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Jacob Ekstroem
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 721
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 Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 15:08 (GMT) Post subject: Headphones vs. monitors - what do YOU use, and why? |
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As suggested by Lee Gordon, here's a thread on the subject.
I've got used to use only headphones, but it's really a matter of not having the required space for my monitors in my current studio. Upon my relocation in the spring, they will be installed in the new studio.
Of course it's mandatory to use headphones when recording. But I kinda like the idea of having the exact same terms for monitoring in the actual recording session and the editing/processing session afterwards. It gives me a better idea of what is happening with the sound in the postproduction stage, when the terms are the same. That goes for VO-work only, in a full mixing session monitors are prefered.
My headphones are Sennheiser HD-25.
My monitors are Genelec 1019A's & Auratones
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Jacob Ekstroem
- "Try the delightful Danish..."
SaVoa  No. 07008 |
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Ronald T Robinson
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 15:56 (GMT) Post subject: |
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This is a topic that has been the cause of more than one dust-up in studio parking lots! 
The rule-of-thumb, however, has been: record with the cans and mix with monitors - even crapola ones. Many studios have multiple sets of monitors from the monsters on down to a set ripped from a '72 Toyota.
The rationale: Earphones are just too damn perfect. Most audio is going to be heard in natural, but imperfect environments.
Besides, 'verb always sounds wunnerful in the cans... and we just can't have that! |
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Michael Strah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 16:26 (GMT) Post subject: Headphones and monitors |
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Monitors for mixing, for sure.
Unless I am using my own headphones I have found that working without headphones for reads can be a fresh and interesting experience.
Just a personal thing.
In fact, if you find yourself with a tough read and after multiple takes you still are not nailing it, try it without the headphones. You might be surprised what happens. |
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Jacob Ekstroem
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 721
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 16:31 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Ronald T Robinson wrote: | ...record with the cans and mix with monitors - even crapola ones. Many studios have multiple sets of monitors from the monsters on down to a set ripped from a '72 Toyota.
The rationale: Earphones are just too damn perfect. Most audio is going to be heard in natural, but imperfect environments. |
I feel I need to comment on this.
You shouldn't mix on "crapola" monitors. But you should TEST your mix on them. As you mention, most studios have multiple sets of monitors for this exact reason. Nearfield-monitors like the Yamaha NS-10's or Auratone's has become the industry standard to simulate those natural, everyday environments like cars, home stereos and such. But you should not rely on say NS-10's as your primary monitors. That's a common mistake...IMHO.
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Jacob Ekstroem
- "Try the delightful Danish..."
SaVoa No. 07008 |
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Michael Strah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 16:52 (GMT) Post subject: Primary monitors |
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| Jacob, what would you prefer or recommend for a primary monitor? |
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Allen Brown
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 22 Aug 2005
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 17:08 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Ronald is so, so right about this topic being controversial. There are some producers who won't even ALLOW you to wear headphones at their session.
I mix on monitors, but I wear cans when recording. Here's my theory:
When we're recording, the electronic equipment becomes a sort of musical instrument through which our "music" is played. Without hearing what the instrument is doing to my voice, I'm just guessing about things like proximity effect, mouth noises, etc.
On the other hand, following on what Michael said, wearing cans carries the risk of playing to the mic instead of to a human, resulting in an less natural delivery.
For what it's worth, I just installed a pair of these new Mackie monitors and they really have blown me away.
http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2/
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David Oxford
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 505
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 19:16 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Headphones vs. monitors - what do YOU use, and why? |
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| Jacob Ekstroem wrote: | As suggested by Lee Gordon, here's a thread on the subject.
I've got used to use only headphones, but it's really a matter of not having the required space for my monitors in my current studio. Upon my relocation in the spring, they will be installed in the new studio.
Of course it's mandatory to use headphones when recording. But I kinda like the idea of having the exact same terms for monitoring in the actual recording session and the editing/processing session afterwards. It gives me a better idea of what is happening with the sound in the postproduction stage, when the terms are the same. That goes for VO-work only, in a full mixing session monitors are prefered.
My headphones are Sennheiser HD-25.
My monitors are Genelec 1019A's & Auratones |
Jacob:
I've been doing a lot of reading here (and other places) since easing into the world of VO on a part-time basis.....and I've actually read quite a lot regarding the PRO's of using NO headphones when recording. Now, coming from a broadcast background, this almost sounded impossible - if not downright sacreligious - to think of something so preposterous. However, I have actually practiced and performed several reads without using the cans - mostly on more narrative or documentary-style reads - and I have to say that it actually helps me stay away from the "announcer-ish" voice that I'm so-often trying to avoid now (except when the situation demands it.) I actually DO find that my read comes across LESS like a "read" and more like "conversation" without the cans.
So, just some food for thought...although, I still miss my security blanket. Oh, by the way...I have: Alesis Monitor One's and DT-770 cans.
