There is an opinion that to reduce the sound in headphones means not to respect yourself. It is much easier and more efficient to do this with the help of speakers. But why do some sound engineers still choose headphones? A post about when it is better to use a headset, as well as what are the advantages and disadvantages of information in headphones?
The first reason concerns pricing policy. Buying monitors, and usually you need several of them: far, middle and near fields, will cost a “penny". Therefore, headphones are the best option for novice sound engineers. It's easier and cheaper to buy a pair of headphones than expensive speakers.
The second reason is the lack of a specially equipped recording room. Acoustics can be good, but there are often no standing waves in the room. Therefore, the room must be equipped.
The third reason is the neighbors. If you reduce the sound in a multi-storey building, then you will not get far with speakers. Peace-loving neighbors will not take long to wait. Thus, the best option is mixing in headphones. The work can be done at any time of the day, no one will bother you.
Now let's look at what advantages there are when mixing sound in headphones:
1. Headphones are equipment that can guarantee high-quality low frequencies. Provided there is no subwoofer. Most often, when recording and mixing sound on small room monitors, the speakers are small. They cannot effectively and efficiently work out low frequencies. Therefore, headphones win in this regard, since the speaker is located closer to the ear.
2. One of the most important advantages of using headphones is the small effect of reflections. You will be able to hear the mix without interference, distortion, more scrupulously make edits and refine the recording.
3. Mobility. Headphones are easy to take with you. You can't walk around with speakers like that anymore. With headphones, the sound can be written and immediately reduced almost anywhere.
The advantages have been figured out. Now, we suggest you find out why you should not use headphones as a sound recording job. What's wrong with them?
1. The lack of binaurality is the main disadvantage of headphones. In the left ear you can hear only the left channel, in the right, respectively, the right. Through the speakers, the sound spreads to both channels, so a person hears a full, surround sound.
2. Those who reduce the sound in headphones do not understand how to place instruments on the panorama. It turns out to be quite narrow, since the headphones do not provide an angle for the placement of the left and right channels. And this is 60-90 degrees.
3. Hearing gets tired. With a loud long sound, the ears get tired - the main thing here is not to damage the hearing organs. Therefore, take breaks more often.