Headphones for careful listening
 

I asked this on uk.rec.audio, and was advised to ask here - apologies if
this has been covered many times before already.

I have some material (music) that I need to listen to very carefully, so
that I can hear and comment accurately on what's needed to be done to it
to prepare a CD master.

I'm going to have to do this using headphones rather than speakers.

I can spend between £50-75 (US$65-100) on headphones. I won't be using
the headphones for general listening - just for this kind of technical
listening.

If trying to do this using headphones is not a hopeless cause, what
would you recommend?

Thanks,

Daniele
--
Wanted: TEAC A-2300SX, Akai GX-4000D

Headphones for careful listening
 

"D.M. Procida" wrote in
message
...
I asked this on uk.rec.audio, and was advised to ask here - apologies if
this has been covered many times before already.

I have some material (music) that I need to listen to very carefully, so
that I can hear and comment accurately on what's needed to be done to it
to prepare a CD master.

I'm going to have to do this using headphones rather than speakers.

I can spend between £50-75 (US$65-100) on headphones. I won't be using
the headphones for general listening - just for this kind of technical
listening.

If trying to do this using headphones is not a hopeless cause, what
would you recommend?

Thanks,

Daniele
--
Wanted: TEAC A-2300SX, Akai GX-4000D


Hi Daniele.

Normally, one would use a pair of known and trusted

monitor speakers for this task. It is a critical step in

the production process.



I have a colleague who uses headphones, but only

for determing the details of what he calls a

"pre mastering edit" I don't think he even attempts

to evaluate recording quality on a pair of binaural

headphones. He uses a pair of Koss Pro4 - pretty

long in the tooth - but he knows them well.



I am interested to know "exactly" what you have

been asked to do.



Are you thinking about level or EQ changes in the

material?



At the pre-mastering stage one has to be careful

in making changes which will then apply across

the whole performance (i.e thickening the bass will

also affect the piano. and maybe the saxes and

trombones (if you have them:-) Likewise, introducing

presence into the vocal on a ready mix may

adversely affect the sound of other sections,

strings etc.


Iain

Headphones for careful listening
 

"D.M. Procida" wrote in
message
...

I asked this on uk.rec.audio, and was advised to ask here - apologies if
this has been covered many times before already.

Run, dont' walk to UK ebay and pick up the Sony MDR-V900 headphones that are
being sold direct from China in your price range. I have a pair as do some
friends, and they are really a very, very good value.

Headphones for careful listening
 

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:01:10 +0000,
(D.M. Procida) wrote:

I asked this on uk.rec.audio, and was advised to ask here - apologies if
this has been covered many times before already.

I have some material (music) that I need to listen to very carefully, so
that I can hear and comment accurately on what's needed to be done to it
to prepare a CD master.

I'm going to have to do this using headphones rather than speakers.

I can spend between £50-75 (US$65-100) on headphones. I won't be using
the headphones for general listening - just for this kind of technical
listening.

If trying to do this using headphones is not a hopeless cause, what
would you recommend?

Thanks,

Daniele

Ermmm - you are still asking on uk.rec.audio. Have another go.

d

Headphones for careful listening
 

Iain Churches wrote:

Normally, one would use a pair of known and trusted

monitor speakers for this task. It is a critical step in

the production process.

I am interested to know "exactly" what you have

been asked to do.



Are you thinking about level or EQ changes in the

material?

I have a stereo mix. I don't think I will want to mess about with EQ -
most likely, just normalising and perhaps a little compression.

Daniele
--
Wanted: TEAC A-2300SX, Akai GX-4000D

Headphones for careful listening
 

D.M. Procida wrote:

I asked this on uk.rec.audio, and was advised to ask here

Oh, ********.

Sorry eveeryone.

Daniele
--
Wanted: TEAC A-2300SX, Akai GX-4000D

Headphones for careful listening
 

"D.M. Procida" wrote in
message
...
Iain Churches wrote:

Normally, one would use a pair of known and trusted

monitor speakers for this task. It is a critical step in

the production process.

I am interested to know "exactly" what you have

been asked to do.



Are you thinking about level or EQ changes in the

material?

I have a stereo mix. I don't think I will want to mess about with EQ -

That's wise, anything other than very mild "tone-shaping" will
probably have an adverse effect on the overall mix.

most likely, just normalising and perhaps a little compression.

Sounds ominous:-((

Iain