The real audio mixing happens with a great pair of headsets and an active monitor.
Interestingly, some people decide to rely just on the headphones and end up disappointed.
The reason behind such events can be many, either not grabbing the right devices or not paying enough attention to the science of the process.
Let us tell you sincerely, headphones alone cannot do anything better just as the bad headphone pick cannot contribute much to your efforts in the job of mixing.
While we tell you the tips to choose an excellent headphone pair for any kind of sound production, why not inquire about the output of your monitor or other tools too?
5 Tips to choose Headphones for Music Production
1. Check the comfort level
The educated audiophiles can go on the track of audio mixing for hours regardless of any suffering unless (or in some cases, until) the headphones start offering them a tough time.
If you are in the field and even a trying to join the industry anytime soon, set your baseline by starting with the right kind of headset that allows you to keep working endlessly.
For this, don’t skip checking:
- The softness of ear pads
- The wimpiness quality of the headband
- Weight of the product
- and check for sweat protection.
2. Select between Closed-back or Open-back
Once you talk about the comfort of your headphones, you should remember that you don’t just have to decide, you have to buy it.
The comfort level will be directly dependent on the details, the ideal ”type” of the headphones being the one.
The two most considered headphone types to employ in the studio or audio treated rooms are either the open-back or the closed-back headsets.
Open-back:
- Sound is natural
- Extra comfortable
- Less sweating
- For long mixing sessions
Closed-back:
- Avoids background noise from interrupting
- Sound clarity is detailed
- Comfortable for small sessions
- Best for bass enthusiasts
3. Wireless is the best
Let’s normalise believing in the motto, ”Invest Once and Invest Wise”.
You may ask the related people and they will also educate you to not go for the wired option because nobody can manage (or, wants to deal with) that hassle at the end of the day.
Focusing on the audio mixing gets extreme when the wire keeps swinging in your face.
The wireless headset was invented for this reason, and you realise the value when you go through the process.
However, the usage of normal headphones at home and for fun is quite different from this experience, but when you already have so much on your plate, you don’t want even the smallest subjects to divert your attention.
Plus, the portability becomes a breeze.
Keeping in view the budget issues, you can consider the wired headphones but still after great pondering.
4. Match the quality with your monitor
The quality of your monitor should match the quality of your headphones and only then you will be equipped to produce or mix music.
Most of the time, the fault lies in the monitor and it is what really requires a replacement, but the nieve tends to start searching for the headphones instead.
Nothing productive happens with the new pair of headphones then because both monitor and headphones have to work for the production of music and not just the headphones.
However, in most cases, the amplifier also seeks thoughtful attention for quality sound production so you better not overlook that.
The sound mixing from the headphones can be such a complicated task plus you can’t be sure if the outcome is according to your expectation.
Some adjustations in the sound performance can be only made true through the monitor because the headphones often tend to send the music of the left ear from the right ear and vice versa.
5. Take notes from others
If you are working in the studio with an extended team or if you have friends with the same background, more than half of the struggle is already settled.
You have enough acquaintances to guide you with the criteria of hunting the best headset for the use in audio treated rooms.
They know all the information and you can get it first-hand, actually avoiding the unnecessary digging on the internet.
Ask them their experience regarding their favourite as well as the worst headset to consider and you will hopefully get the answers right away.
Conclusion
Since the job of a music producer involves an immense vulnerability to the varied low and high sound levels, that too for an undecided time, the person needs to be extra cautious with the hearing safety. Keep on achieving your goals, if music is your passion, but don’t go too far as to compromise on your innate abilities!
You surely are creative if you are dealing with the task of producing unique content for the world, but be wise first.
