applies if you have shite speakers and wonderful headphones.

 

no. you probably don't know your headphones well.

[Braintree]

I'd say avoid using headphones whenever possible. As mentioned above somewhere, countless times I've got carried away building up a track that sounds stunning on headphones, then switched to speakers and realised I've been wasting my time.

 

Something that sounds good on speakers should still sound good on headphones, but it really doesn't work the other way around. This even applies if you have shite speakers and wonderful headphones.

 

no. you probably don't know your headphones well.

 

Speakers will almost always give you a better idea as to what will sound better system to system.

[Hautlle]

I'd say avoid using headphones whenever possible. As mentioned above somewhere, countless times I've got carried away building up a track that sounds stunning on headphones, then switched to speakers and realised I've been wasting my time.

 

Something that sounds good on speakers should still sound good on headphones, but it really doesn't work the other way around. This even applies if you have shite speakers and wonderful headphones.

 

no. you probably don't know your headphones well.

 

Speakers will almost always give you a better idea as to what will sound better system to system.

 

yeah, I find that I keep the highs too low in the mix and push the bottom end with headphones (granted they're cheap in-ear that I only use if I have to be quiet). I think once you know your set-up you can do whatever, but for someone just starting you definitely want to make it as easy as possible for yourself.

[Root5]

I'd say avoid using headphones whenever possible. As mentioned above somewhere, countless times I've got carried away building up a track that sounds stunning on headphones, then switched to speakers and realised I've been wasting my time.

 

Something that sounds good on speakers should still sound good on headphones, but it really doesn't work the other way around. This even applies if you have shite speakers and wonderful headphones.

 

no. you probably don't know your headphones well.

 

Speakers will almost always give you a better idea as to what will sound better system to system.

 

yeah, I find that I keep the highs too low in the mix and push the bottom end with headphones (granted they're cheap in-ear that I only use if I have to be quiet). I think once you know your set-up you can do whatever, but for someone just starting you definitely want to make it as easy as possible for yourself.

 

I get the same results when I mix on headphones.

 

I think the issue here might be that, what sounds good on speakers will also sound pretty good on headphones, but it doesn't work the other way around.

[TechDiff]

Umm yeah, I'm inclined to disagree with XY.

 

I do think it's completely down to how familiar you are with either your headphones or monitors, there are certainly a few aspects that you have to rely on speakers for. stereo separation and low end energy, but likewise there are somethings that headphones are far better at than speakers. identifying pops, clicks, sloppy edits etc. I think that headphones offer a far better level of detail.

 

I spend most of my time sequencing on headphones, and in terms of mixing the levels are normally pretty good. then I'll work on the mix through my studio monitors, concentrating on stuff like compression and low mids, nice punchy KRKs. Then I've got a set of speakers downstairs which I know give really accurate sub response. System works well enough for me, thought it's taken a long time to set.

 

wouldn't for a moment discount headphones for producing on, they have their advantages and disadvantages, just as monitors do.

[Guest ryanmcallister]

for me because i'm unfortunately only rocking 6" mackie hr624's (and probably my room) i'd dare to say i get better low-end response from my headphones. i think the problem is that people compare mixing on a good set of monitors to mixing on a crappy set of headphones. i put a lot into my headphone monitoring setup, about $600 CAD towards the sennheiser hd650's and probably another $250 towards my Aphex headphone amp. i take it very seriously because i live in an apartment where i can't be blasting a 4 bar loop for 3 hours straight without bothering people. if you get good headphones you can trust, sky's the limit. of course you are going to want to reference later on though, back and forth to and from you monitors, but as well as your car, your home theatre, your laptop speakers, whatever. but i honestly feel like when i'm making a track late at night on these babies i know it's going to sound awesome on my monitors in the morning. i actually trust my headphones more than my monitors, i know i'm hearing everything, with my monitors certain frequencies slip by without me noticing. i might have a different opinion when i upgrade to some 8's though... or a sub...

[Guest hahathhat]

honestly i can't be arsed to listen to my shit on six stereos and figure out how it sounds. i already got my hands full writing trax

[Guest gNAT]

Thanks! I think for now I will use monitors for overall mix balance but headphones for production composition and detail. I purchased some rockit 6s and they do the job. Now the one that got away was a pair of dynaudio 6" monitors for $200. Great deal until I tested them out and found they were a blown floor model.

[Braintree]

Umm yeah, I'm inclined to disagree with XY.

 

I do think it's completely down to how familiar you are with either your headphones or monitors, there are certainly a few aspects that you have to rely on speakers for. stereo separation and low end energy, but likewise there are somethings that headphones are far better at than speakers. identifying pops, clicks, sloppy edits etc. I think that headphones offer a far better level of detail.

 

I spend most of my time sequencing on headphones, and in terms of mixing the levels are normally pretty good. then I'll work on the mix through my studio monitors, concentrating on stuff like compression and low mids, nice punchy KRKs. Then I've got a set of speakers downstairs which I know give really accurate sub response. System works well enough for me, thought it's taken a long time to set.

 

wouldn't for a moment discount headphones for producing on, they have their advantages and disadvantages, just as monitors do.

 

It's true they both have their pros and cons, but I think speakers are generally just plain better. They have a higher level of detail and give you a better idea of what you will be hearing speaker to speaker. Headphones are decent, and it's nice to A-B them with a good system to know what your mix will sound like on headphones, but most pros don't rely on them.

 

 

Thanks! I think for now I will use monitors for overall mix balance but headphones for production composition and detail. I purchased some rockit 6s and they do the job. Now the one that got away was a pair of dynaudio 6" monitors for $200. Great deal until I tested them out and found they were a blown floor model.

 

Dynaudios are really nice. I used the BM15's a few years ago when I was in college, and they were so good. Crisp, clear high end and deep, but not overbearing lows.

[TwiddleBot]

Assuming you are using pro headphones and have a decent monitoring setup, one of the biggest differences I find (aside from bass monitoring) is the perception of dynamic range. Headphones always seem to squash the dynamic range somehow.. they don't react with your listening environment in the same way speakers do. I always feel I have to go back and adjust my levels again later because something will be way too quiet in the mix when I play it back on my monitors later. This isn't an issue as even if you work on monitors you'll want to do A-B comparisons as much as possible.

 

I kind of like mixing for headphones, because most people I know listen to music on the go, and frequently have overall better sound reproduction on their headphones than their cheapass home speakers.

[halisray]

Yeah I've made tracks on headphones that I found to be sounding great, then I play them on speakers and the song is different - hence why I'm investing in a pair of monitors in the next 2 months!