David
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Kim White
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Posts: 345
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 19:25 (GMT) Post subject: |
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In my radio days, my PD always said to broadcast with one headphone on, and the other slid behind my ear. This may sound strange, but it allows the best of both worlds. His theory was that DJ's sounded more natural with at least one side off (but the other side on, to hear the voice/music mix). However, I think it's annoying to wear headphones at all when I edit (unless the family is asleep).
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Ronald T Robinson
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 19:29 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Jacob is quite correct about mixing and testing on junk-speakers. Mix on the best set you can afford. Just be wary of falling in love with the bass-response.
Meanwhile and as to recording without the cans: I keep them on at all times, but I do turn the input down if I'm after a more "natural" read - whatever the hell that is!
Perhaps ironically, if I'm after a throaty-whisper read, I'll turn them right back up again. |
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Jacob Ekstroem
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 721
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 20:20 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Ronald T Robinson wrote: | | Mix on the best set you can afford. Just be wary of falling in love with the bass-response. |
Ah, good point, Ron! It's so easy to "over-do" it, when mixing on a pair of Genelec 1036A's or the like. But who has $40.000 worth of speakers in their home? So to think that "if it sounds good on these babies, it will sound good on anything!!" is a BIG mistake! 
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Regards,
Jacob Ekstroem
- "Try the delightful Danish..."
SaVoa No. 07008 |
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Erik Sheppard
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Moderator
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 1317
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 20:24 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Kim White wrote: | | In my radio days, my PD always said to broadcast with one headphone on, and the other slid behind my ear. |
Wouldn't that bleed? |
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Caryn Clark
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 1000
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 20:51 (GMT) Post subject: |
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I had monitors, but I sold them on eBay b/c I just didn't use them. I use only my headphones (Sony MDR 7506).
I don't "mix" though... I'm not a production gal. I just edit my audio for clicks/pops/breaths.
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Caryn Clark... THE Hip Chick Voice!
www.CarynClark.net
VoiceChick Productions, LLC |
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Jacob Ekstroem
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 721
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 21:01 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Primary monitors |
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| Michael Strah wrote: | | Jacob, what would you prefer or recommend for a primary monitor? |
Michael,
I'm in no way capable of recommending anything in specific, when it comes to what to use in professional sound recording. I'm just a small fish in this very big industry. I don't have personal experience with a lot of different equipment, whether it be monitors, microphones or whatever. I myself have to listen to what others recommend, and then get my own experience from there. Sadly enough, I don't have the money either to try out a lot of recommendations! So I can only pass on any advice, I've heard or read from others.
I've heard nice things about monitors like Adam A7, Klein & Hummel, Tannoy Reveal-series, KRK RP-series and Genelec (mainly their older series), to name a few. I've read bad things about some of them too!
Point is, monitors aren't different from anything else in this world, that different people have different opinions about. What some love about a specific monitor, others hate. Behringer has a series called "Truth". Try Google "behringer truth review" or something like that, and I'm sure you'll find it to be fifty-fifty in the love/hate department!
And I won't even begin to go into a discussion of what monitor to use for what type of production. That's an overnigther!
My generel recommendation would be to go for a monitor, that does waht you expect it to do. Many monitors color the sound in ways that, again, some people like, others don't. The perfect monitor to me is the one that doesn't lie, doesn't make your sound either better or worse, but represent the sound in a natural and neutral way. But then again, that's relative for every single sound technician on the planet.
That's one of the reasons the real pro's use more than one set of monitors.
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Regards,
Jacob Ekstroem
- "Try the delightful Danish..."
SaVoa No. 07008 |
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Gregory Houser
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 15 May 2005
Posts: 177
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 21:08 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Primary monitors |
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| Michael Strah wrote: | | Jacob, what would you prefer or recommend for a primary monitor? |
What's your budget?
My picks are
Low end: Roland DM-20
Midrange: Dynaudio DM6A or BM15A
High End: Klein + Hummel or Barefoot
Nothing against the Mackies, but I've had too many QC issues with their monitors.
In the end though, it comes down to what you can afford and what appeals to you. |
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Connie Terwilliger
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 21:08 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Headphones vs. monitors - what do YOU use, and why? |
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| Jacob Ekstroem wrote: | | Of course it's mandatory to use headphones when recording. |
Unless I am on a phone patch session or an ISDN session, I pretty much don't use headsets anymore when recording. I know my mic. I know my proximity and mouth noises can be removed quickly enough - you don't even need to have the audio on to take out the obvious ones! And those you should be able to hear without cans.
I will use them for some of the work I do using Vox Studio, because it doesn't have a visual "VU" meter bouncing along - and after 100 thirty five second reads in a row, I may change my proximity a tiny bit and that affects the batch processing.
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Connie Terwilliger - New Yorker Cartoon
SaVoa #07013
Member MCA-I since 1987
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